Over the past several years probably the most often lament people bring to me is their heartache over a family member who has left the faith and is steeped in sin. Often our response is to try to control them and lecture them. This serves to only push them further away. Families are left frustrated, divided, strained, and despairing.
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6,7).
The Church offers us a better way. It is the path of the Saints. Perseverance in prayer can and does touch the soul of another. We only need to look at Saint Monica’s ceaseless prayer for Augustine. The prayers of his mother did not go unheeded and he rose to become one of the great Doctors of the Church. There is always hope, and prayer is the pathway.
Because this issue touches almost everyone I know, I was filled with joy to find out that my friend Kristine Bruce was forming an Apostolate back in 2018 for those lost family members. Kristine is a wife and mother. She homeschools and has served the church in a variety of fashions over the years, including working for Lighthouse Catholic media in the past. Her Apostolate is called Praying for Our Prodigals, and it is a beacon of light to those who have family members far from the faith.
It is my pleasure to let Kristine talk about her Apostolate.
Susan: Where did the idea for this prayer apostolate come from? What was your motivation/inspiration? Is there a specific moment/story that made you take the initiative to create this apostolate?
Kristine: It came to me in my own prayer one day that I should start encouraging people to pray for their loved ones. I myself have two children who have fallen away from the faith, and I knew the heartache personally that I know many others have felt in their lives. I have friends whose children also left the church.
I saw that there are all kinds of books available to teach us how to speak to our loved ones, but at the time I started this Apostolate I didn’t see any books on praying for our loved ones or making sacrifices for them. It often can be hard to talk to your prodigal about the faith, but praying for them doesn’t require confrontation, just perseverance. Now, two years into my Apostolate I have seen some books about praying for loved ones which is great news. It means the Holy Spirit is moving us in that direction.
November of 2020 is the two year anniversary of when I got the Inspiration for Praying for Our Prodigals.
Susan: Tell us about that; what was the main inspiration?
Kristine: It was very simple. On November 11, 2018, while in my morning prayer, I read the daily meditation in the Magnificat. It stopped me in my tracks and my life changed that day.
I remember recognizing that the culture we live in today is dastardly. It’s like a vacuum sucking our loved ones away like never before. Statistically, the “nones”, people with no religious affiliation, currently constitute 23% of the United States population, which is a virtual tie with Catholics and Evangelicals who claim the same percentage.
My husband and I have siblings, nieces, nephews, and even two of our own children who have turned their backs on the Church. Like many of you out there, we are heartbroken. We grieve for all of those who for all those who have wandered away from the Good Shepherd.
So as I was praying that morning about all these things heavy on my heart, the passage in the Magnificat, rocked me to my core. It was the phrase, “how you are to rescue souls,” that grabbed me.
In this passage, Jesus was talking directly to Saint Faustina. He gave her everything she needed to know to rescue souls, and now Jesus was presenting it to me. He said;
My daughter, I want to instruct you on how you are to rescue souls
through sacrifice and prayer. You will save more souls
through prayer and suffering than will a missionary through
his teachings and sermons alone. I want to see you as a sacrifice of living love, which only then carries weight before me. You must be annihilated, destroyed, living as if you were dead in the most secret depths of your being.You must be destroyed in that secret depth where the human eye has never penetrated; then will I find in you a pleasing sacrifice, a holocaust full of sweetness and fragrance. And great will be your power for whomever you intercede. Outwardly, your sacrifice must look like this: silent, hidden, permeated with love, imbued with prayer. I demand, my daughter, that your sacrifice be pure and full of humility, that I may find pleasure in it. I will not spare my grace, that you may be able to fulfill what I demand of you. I will now instruct you on what your holocaust shall consist of, in everyday life, so as to preserve you from illusions. You shall accept all sufferings with love. Do not be afflicted if your heart often experiences repugnance and dislike for sacrifice. All its power rests in the will, and so these contrary feelings, far from lowering the value of the sacrifice in my eyes, will enhance it. Know that your body and soul will often be in the midst of the fire. Although you will not feel my presence on some occasions,
I will always be with you. Do not fear; My grace will be with you (Diary of St. Faustina, 1767).
Since that day in November, I have prayed this passage. I thank Jesus for his generosity, and I ask him to help me do as he requests. It is this message that has led me to begin this apostolate. It is the guide to rescue souls.
Susan: What needs does this apostolate meet? What is the greatest issue facing those you serve?
Kristine: Most of my followers are women, though I may have some men; the women are moms and grandmas who have children and grandchildren who have left the Church. Many of their prodigals are far, far away from our Lord. Many are atheists. When a parent is so close to the Lord, it really hurts when our own flesh and blood turn away from him, and some even deny his existence. We also go through feelings of shame, abandonment, and our faith can be tested when we don’t see our prayers answered. Bonding together through prayer and through email really helps.
I think the greatest issue is that too many people are leaving the Church and moms/grandmas feel alone and don’t know how to adequately handle it.
Susan: What, specifically, does Praying for Our Prodigals provide?
Kristine: Specifically, I encourage everyone to pray, fast, and do deeds of mercy for their loved ones. I encourage the people to pray one rosary per day for their loved ones. I offer a group rosary on Wednesdays at 3:00 pm when they can call in and I lead the Rosary. Also, I send one email on Saturdays. I specifically keep my emails short for a better chance of people reading them. These emails include reversion stories, book studies, and a variety of encouraging messages. I just write about whatever the Holy Spirit puts in front of me. I also encourage people to start their own prayer groups. I also encourage them to send me the names of their loved ones so I can pray for them. I put the names in a notebook which I bring to mass and adoration, regularly bringing them to our Lord in prayer. Many of my friends also pray for “everyone on the list.”
I’m the “founder” but really I just try to follow the nudge of the Holy Spirit.
Susan: What has been the response to your ministry so far? Can you share an experience that really stands out?
Kristine: I get positive feedback from the many women who really appreciate the support, encouragement, and prayers. Here is one story that stands out:
A daughter was living with her boyfriend. She told her mom that they were planning to get engaged soon and we’re looking for wedding venues. She made it clear that the wedding would not be in the Church. Unbeknownst to this young lady, her parents were praying eight rosaries (all four mysteries by each parent) per day for their daughter for about 7 months when she made the statement about the non-Church wedding. The parents continued to pray the rosaries hoping the couple would reconsider. About two months later, the couple announced that it would be a Church wedding after all! Like all of us, the young couple is still working on their faith journey, but the parents are encouraged because of what they have seen so far.
Often progress back towards God is seen in small steps. Be encouraged at seeing these movements back towards God.
Susan: Any last words you want to say to people suffering out there?
Kristine: Besides prayer, fasting, and deeds of mercy, my friend’s mom gave me some very sound advice:
- As parents, our mission in life is to help our children get to heaven. Our prayers for them are very powerful.
2. The Catholic Church has so many beautiful resources for us. One is our Blessed Mother. Give your loved ones to her with full confidence she will pursue them and bring them home to her son.
3. Find joy in your prodigals as they are. Do not try to fix them. Just love them!
Remember, Love and fidelity to God converts souls. If you are struggling with a fallen-away loved one, please come find us at Praying For Our Prodigals. We are here to support you in your fight for the souls of your loved ones.
