Saints for Teenage Girls (Don't forget Our Blessed Mother)

[Consecrated one]

Hello,
This is really a continuation from Patricia's introduction.  I thought if I started this portion as a new topic it would be found and addressed by others easier.  Patricia has a 15 yr old who is devastated(really hurt) by her dad's death and doesn't want to have anything to do with the church ( I hope I understood that correctly).  A very strong and wonderful Saint, especially for teenage girls is St. Dymphna, while being the Patron Saint for those of us with mental and emotional disorders, she is so strong and beautiful for young girls (all those hormones, etc.)  Your daughter might want to get to know her thru a Lives of the Saints Book, a prayer card that she could hold on to during particularly sad times or, you might want to do a Novena to St. Dymphna for you daughter.  There is a Novena to her in the Pocket Book of Catholic Novenas.   Another Great Saint for teenage girls is St Maria Goretti.  Both of these Saints were teenage girls themselves, so maybe that might help.  You can always pray, novenas, etc, for her, behind her back so to speak, if she isn't interested in praying with you.  To answer your question - yes you force her to go, even if she pouts (I have a 14 yr old), you want her to be in the house of God surrounded by the people of God, perhaps even receiving Our Lord and Savior in the Eucharist.  I know these to Saints would be thrilled to intercede for you and your daughter in your prayers.  Saints love to help us. Remind your daughter of that, maybe?  I hope my suggestions haven't been way off track.
God Bless,
Vicky

[Patricia]

I welcome your suggestions, Vicky. Thanks. She joins us for Mass and nightly prayers. Willingly reads from the Bible and saint's books aloud for the family. Her only objection is to take the RCIC course which will teach her about the Catholic faith and prepare her for the sacraments. She says she is not ready yet.  I will search for the novena to St Dymphna. Ive also been praying to St Philomena another teenage saint who is very powerful.  I know that she identifies herself as Catholic and that she loves Our Lady, but seems to be reluctant to attend the weekly classes that will lead her to Baptism and the other sacraments.  I guess Im going to have to be firm with her. My mother did send her a book on the life of Maria Goretti, but she has not been interested enough to read it yet.   

[Consecrated one]

Hello,
Sounds so much like our daughter!  My daughter is the one who introduced me to St Philomena!  I must say, when I went thru the CCD (now RCIA) and Teen classes, they were the most boring of anything
I'd done!  So, maybe they are just really not inspiring teachers? Have you sat in on a class; maybe that
would help.  My daughter is in her Confirmation Classes now and the parents were required to attend one
class - it was every bit the torture I remembered!  But our job is to get them to Heaven!  I don't mean to be pushy but it is far more important that she attend religious education than public education!  Her immortal soul is at stake!  Has she made any friends from school that are also members of your Parish?
That might help.  My suggestions: Get tough and get her going and Prayer, Prayer and more prayer.
But we really do have a responsibility before God to educate our children in His Church and His Ways.
I apologize if I sound too "preachy", but you really do gotta dig in and do it.  My prayers will be with you and your family.
God Bless,
Vicky
P.S. Those classes really do excel in boredom, particularly if she is a very bright young lady. Just gotta Go!

[Consecrated one]

Thank you so much!  I never knew ANY of that information!  I'll make
sure that my daughter gets to read it!

[Patricia]

Baptism gives us the grace of new birth in God the Father, through his Son, in the Holy Spirit. For those who bear God's Spirit are led to the Word, that is, to the Son, and the Son presents them to the Father, and the Father confers incorruptibility on them. And it is impossible to see God's Son without the Spirit, and no one can approach the Father without the Son, for the knowledge of the Father is the Son, and the knowledge of God's Son is obtained through the Holy Spirit.

-- Saint Irenaeus of Lyons

I was just thinking about this for a few days now. Will Baptism of my remaining three older children bring about some change in them as regards to the desire to pray, etc.  Since my youngest is now recently baptised, though just 5, I see more of a desire in her to pray or go to church, than the other three. Even in her small way with all the distractions little children have. I don't see that in the others. They do their prayers with me but it is more mechanical , though they do want to be Catholic.

[Shin]

I think it most certainly should be visible!  

Such a special time, baptism!!! Preparing for it and experiencing the grace after it!

 

[martin]

I was at the Baptism of my grandson yesterday and what an occasion.
The priest explained each part. The oil, the water, the white robe, the exorcism prayer and then all watched as the water was poured on he child’s head and the priest pronounced the words, “I Baptise you Columb Seamus in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost….. If I weren’t a catholic myself I would have asked to be Baptised there and then.   
May be an idea if you know anyone for Baptism to bring the kids along to witness the sacrament first hand. Graces abound for everyone there.

[Patricia]

If I weren’t a catholic myself I would have asked to be Baptised there and then.   angel blue
May be an idea if you know anyone for Baptism to bring the kids along to witness the sacrament first hand. Graces abound for everyone there.

My other three were present at the Baptism of the youngest , and I was surprised to see them so excited and happy for her when it was over. They hugged and kissed her with joy. And they don't even know the full significance of the Sacrament yet.

[Brigid]

If I weren’t a catholic myself I would have asked to be Baptised there and then.   angel blue
May be an idea if you know anyone for Baptism to bring the kids along to witness the sacrament first hand. Graces abound for everyone there.

My other three were present at the Baptism of the youngest , and I was surprised to see them so excited and happy for her when it was over. They hugged and kissed her with joy. And they don't even know the full significance of the Sacrament yet.

That's so sweet, Patricia. They may not have known the significance intellectually, but I think children sense these things better than adults do.