Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 222.  Mon  1-06-92 20:21  (NO KILL)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Stephen Konig
 Subject: Conversion
+-
| Father--
|  
|   I'm a college student and over the last few months I have had occasion
| to meet a very nice young woman (I'll call her Judy--not her real name).
| She is very conservative, both morally and politically, as am I.
|  
|   She is Presbyterian; I am Catholic.  Ever since I learned this fact,
| I've been thinking to myself, "She's too conservative--she ought to be
| Catholic!"  I don't say this to denigrate Protestants or Protestantism;
| but I see in her a very strong faith and sound moral character, and I
| honestly believe that these gifts would be best used in the Catholic
| Church.  Do you have any suggestions on what would be a good way to
| introduce her to the Catholic faith and hopefully one day to bring her
| into it?
|  
|   -Stephen
+-[SK=>FM]
 
Dear Stephen,
 
The first step you must take to win the soul of your friend is to pray
for her.  Pray intensely and perseveringly and tell Our Lord that you
are not going to quit until he grants her the grace of conversion.  To
your prayer, add penance and self-denial, which gives strength to your
prayer because it unites you directly to the sufferings of Jesus on the
cross (2nd Cor. 1:3-7)
 
In particular, I recommend daily or very frequent Mass and Holy
Communion, offered for your friend.  Say the rosary every day,
reminding our Mother that your friend is her daughter, too, and you
expect some action.
 
Give a rosary to her and teach her how to say it.  Say the rosary with
her.  Give her one or more of the attractive rosary pamphlets that are
available in any Catholic bookstore.
 
Write and ask for the catalogs from:
 
1) Catholic Answers. P.O. Box 17490, San Diego, CA  92177.
 
2) St. Joseph Communications, Inc. P.O. Box 720, West Covina, CA 91793.
 
Just read the titles of their tapes, tracts, and books they offer at
very reasonable prices.  You will see at once where you can best spend
your money, how little it may be.
 
I'll pray for you and your friend,
 
                                God bless you,
 
                                Father Mateo