The Prodigal You Love – Free Excerpt

Last updated on: October 30, 2014 at 7:56 am by Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble

The Prodigal You Love – Free Excerpt 2014-10-30T07:56:50-04:00 Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Hi all, today is the last day you can get my book, The Prodigal You Love: Inviting Loved Ones Back to the Church at our webstore for 15% off.

If you have loved ones away from the faith, what is an investment of eleven bucks to get help inviting them back?

Still unconvinced?

Download a free sample chapter.

And enjoy another excerpt from my book:

My grandma, Elinor Brandi Shea, was a woman who enjoyed life. My grandfather, Charles Shea, died young, leaving her to care for five children on her meager salary as secretary at the local Catholic school. Despite the tough circumstances of her life, or perhaps because of them, my grandmother was a strong and holy woman. I got to know her because every time one of my four younger siblings was born, Grandma Shea would get on a plane and spend a couple of weeks helping my mom around the house. When she would visit, we would play endless card games. She never tired of me asking to play, but I do not remember ever winning one game against her. When I would complain, she would say to me, “Theresa, life won’t give you a break, so I don’t give you a break. You have to win fair and square.”

I don’t remember discussing God with my grandma, but her life spoke to me of God. Sometimes the holiest people are not those who flaunt their faith or talk about pious things, but rather those who live their lives to the fullest, loving everyone around them. Elinor Shea was this kind of holy—she loved me, she loved my family, she loved everyone, and her love spoke of God. It was not hard for her to love because she lived life to the fullest. She suffered. She lived through tough times. But in her Catholic faith she found the strength to persevere. She was one of those rare persons who grow and mature to the fullest capacity of their humanness. Like a bonfire amid candles, her wisdom and strength shone brightly on those around her.

Sometimes when loved ones leave the faith, we think we need to do something. But effective evangelization is really less about doing and more about being. My Grandma Shea preached her faith by being herself, by exuding warmth, strength, maturity, and joy. God calls us to holiness more than he calls us to the work of evangelization. Holiness is primary. Why? Because more than anything else, holiness attracts others to the Church. Pope Francis affirmed this when, echoing the words of Benedict XVI, he wrote: “It is not by proselytizing that the Church grows, but ‘by attraction.’” Evangelization is more about attraction than it is about anything else. When we have loved ones who are away from the Church, God asks us to become holy so that we may give glory to God and attract others to him in the Church. In short, God asks of us the same thing he asks regardless of our situation—to become saints….

Your loved ones are in my prayers!

Buy The Prodigal You Love now…

Evangelization

Inspire Me

Previous Post

October 29, 2014

Evangelizing Loved Ones - 5 Quick Tips

Next Post

October 30, 2014 Arleen Spenceley Interviews the Coolest Nun Ever.

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Art Atheism Book Reviews Christmas Church Issues Discernment Easter Ecumenism Entertainment Environment Eucharist Evangelization Family Freebies Guest Post Holy Spirit Inspire Me Interreligious Dialogue Jesus Lectio Divina Lent Life Issues Liturgical Season Mary Media MISC Movie Reviews Pauline Pope Francis Prayer Prayer Intention Religious Life Saints Sanctity Scripture Social Justice Social Teaching St. Paul Theology of the Body Uncategorized US News Vocations World News Writing Year of Mercy

Select a Month September 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In Revelation, what do the souls under the altar cry out for?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The return of Christ Mercy for their persecutors Justice and vengeance for their blood Peace on earth