Covert Tactics to Convert Your Loved Ones
Oct 17, 2012 by Gretchen Filz
There are probably few things harder to deal with than watching a loved one resist a deeper conversion to Christ. This loved one may be a fallen away son or daughter, parent, spouse, or friend; they may be complacent, rebellious, or uninterested; they may be a cradle Catholic or an unbeliever.
Regardless of their specific situation, you care about them very much and you wish you could do something to help draw them into spiritual conversion. You've probably discovered that dropping hints, giving suggestions, or downright pleading doesn't seem to do much good. They won't read the Catholic books you give them, or come to Mass, or listen to your Scott Hahn CDs. So what's a good Catholic to do in these situations?
The answer: Super Top-Secret Covert Ops!
Luckily, you aren't left without resources. The Catholic Church has these wonderful little things called sacramentals, which are material objects that represent graces that are obtained through prayer. What does this mean, and how can it help your loved one?
According to the Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy, sacramentals are
- Sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments: they signify effects, particularly of a spiritual kind, which are obtained through the Church's intercession.
- By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy.
- Thus, for well-disposed members of the faithful, the liturgy of the sacraments and sacramentals sanctifies almost every event in their lives;
- They are given access to the stream of divine grace which flows from the paschal mystery of the passion, death, the resurrection of Christ, the font from which all sacraments and sacramentals draw their power.
- There is hardly any proper use of material things which cannot thus be directed toward the sanctification of men and the praise of God.
The bonus is that you can use sacramentals completely under the radar. Here are three sacramentals that are known for their conversion power, along with ideas on how to use them to covert your loved one (without them ever knowing it!)
Covert Tactic #1: The Green Scapular

- Secret Op: Simply have a priest bless the scapular and then slip it unnoticed into your loved one's belongings. Then, each day, with devotion, pray the prayer of the Green Scapular on behalf of your loved one.
Covert Tactic #2: The St. Benedict Medal
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- Secret Op: After having the St. Benedict Medal blessed, hide it in your loved one's car, or bury it in their yard, or otherwise sneak it into their belongings. Because this medal is so popular it comes in many forms and sizes, perfect for being inconspicuous.
Covert Tactic #3: Holy Water

- Secret Op: While your loved one isn't around, sprinkle Holy Water on anything they use. As you sprinkle the Holy Water you can say, “By Thy precious Blood and by this Holy Water, cleanse (him/her) from (his/her) sins, O Lord.” Since the Holy Water is already on your fingers, go ahead and bless yourself too!
It's important to remember that prayer is the means by which God chooses to accomplish things, and sacramentals are simply blessed objects that represent this. Sacramental are not magic, but they are material witnesses or signs of the unseen. When blessed by a priest, they are sacred objects that represent the spiritual reality of the intercessory prayers taking place in heaven and on earth for your loved one.
Sacramentals are a great means of grace that God gives us because he loves us, and he generously gives us many ways to intercede for ourselves and our loved ones. Do you know of any other covert tactics to convert your loved ones? Has anything worked for you in the past?