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To: Tax-chick; GregB; SumProVita; narses; bboop; SevenofNine; Ronaldus Magnus; tiki; Salvation; ...
Dear friends ... my step father was raised by non-practicing Lutheran parents. They never baptized their son, leaving that decision up to him. I was 8 when he and my mother married. Being Catholic, my mother wanted to be married in the Catholic Church. At that time, the priest met with them and explained that since I had been baptized Catholic, it was commensurate upon my step father that he respect and agree to raise me in my faith. He agreed and kept that promise. Over the years, he would occasionally accompany us to mass at Christmas and Easter. He also attended important events in my life, like the day of my Confirmation, graduation from both Catholic elementary and High School. I prayed for him to be baptized before he died. In his business life, a co-worker he admired became a Baptist minister. He considered becoming a Baptist but then realized that such a decision was based solely on the man rather than the faith. The years turned into decades and I continued to pray for him. Last Thursday, my mother called. My step Dad asked to be baptized .. a Catholic. I broke down in sobs of joy. 56 years of prayer had finally been answered!

My step father, Robert, will be baptized tomorrow, March 31. My daughter and I will be his witnesses. If you have ever doubted the power of prayer, then please take courage and draw inspiration from this event. God hears and answers all prayers. This is proof positive of that. Please join with us in offering up a Prayer of Thanksgiving for this tremendous blessing!

2 posted on 03/30/2015 4:48:14 PM PDT by NYer (Without justice - what else is the State but a great band of robbers? - St. Augustine)
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To: NYer

Good news. Blessings to your father tomorrow.


4 posted on 03/30/2015 4:51:57 PM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: NYer

Very touching story. Congrats all around, and to your step-father, welcome to the faith!


5 posted on 03/30/2015 4:53:50 PM PDT by Regal
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To: NYer

Your testimony inspires me to continue to pray for my brothers and sister who are away from the Church as well as all but one of my five children.

You are a REAL St. Monica — wow! 56 years of prayers.


6 posted on 03/30/2015 4:54:33 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: NYer
My step Dad asked to be baptized .. a Catholic. I broke down in sobs of joy. 56 years of prayer had finally been answered!
Good job, NYer! Tremendous story of hope, prayer, and perseverance. Jesus, we thank you!
8 posted on 03/30/2015 4:58:38 PM PDT by mlizzy ("Tell your troubles to Jesus," my wisecracking father used to say, and now I do.......at adoration.)
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To: NYer

Praying in thanksgiving for your step-father’s conversion, praise be to God!


9 posted on 03/30/2015 5:00:29 PM PDT by Ronaldus Magnus
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To: NYer

wonderful news! prayers work..


11 posted on 03/30/2015 6:01:17 PM PDT by aimee5291
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To: NYer

I’m so glad! God bless you all. A prayer of Thanksgiving is on the way!


12 posted on 03/30/2015 6:10:23 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: NYer

What wonderful news! A tremendous blessing for your stepfather and all of you!


13 posted on 03/30/2015 6:21:32 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Google "tiny kitten pictures," and put down the gun.)
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To: NYer

That is wonderful. My prayers for you and your family.

My mother was also brought up by non practicing parents and converted to Catholicism after marriage influenced by Monsignor Fulton Sheen. She found out after his death that her father was a baptized Catholic.


14 posted on 03/30/2015 7:03:49 PM PDT by ADSUM
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To: NYer
Praise the Lord!

Here's a fitting Gospel song to rejoice with:   Thank You, Jesus!

15 posted on 03/30/2015 8:49:34 PM PDT by Heart-Rest ("I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life." - Deut. 30:19)
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To: NYer

Amen Amen Amen ........... Augustine’s mother is proof of your faith too. She prayed many years . St Monica.


16 posted on 03/30/2015 10:07:37 PM PDT by johngrace (I am a 1 John 4! Christian- declared at every Sunday Mass , Divine Mercy and Rosary prayers!)
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To: NYer

AWESOME!


17 posted on 03/31/2015 6:08:51 AM PDT by defconw (Fight all error, and do it with good humor, patience, kindness and love. -St. John Cantius)
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To: NYer

sweet,


18 posted on 03/31/2015 7:39:39 AM PDT by bboop (does not suffer fools gladly)
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To: NYer

Persistence :), many blessings to him and your entire family.


19 posted on 03/31/2015 7:54:19 AM PDT by pbear8 (the Lord is my light and my salvation)
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To: Tax-chick; GregB; SumProVita; narses; bboop; SevenofNine; Ronaldus Magnus; tiki; Salvation; ...

UPDATE

It's official! Fr. Walsh met privately with my dad this afternoon at which time he did a life review from the time of his youth. Since my father is not ambulatory, the ceremony took place in my parents' home. It was also a first for the priest. Before he was baptized, Fr. Walsh read from Mt 28:18-20. He explained that these were the final words of Jesus before He ascended to heaven. He said the Church takes these words seriously since these were the last words spoken by our Lord. As with all baptisms, he recited the creed, asking my dad the usual questions along the way (Ex: Do you reject Satan?). After this, he showed us the container of chrism and explained the history of its use in the Church. He then Confirmed my dad in the faith. He chose the name Francis. Lastly, father brought along a pyx and administered First Communion to dad and all of us assembled.

It was a beautiful and moving ceremony, reminiscent of what it must have been like in the early church for those who, like my dad, were immobile. Thank you all for your prayers! You can imagine how overwhelmed with emotion I am and overjoyed at God's response to 53 years of prayer. Never give up! Remember the parable of the Persistent Widow:

Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them?
Lk 18:7

In our home, politics & religion were topics never to be discussed. Like the Persistent Widow, though, I never gave up my personal prayer! It was a daily prayer that God has granted. Be like the widow. Pray daily and trust that in His great mercy, God will answer you.

20 posted on 03/31/2015 3:31:37 PM PDT by NYer (Without justice - what else is the State but a great band of robbers? - St. Augustine)
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To: NYer

Lord Jesus Christ, bless Thy servant Robert richly on the day of his second birth.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, in the company of saints in heaven, amen.


25 posted on 03/31/2015 8:23:01 PM PDT by annalex (fear them not)
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