For nearly 20 years, she explored everything from yoga spirituality to meditation
circles while living far from the sacraments.
This blog post was written by Kristine Bruce, Founder of the apostolate Praying for Our Prodigals.
If You’re Praying for a Prodigal, Read This
For nearly 20 years, Emanuela lived far from the Catholic Church.
She explored yoga spirituality, meditation circles, and personal development while drifting further from the sacraments.
Then one night, while high smoking pot, she heard Jesus say:
“Come back to Me, my child.”
Today, she is a faithful Catholic sitting in the pews beside families who would never guess she was once a prodigal.
And her story is a reminder that we often have no idea what God is doing in someone’s heart.
Raised Catholic, But Spiritually Unformed
Have you ever had this happen? I was talking with a fellow Catholic. You know the kind: devout, frequent Mass and Confession, married in the Church, baptized her children, etc.
I just assumed she was a cradle Catholic like me.
So you can imagine my surprise when she told me, “I used to be a prodigal.”
I would have never guessed.
Naturally, I was intrigued because I lead an apostolate called Praying for Our Prodigals for Catholics praying for loved ones who have wandered from the faith.
I asked Emanuela, “Would you mind sharing your story with me?”
Emanuela was raised in an Italian Catholic family in Ontario. She received the sacraments, attended Sunday Mass, prayed the Rosary, and even sang in the church choir. Yet somehow, none of it really stuck.
She simply didn’t understand the faith.
She began drifting away in high school and was fully gone after graduation.
She moved to New York City, pursued acting, and drifted far from the faith. For nearly 20 years, she explored everything from yoga spirituality to meditation circles while living far from the sacraments.
As she shared her story with me, I found myself wondering what brought her back. Was it her mom? Her mother-in-law?
“Actually, it was neither,” she told me. “God Himself convinced me to return.”
One night while high smoking pot, she heard Jesus say, “Come back to Me, my child.” At the time, she brushed it off because she was high.
Later, while trying to decide on her next personal development book, she felt God urging her to read “The Book.”
The Bible.
She obeyed and began reading the Gospels. Before long, she found herself back in the confessional and once again receiving the Eucharist.
Thanks be to God!
We Often Don’t Know God Is Working
Learning more about Emanuela and her return to the faith made me wonder, “Maybe there are more reverts than I realize.” I imagine many people who come back simply do not share their stories publicly.
Not everyone wants to publish their own version of St. Augustine’s Confessions.
We may sit beside former prodigals every Sunday without even knowing it.
At the same time, leading this apostolate,* I regularly receive emails from Catholic parents sharing small steps to significant steps forward.
Here are a few:
An inmate who had been away from the Church for 25 years is back.
A fallen away Catholic who married outside the Church returned to the faith.
Eventually his wife was baptized and confirmed, and later their marriage was
blessed in the Church.
A man who left the Church after Confirmation recently returned to Confession and
Mass after 10 years away.
Recently while in prayer, I found myself thinking about relatives and loved ones who were either not baptized Catholic or who had fallen away from the faith. Some were poorly catechized and simply meandered off. Others have done a complete 180 and gone far from God. Others are somewhere in between.
As I wrote down the name of each relative, it hurt.
I prayed, “Lord, ugh.”
I couldn’t even think of what to say, only sadness came forth.
As I sat there praying, I began thinking again about Emanuela and the many other stories I have heard over the years.
The truth is, we often do not know what God is doing in someone’s heart.
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Prodigals Really Do Come Home
A person may look completely uninterested in the faith while quietly wrestling with deeper questions.
Another may appear hardened while God is already softening them through suffering, restlessness, or grace.
Sometimes the very people we worry about most are only one confession, one conversation, or one encounter away from returning Home.
And perhaps that is why stories like Emanuela’s matter so much.
Twenty years away from the Church, New Age spirituality, and living far from the sacraments. Yet all along, God was still pursuing her.
I think many of us assume we would recognize a future saint or a future revert if we saw one. But maybe not.
Maybe some of the most faithful Catholics sitting in the pews today were once the prodigals someone cried and prayed for years ago.
So if you are praying for someone who has wandered from the faith, do not assume the story is over.
God is still working.
Even now.
Bio for Emanuela Hall:
As a multi passionate entrepreneur and creative, Emanuela Hall discovered her
calling to equip leaders in becoming captivating speakers after she witnessed so
many struggling to show up on camera in 2020. With a background in theatre
(AMDA), dance, yoga, and therapeutic drama (The New School), Emanuela brings a
unique approach to the craft of speaking; guiding her clients to connect to their
bodies, breath, and spirit, in order to confidently embody their presenc
*This post was written by Catholics Online member Kristine Bruce, learn more about Praying for Our Prodigals here.
Kristine has been called to support, encourage, and pray with Catholics whose loved ones have left the Church. Every Friday, she shares messages of guidance, prayer, and hope to uplift and strengthen Catholics amid the trials of wayward loved ones. For a touch of comfort and connection (and even her all-time favorite cookie recipe!), visit PrayingForOurProdigals.com
Do you run a Catholic ministry or apostolate and want it listed on this directory? If yes, apply here!
Emanuela Hall is also a member of Catholics Online, you can learn more about Emanuela here!
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