Thank you for reaching out and asking this question. There are many factors at play here and clearly there is a lot here that I am unaware of. Since I do not know your son or his wife, I am only able to make a couple of assumptions. What I will offer you is based off of these assumption, so please keep that in mind when you read these words.

I think that your experience sounds a lot like most people in the Church. Now, when I say that, I don’t mean “most people who don’t care about getting close to the Lord” in the Church. What you described is what most people who are showing up and who long to be closely connected with God are experiencing every day. We want God so desperately, but we don’t seem to be able to experience His Presence and His Power. So what do we do?

I believe that I am a very spiritual person. I don’t personally believe in any religion, but that doesn’t mean I am not spiritual.

I heard that Catholics aren’t allowed to be cremated, but I kind of think that I would like to be cremated rather than just buried when I die. Can I be a faithful Catholic and be cremated?

Why do you refer to God as “He”? Are you implying that God is male?Doesn’t this support a patriarchal worldview? I don’t see the point.

How could a person in Heaven ever be happy if they know that someone they love is not there or will never be there (is in Hell)?

I’ve recently come across something called Centering Prayer. What is it and is it Catholic?

I go to school in another part of the state. Some of my professors told me that the Diocese of Duluth is a “conservative” diocese. What does that mean?

Will there be animals in Heaven?Are there animals in Heaven?

Can a Christian fight in war? If a Catholic soldier killed someone in battle, would they have to go to Confession?