A Good Chat With A Teen Struggling With Faith

[TeresaBenedicta]

Just got back from coffee with one of my teens from the parish. She had surprised me on Sunday by coming up to me after Mass and asking if we could get together before I left for the East Coast. We had a really good conversation... she wanted to know about why I wanted to be a sister, [i]what[/i] a religious sister was, etc. So I was able to share all about that with her.

And then we talked about her faith life... which, she admits, she's struggling with a lot right now. She still believes in God... but she doesn't know if she should/wants to be Catholic anymore. At the very least, she recognizes that as she is heading into Confirmation prep that she doesn't know why she's Catholic and she wants to figure that out before Confirmation.

I have to say that I'm impressed... she's not rebelling by any means. But she wants to make her beliefs her own and right now she doesn't know what those beliefs are, except for the very basic... that she believes in God. She said she's not outright rejecting Catholicism, but that she wants to do research on it and she wants to research other religions as well.

I affirmed her for this important step, and it is an important one, of making her beliefs her own. And for the maturity with which she's handling this. I mean, I can tell there is a lot of emotion that is sort of guiding where she's looking. But there's also the work of reason going on.

We didn't do a whole lot of apologetics... it wasn't the time or the place. She wanted to share this with me and I listened and pointed out the good in what she was doing and encouraged her in ways that were appropriate. I share more about my background, why I decided to become Catholic as a teen, etc. It was just a good, solid conversation.

Anyways, here's my request of the phamily. Although I'm leaving soon, so I won't be here to help guide this teen, we will have contact via facebook and e-mail and text. I also promised her a good book or two on Catholicism to help her in her research. What would you give her?

I'm thinking one will absolutely be the YouCat. And I'd like to send something else as well. Thoughts?

Most of all, I ask your prayers for her. She's a good kid, authentically trying to find her way. She's going to spend this next year researching, praying, and going through Confirmation prep, and then make a decision when it comes time for Confirmation.

[tinytherese]

Do you know what parts of Catholicism she is struggling with? How old is she? Here are some general suggestions.


I Choose God: Stories from Young Catholics by Christopher Cuddy and Peter Ericksen

The Meaning of Vocation a booklet composed of what Pope John Paul II wrote about Vocations (No Matter What an Individual's Vocation May Be)

Did Adam and Eve Have Belly Buttons? by Matthew Pinto

Did Jesus Have a Last Name? by Matthew Pinto and Jason Evert

Mother Angelica's Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality by Raymond Arroyo

I Believe in Love: A Personal Retreat Based on the Teaching of St. Therese of Lisieux by Charles Arminjon

Desiderata: A Teenager's Journey to God by David Paul Eich

Made for More by Curtis Martin

Edited July 27, 2011 by tinytherese

[Lil Red]

umm, there's one called "Blessed are the..." i can't remember who it's by or what the rest of the title is.

aha, here it is: [url="http://www.amazon.com/Blessed-Are-Bored-Spirit-Catholics/dp/0867166770/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311727788&sr=8-1"]Blessed are the Bored in Spirit by Mark Hart. [/url]

Edited July 27, 2011 by Lil Red

[dUSt]

trtertert

[Lil Red]

[quote name='dUSt' timestamp='1311730368' post='2276518']
trtertert
[/quote]
you don't say?

[dUSt]

You are so mean.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='TeresaBenedicta' timestamp='1311726269' post='2276476']Anyways, here's my request of the phamily. Although I'm leaving soon, so I won't be here to help guide this teen, we will have contact via facebook and e-mail and text. I also promised her a good book or two on Catholicism to help her in her research. What would you give her?

I'm thinking one will absolutely be the YouCat. And I'd like to send something else as well. Thoughts?

Most of all, I ask your prayers for her. She's a good kid, authentically trying to find her way. She's going to spend this next year researching, praying, and going through Confirmation prep, and then make a decision when it comes time for Confirmation.[/quote]
maybe it's just me, but i don't really like the Q&A style books. I would much rather read a book straight through. What about any of the "Prove It!" series, by Amy Welborn?

[quote name='dUSt' timestamp='1311730527' post='2276523']
You are so mean.
[/quote]
you are just now figuring that out?

[MissScripture]

[quote name='dUSt' timestamp='1311730527' post='2276523']
You are so mean.
[/quote]
She's admitted to having a heart of stone.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='MissScripture' timestamp='1311730608' post='2276526']
She's admitted to having a heart of stone.
[/quote]
'tis true.

[Papist]

Yes, prayers of course.

I'd first tell her that Truth does not fear questions.

As for books, I'd recommend,

Prove it: You by Amy Welborn
Do I have to go by Matthew Pinto, Christopher Stefanick
Catholic, Reluctantly - John Paul 2 High[fiction] by Christian M. Frank
Trespasses Against Us - John Paul 2 High[fiction] by Christian M. Frank

[Basilisa Marie]

The Pinto books (Bellybuttons and Last Name) are good if she has specific questions. It sounds to me like she's struggling with whether or not she believes Catholic doctrine - so I'd also second the Prove It series. "Church" deals with those top ten apologetic points of contention others have with Catholicism. "Jesus" would be good if she's struggling with Christianity in general. "Bored in Spirit" is a wonderful antidote to lukewarm Catholicism and great for someone taking ownership of their faith - if anything, it'll show her that she's not alone. I love love love the book.

[mortify]

Probably a life style issue, Catholicism is not the easiest religion to practice in the contemporary world

[Deus te Amat]

My confirmation sponsor gave me the Imitation of Christ for my confirmation.It might be something you could mail her if she decides to stick with the faith -- it really helped me to make the Faith more of my own.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Deus_te_Amat' timestamp='1311736308' post='2276598']
My confirmation sponsor gave me the Imitation of Christ for my confirmation.It might be something you could mail her if she decides to stick with the faith -- it really helped me to make the Faith more of my own.
[/quote]
Mine gave me that, too...I should probably read it sometime.

Idk of any other good books, but definitely prayers for her. I really admire her caring enough to want to figure things out before confirmation. I got annoyed with a lot of my confirmation class classmates, because they really didn't care.

[BG45]

Prayers!

I'd try maybe "Rome Sweet Home" by Scott Hahn. Yeah it's a conversion story, but it hits on a huge number of issues and how he worked them out, and is easily readable.

"Swimming with Scapulars: True Confessions of a Young Catholic" by Matthew Lackona is really good too. 30ish guy, born into the faith who went through some struggles with it. Now he's married (and stayed a virgin until he was), practices NFP with his wife, wears a scapular, etc.