“Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12)

Recently on The Patrick Madrid Show, a listener named Jerry called in to ask Patrick for help. All of his immediate family members have stopped practicing their faith and not only do they refuse to practice, but they are actively anti-Catholic. “My brother, father, and sister have fallen away from the Church and criticize it and put me down for my faith and we’ve just been distanced for so many years now. I just feel really sad, and I just want to know what advice you have to bring them back.”

Patrick said that while it does depend on the nature of Jerry’s relationship with those family members, he would suggest one of the books that he wrote called Search and Rescue. It includes many tactics and suggestions for connecting with lost loved ones using friendship and common sense. It doesn’t have to be a combative crisis to bring them back. Living charitably and compassionately is the best way to repair strained relationships.

Patrick continued, encouraging Jerry that he is doing the right thing. He is keeping the Faith in the face of rebuke and derision. Jesus said that those who face persecution for His sake are blessed. Living to bear witness for Christ isn’t easy, but the eternal reward makes it all worth it.

Further, Patrick continued, Jesus said that He comes to bring division, not for its own sake, but in the sense that the truth often divides people. While the truth should bring union, original sin has corrupted our gravitation towards the good. Brother will turn against brother, father will turn against son, and mother will turn against daughter. Jesus explicitly predicted the polarizing nature of His truth, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to bring people from one side to the other.

“So, what you’re going through of course is painful and I understand that you’d like to see it change. And hopefully, it will change over time, but if it doesn’t change, and even as it’s not changing, you know in real-time, just remember that Jesus says that you are actually blessed by this experience…” Patrick closed his answer by saying that regardless of the way it turns out with his family, Jerry should feel secure in knowing that he is keeping his faith strong and doing all that he can to bring them back. He also suggested that Jerry try turning his family members on to Relevant Radio and maybe the programming could really help them change their minds.

Jerry also told Patrick that long ago, he had made a request of Our Lady, asking that his soul be made worthy. He asked her to help the Lord to grant him the grace to undergo suffering for the sake of the holy souls in Purgatory. Patrick recognized this request as “victim soul”, the concept that one on earth is chosen by God to suffer an inordinate amount, and they welcome it willingly as an imitation of Christ’s Passion. Patrick said that God may or may not grant that to Jerry, depending on what God’s plans are for him.

However, in that spirit of praying for the faithful departed, make sure to go to relevantradio.com/souls to submit the names of your deceased loved ones. From November 2-10, we will be remembering the submissions of our listeners and praying for them at every Daily Mass at Noon CT, Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3pm CT, and Family Rosary Across America.  As you pray, we pray with you.

Listen to the full conversation below:

Tune in to The Patrick Madrid Show weekdays 8am-11am CT