Aggggh help!

[New_Mom_Katie]

Ok- I’m not sure if this was the most appopriate place to post this thread, but it seemed fitting.

I basically need to share a little of my story and get some advice.

My Catholic faith was really very strong when I was in high school. Then when I graduated and left to join the military things started to get shakey. It was okay… at first. I went to mass less and less because my work kept me from going as often as I would have liked. But the real kicker was when I got married. My husband is a nonpracticing protestant. Basically he claims to be protestant and is rather stubborn about it but never ever goes to church or reads his bible. He’s a ‘lazy Christian’. But to make a long story short his views and his influence caused me to greatly question the catholic faith and I would denounce it on and off for about a year (one week I was Catholic the next I wan’t and then I was again etc…).

In the end I finally realized how foolish I was being for questioning the faith so much. I am trying VERY hard to get back to the level I was at when I was in high school, but I feel so frustrated like it could take me years to do that.

The hardest part for me is that my husband no longer takes me seriously when I speak about the Catholic faith because he figures, “ah well give it a week and she won’t be Catholic again.” Basically he doesn’t view me as a ‘real’ Catholic and even though he doesn’t really care because he is not Catholic, it still bothers me a lot. I want to be a ‘real’ Catholic again!!

I also worry about my unborn baby. I love my husband. He is a beautiful person and we are so happy. We aren’t having any ‘problems’ in our marriage. But I really am starting to worry because I want to raise our baby into the Catholic faith and I know he is not going to prevent me but he will also not help me in doing so.

Any advice??? I could use some. Thanks.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Hello Katie,
you’re post reminds me of my daughter, who went through a similar situation.

Its not going to be easy, but prayer is going to be the source of strength for you as you go through this.

Whatever you do, don’t compromise your faith. Your husband’s attitude isn’t going to change even if you do, unless he himself, opens himself to receive faith.

Pray for him, and ask the Blessed Mother, to pray for his conversion.

You’ll be in my prayers

God Bless
Jim

 

[New_Mom_Katie]

Hello Katie,
you’re post reminds me of my daughter, who went through a similar situation.

Its not going to be easy, but prayer is going to be the source of strength for you as you go through this.

Whatever you do, don’t compromise your faith. Your husband’s attitude isn’t going to change even if you do, unless he himself, opens himself to receive faith.

Pray for him, and ask the Blessed Mother, to pray for his conversion.

You’ll be in my prayers

God Bless
Jim

Thanks for the advice and prayers.

 

[Epistemes]

Hey there Katie…

I’m probably not the best person to give advice due to the fact that I’m in something of a situation like yourself. I *used *to be a very good Catholic but since becoming a rather horrible Catholic (if “Catholic” you could even still call it!) I have wavered off and on as a result of many things, not the least of which is my perception about where I should be **now **as a result of where I was then. (My thread “I’m Not Catholic,” which is still floating around the Spirituality section, more or less addresses some of my insecurities.) The thing is this, and I only want to tell you this because it’s also something which I need to hear for myself:

Life is a journey, and as a journey things never flow as sequentially or as smoothly as we might like. Like any real journey, there are times when you’ve got to stick to long, treacherous meanderings through the woods rather than following the road; there are times when shortcuts make long delays; there are times when passengers and other pilgrims prove to be setbacks. If we find that along our journey that we’ve either been going in circles or have been walking backwards instead of forwards, we can’t allow ourselves to get discouraged by thoughts of where we could be otherwise we’re likely to give up (again) thinking the mission impossible. What we need to realize is that it’s the same journey from birth to death, and that taking the first step in the right direction will allow us to reach our destination a lot quicker than sitting by the side of the road fuming over time and energy lost in the meanwhile.

I hope this helps you. It helps me.

EDIT: As far as your husband, I only wish to say that if you give yourself a chance to improve your relationship with God and Church, and so long as this change is evident in everything that you personally do in your life, then your husband, who loves and respects you, will surely consent to and respect your wishes for your child.

 

[New_Mom_Katie]

That was beautiful, very poetic. I’ll be praying for you too! We can both get through this!

 

[vee8]

Dont worry about trying to get back the level of faith you had in high school just focus on Jesus or go through Mary first to get to him. Im a revert and when I compare the spike of faith I had in my teens with what I have returned to the church with I have come back in a much fuller way like gold strengthened in fire. Of course I also pray for the grace to keep my faith and not fall away again.

 

[MarieVeronica]

Hi Katie May God bless you, your husband and your unborn Little One, abundantly. I would highly recommend to you… to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament, in Adoration.

Take your concerns directly to Jesus. He will assist you in all your needs. Also, I would recommend asking Our Lady for her help. Start saying the Rosary. The graces you will gain for yourself, your husband and your baby… will be great.

In my family, there are many members who have that same “shakey” relationship with the Church. But we’re beginning to see some signs of grace in their lives. I attribute this to time spent in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament… and also, to praying the Rosary. I hope this helps in some way. God bless you.

 

[Pani_Rose]

These are the LampLighting Prayers used in the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches at the setting of the sun. I find them to be wonderful for everyone - but for whatever the reason - men especailly They are not by name, yet I see in those men that I pray for and situations that I pray for, well try them when you can, and only do one at a time if need be.

THE SEVEN PRAYERS
AT THE LIGHTING OF THE LAMPS

O Lord, compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy, give ear to our prayer, and attend to the voice of our supplication. Work upon us a sign for good. Lead us in thy way, that we may walk in thy truth. Make glad our hearts, that we may fear thy holy name. For thou art great and doest wonders. Thou alone art God, and among all the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord, mighty in mercy, gracious in strength, to aid and to comfort and to save all those who put their trust in thy holy name. For unto thee are due all glory, honor and worship to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

1. O Lord, rebuke us not in thy displeasure, neither chasten us in thy wrath, but deal with us according to thy mercy, O Physician and Healer of our souls. Guide us unto the haven of thy will. Enlighten the eyes of our hearts to the knowledge of thy truth, and vouchsafe that the remainder of this day and our whole life may be peaceful and without sin, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the saints. For thine is the might, and thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
2. O Lord our God, remember us sinners and thine unprofitable servants when we call upon thy holy name, and put us not to shame in our expectation of thy mercy; but grant us, O Lord, all our petitions, which are unto salvation, and vouchsafe that we may love and fear thee with all our hearts and do thy will in all things. For thou art a good God and lovest mankind, and unto thee we ascribe glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
3. O thou who, with never-silent hymns and never-ceasing songs of praise to thy glory, art hymned by the holy powers: Fill our mouths with thy praise, that we may magnify thy holy name. And grant unto us part and inheritance with all those who fear thee in truth and keep thy commandments, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all thy saints. For unto thee are due all glory, honor and worship to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen
4. O Lord, O Lord, who upholdest all things in the undefiled hollow of thy hand, who showest long-suffering upon us all and repentest thee at our wickedness: Remember thy compassions and thy mercy. Visit us with goodness, and grant that, through the remainder of the present day, by thy grace, we may avoid the diverse subtle snares of the evil one and preserve our lives unassailed, through the grace of thine all-holy Spirit. Through the mercy and love toward mankind of thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
5. O God, great and wonderful, who with wisdom inscrutable and great riches of providence orderest all things and bestowest upon us earthly good things, who hast given us a pledge of the promised kingdom through the good things already bestowed upon us and hast made us to shun all evil during that part of the day which is past: Grant that we may also fulfill the remainder of this day without reproach before thy holy glory and hymn thee, the only good One, our God, who lovest mankind. For thou art our God and unto thee we ascribe glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
6. O great and most high God, who alone hast immortality and dwellest in light unapproachable, who has made all creation in wisdom, who hast divided the light from the darkness and hast appointed the sun to rule the day, the moon and stars also to rule the night, who has vouchsafed unto us sinners at this present hour also to come before thy presence with confession and to offer unto thee our evening praise: Do thou thyself, O Lord, who lovest mankind, direct our prayer as incense before thee, and accept it as a savor of sweet fragrance, and grant that we may pass the present evening and the coming night in peace. Endue us with the armor of light. Deliver us from the terror of the night and from everything that walketh in darkness, and grant that the sleep, which thou hast appointed for the repose of our weakness may be free from every imagination of the devil. Yea, O Master of all, Bestower of good things, may we, being moved to compunction upon our beds, call to remembrance thy name in the night, that, enlightened by meditation on thy commandments, we may rise up in joyfulness of soul to glorify thy goodness, offering up prayers and supplications unto thy tender love for our sins and for those of all thy people, whom do thou visit in mercy, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos. For thou art a good God and lovest mankind, and unto thee we ascribe glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.