Dear Candice:

I praise God that you have found your faith and even moreso that you are interested in coming to the Church that Jesus founded -- the Catholic Church. I am sorry to hear about your husband falling away from the faith.

Concerning your husband I would suggest that you be a good example to him of a Christian. I would also suggest you explain to him that you do not want occultic things coming into the house and that he needs to respect that.

You need to pray for him, in general, and also from a spiritual warfare point-of-view. Here is a prayer you could use:

Trusting in the promise that whatever we ask the Father in Jesus' name He will do, I now approach You Father with confidence in Our Lord's words and in Your infinite power and love for me and for my     [husband/wife, person's name]     and with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, Blessed Archangel Michael, the guardian angels of myself and     [person's name]    , with all the saints and angels of heaven, and Holy in the power of His blessed Name, as ask you Father to send forth Your Spirit to convict     [person's name]     and to allow him/her to see any and all wrongs that he has done and how they offend Your infinite goodness.

Father I ask in sorrow, knowing that You do not intrude upon free will, but that You can give Divine Influence like you did with Hosea's wife, that You send a hedge of thorns and wall around     [person's name]     so that he/she cannot find the paths that lead him/her away from me and our marriage, and though he/she shall pursue his/her     [i.e. lovers, lifestyle, sinful ways, etc.]    , he/she will not     [i.e. overtake them, practice improper lifestyles, engage in sin, etc.]    ; though he/she shall seek     [i.e. lovers, improper lifestyle, sin, etc.]    , he/she shall not find     [i.e. them, desired lifestyle, the sin that draws him, etc.]    ; that no matter what path or what     [i.e. lover, lifestyle, sin, etc.]     he/she seeks he/she shall not find satisfaction or happiness until he/she returns to me, his/her wife/husband where he/she may then be taught by Your Holy Spirit the true meaning of marriage and sexuality and to be a good and loving wife/husband, and to know the ways of righteousness and true womanhood/manhood.

Father, I am powerless against these spiritual forces and recognize my utter dependence on You and Your power. Look with mercy upon me and upon my wife/husband. Do not look upon our sins, O Lord; rather, look at the sufferings of your Beloved Son and see the Victim who's bitter passion and death has reconciled us to You. By the victory of the cross, protect us from all evil and rebuke any evil spirits who are attacking or influencing us in any way. Send them back to Hell and place a wall of protection around this marriage. Send your Holy Angels to watch over us and protect us.

Father, all of these things I ask in the most holy name of Jesus Christ, Your Son. Thank you, Father, for hearing my prayer. I love You, I worship You, I thank You and I trust in You. Amen.

I would also suggest the Hedge Prayers of Protection and any other prayer that you feel helpful found in our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog.

As for your interest in joining the Catholic Church, you need to follow your conscience. In fact, you have an obligation to follow your conscience. Pursuing truth often means sacrifice and turmoil. Jesus Himself said that he did not come to bring peace, but division (Matt 10:34-38). He then described how even marriages and families will be ripped apart by Him (that is by people standing for the truth).

As our late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II always said, "Be Not Afraid!" It is the devil who will inspire fear in you to prevent you from seeking out Christ's Church. Do not let the devil win.

You must persevere through the fear and trepidation and even harassment as persecution that conversion to the Church might bring even from your own family. Most converts to the Catholic Church experience these things.

Do not be afraid of losing your marriage. Perhaps your conversion to the Church will eventually lead your husband to come back to God and maybe even to come to the Catholic Church himself.

Things may be worse before they get better on that score, but you must trust in God and follow His will.

Remember that God is not a liar and He says that He will not allow anything to come into your life that you cannot handle. He WILL make lemonade out of lemons if you let him.

As far as your marriage is concerned, if both your husband and yourself were baptized at the time of your marriage then the marriage is presumed sacramental. If your husband was not baptized then the marriage is still valid under civil law and with the Church as well, unless you or he has previous marriages.

If previous marriages exist then you will need to petition for annulments in order to convert to the Church. After that, your marriage can be blessed by the Church.

In annulments are not an issue, (or once annulments are granted) once you convert you can talk to your parish priest about a blessing for your marriage.

From what you have described, however, it sounds like you are going to have a rough road to follow. You must persevere and follow Christ no matter where He leads. Trust that God will give you the grace to handle whatever happens.

As for a first step in returning to the Catholic Church, you can begin to practice all that Catholics practice in prayers and devotions and attendance at Mass each week (just do not receive communion yet).

Second, contact your local parish priest for instructions. He can set you up for the next RCIA class (probably to be held next Fall).

Third, get a hold of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and read and study it and begin to live the Catholic life.

We will certainly be in prayer for you and for your marital situation, and for your husband.

God bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary