Prayer for the Conversion of a Loved One

I hear it all the time these days. Parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, even children praying for a family member to return to Mass, to go to Confession, to have someone baptized—in other words, to experience conversion, to turn back to God.

Most of the time tears accompany these heartfelt pleas. People may be surprised by the non-judgmental attitude that others have when desiring the conversion of a loved one. They simply want their salvation.
           
A person who is not religious, or who is a non-believer, or who is hostile to the Faith may think that a person who prays for someone’s conversion is deluded or foolish or arrogant. The truth is, the person who prays for another’s conversion simply has faith in God, knows God’s love and mercy, and wants for someone else to share in God’s love.
           
August 27 is the feast day of St. Monica, the mother of the great theologian, bishop and doctor of the Church, St. Augustine. His feast day follows on August 28. He was not living a saintly life during his early years. St. Monica prayed for his conversion with a mother’s love and patient perseverance for 17 years. Finally, her son experienced the grace of conversion and accepted baptism at the hands of St. Ambrose. St. Monica’s prayers, her tears and her faith in God brought her son to the baptismal font and gave the Church a tremendous champion of the truth and teacher of the spiritual life.
           
This should give us hope. Today everyone has a family member or friend who does not believe, or has rejected the Catholic Faith and the Church, or who doesn’t come to Mass or the Sacraments. We should follow the loving example of St. Monica and pour out our prayers before God for the conversion of our loved ones. We must never give up on them. We should give them a good example of the practice of the Faith, of coming to Mass and of a life of prayer. And we must love them, not condemn them or nag them. We must show them the joy we have in knowing the Lord Jesus and His unfailing mercy.

Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners, pray for us!
St . Monica, pray for us!


Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid
Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh