Mr. Amazing

Dear Sister, I love your blog. I really really really do. You cover tough topics with humor and grace and for that, God bless you. As for my question.. I grew up with an amazing boy whom I dated when I was 14. We continued dating until college separated us. lately I've been talking to him again and we are becoming very close again. Unfortunately he's made some (as he called them) mistakes in his first year of school. Sadly he fell into the trap of partying hard, sleeping around, and slacking off. I asked him to go to confession, but he says he would like to, but he can't if he feels forced, or unless it's on his terms and he feels ready. He doesn't feel ready now. Ok, I have two questions. 1. Is it wrong for me to be so persistent? I'm always bugging him about it, getting upset when he says no, and I've practically dragged him to church. I'm afraid it's selfish of me to want him to come back to God to make me feel better. If that makes sense..

Amazing is a good enough word for this fellow, I suppose.

Yes, it's wrong of you to be so persistent. Does that surprise you that the old nun would say stop nagging this guy?  Nagging never works. Unless you're St. Monica.  She prayed more than she nagged, I think.

 What's the second question? I have one for you. What's so amazing about this guy?

It is amazing that he would do all of that stuff, mortal sins included, and not "feel ready" to go to confession or Mass or anyplace else but on a date with you. Did you ever hear this old chestnut, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink"?  Your horse is not thirsty. 

If it didn't bother you so much, you could ride off into the sunset with him, two happy pagans, destined for Hell.  But you're on the right track and he isn't. No amount of pleading and cajoling is going to get him past the dragging stage. And if you're dragging him, it means he really doesn't want to be there, is probably thinking of last night's football game while he's there and wondering what kind of sandwich you'll make him when you get home.

How is wanting what's best for someone else selfish? You lost me there.

But then, I'm lost altogether on what makes this fellow so amazing.  Amazing in a good way, at least. Not seeing it.

If your life with God is important to you, but his life with God is not important to him, you are never going to be happy with Mr. Amazing.  And if he just goes through the motions to make you happy, he will never be happy. Unless you make great sandwiches.

All is not lost, however!

We have ways of dealing with this type of thing. We have the wonderful GREEN SCAPULAR.  This is just the ticket for you two lovebirds.  Get your hands on one of these.  It's purpose is to bring people back to the Church.

May I be so bold as to suggest that you take a breather from Mr. Amazing?  Think of him as a addiction. To break an addiction you have to have 90 days away from the drug. That will stop the chemical reaction your brain is having to being with him, just like it does for cocaine and heroine.  A total break. No communication of any kind. Nophone calls, letters, bathroom wall writings,  emails, talking, letters, tweets or texting. No facebook.  You can tell him you're taking a break for 90 days. Count the days.

Then when you're clear headed you can decide how amazing he actually is. Plant the green scapular on him before you go!