maximus wrote:This is a topic I find very interested...
On December 7th of last year, I became engaged to a wonderful woman. I am an Orthodox Christian. She is not. However, her intentions, and her actions have shown me that she is open to the Faith. She is in communication with my priest and appears open to baptism. She still has quite a lot to learn, but God willing she will keep progressing...
We live states-apart. Oftentimes, she assists me in my spiritual struggles, encouraging me when I fall into despair and despondency... She seems to exhibit more Christian virtue than I do and she's not even baptized. I hope that she is never like me but remains as she is: kind, patient, and forgiving. It's funny - she admires St. Xenia of St. Petersburg, who had such a concern for the soul of her husband.
I know that I can never marry her unless she comes into the Faith. And it is a balancing act sometimes trying to push her towards God without shoving; without becoming the reason to be baptized. God forbid she become baptized for MY sake. I would rather be alone.
My priest has considered this relationship to be beneficial for me. What are your thoughts?
Many years ago, my husband also was baptized just before our wedding.
He attended his catechumen classes without me as the priest wanted to make sure it was his own choice.
We had initially met at a Thanksgiving potluck dinner hosted at a nearby church.
Since his youth my husband had always been looking for the True Faith, and God used me to lead him home.
Several years before I had met my husband, a priest had told me that I would probably met a suitable mate and lead him to Christ. He was right. Many couples have told me that their spouses helped lead them to Christ, but it was Christ who provided the grace. Indeed, in our relationship, my husband's conversion helped my own faith, so there was much grace showered upon us.