Are there any church congregations that are on fire? with Christ

  • Thread starter Thread starter lovealways
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
L

lovealways

Guest
I feel like i’m the only one any more who wants to go to a church and pray and worship God in His Holy Temple. I’m finding it more uncomfortable to be the only one who kneels when i go into church and prays before Holy Mass. Also, i’m one of very few who sing and want to give true praise to God.

Are there any areas of the country who are on fire for Christ and worship Him suitably? (i know many will say that one should stay where they are planted, but why not join with others who worship with great joy)

Am i the only one who feels like this?
 
lovealways said:
I feel like i’m the only one any more who wants to go to a church and pray and worship God in His Holy Temple. I’m finding it more uncomfortable to be the only one who kneels when i go into church and prays before Holy Mass. Also, i’m one of very few who sing and want to give true praise to God.

Are there any areas of the country who are on fire for Christ and worship Him suitably? (i know many will say that one should stay where they are planted, but why not join with others who worship with great joy)

Am i the only one who feels like this?
Click to expand...
It is great you pray and worship God in His Holy Temple. Even though you feel as if you were the only one doing so, I can guarantee you many others do the same without your realization.

My parish have more than 7000 people. Lot of time when I go to make my daily holy hour, to pray in front of the tabernacle, I am the only one there. But I have never doubted many others go there at a different time. I actually enjoy my aloneness with the Lord that he has the full attention on me for the moment.

Just look at your parish ministry and see how many outreach and different faith activities are ongoing. They are all performed by parishioners with a burning love for our Lord. We can never judge others by our own standard. When you don’t see others praying in the church, it does not mean they don’t.

And there is no need to feel uncomfortable if you are the only one kneels there to pray. You may lead by example for others to follow. If something is not right, the solution is not to run away but help with positive (name removed by moderator)ut.

God bless!
 
InLight247 is giving a very good advice.
Be careful of our own spiritual pride.
 
Sorry i didn’t mean to sound prideful and judgemental and i will examine my true thoughts on this if i am. i didn’t mean to judge or examine others in their stage of the journey. the Graces i or anyone have are only from God’s Generosity. it would be nice to share in a lively faith with others. (when you go to a game and you are the only fan of the visiting team, its not so much fun)
 
I belong to a parish where the rosary and angelus are recited everyday before Mass. If you are looking for fellowship, does your parish or a neighboring parish have a Praise and Worship or other prayer group that meets on a weekly basis? Is Cursillo available in your area? After making Cursillo, a three day “short course in Christianity,” cursillistas meet weekly to help one another in their walk with Christ. A local parish has several rosary groups, including a weekly Marian Movement of Priests cenacle.
 
lovealways said:
Sorry i didn’t mean to sound prideful and judgemental and i will examine my true thoughts on this if i am. i didn’t mean to judge or examine others in their stage of the journey. the Graces i or anyone have are only from God’s Generosity. it would be nice to share in a lively faith with others. (when you go to a game and you are the only fan of the visiting team, its not so much fun)
Click to expand...
But you are not the only one. There is always a large congregation at the Holy Mass.

Praying in front of the tabernacle is different from going to a game.
There could be lot of fun in being with the Lord, but the primary purpose of worship is not to seek fun. Worship is all about Him, nothing about us.

Please realize that even though you may be praying alone in the church, it does not mean others do not worship God at a different time. Even if you stay at the church from its opening till its closing for the entire day and does not see a single soul come in to worship, you still cannot jump to conclusion. They may all come on another day. Just don’t worry about that and focus on your own worship. Or, you may earnestly pray for your parishioners to be on fire for the Lord. Prayer always works.
 
At my parish on Christmas morning there was about 50 people there. I’m sure some came to the midnight Mass, but that gives you an idea of how big our parish is. There are alot of good examples at my parish, so I would say that my parish is “on fire”, mainly because our Priest is so close to us and actually leads, not afraid to take on the serious issues and address any potental problems in the parish. He often reads from the Holy Fathers statements that week keeping us close to Rome. I could not imagining putting up with what I read about going on in some parishes on these forums. But for those in a parish that is having problems, it must take great obedience to continue on in the faith. So I wouldn’t knock the parishes that don’t seem to be on fire because they have a different strength. Tim
 
I do know how you feel lovealways, but in truth I’ve never really known Catholics to be outwordly on “fire”.

We Catholics are to me much more conservative and understated in our approach to prayer and mass than many denominations are. That doesn’t make us less on fire, but it does make our approach look that way sometimes. I think it’s a cultural thing really, carried on through the years from the early Church which was very pious, conservative and serious, for lack of a better word. I think other denominations appear more on fire because they have little history and little in common with the early Church and have only come about in modern times. They also lack the seriousness of our mass, which is really a re-encatment of the last days of Jesus. It’s not really proper to be so outwordly upbeat.

Maybe though lovealways, you should look into to joining a third order or a confraternity. The folks at these orders and monestaries are normally very devout and very serious about their faith. It could be what you are looking for…🙂
 
There are Catholics who are very much “on fire” for the Lord. I mentioned Praise and Worship groups in my earlier posts. This would be a charismatic prayer group where the gifts of the Holy Spirit are expressed as they were in the early Church following Pentecost. Christ is risen. We are blessed. We have every reason to rejoice in the saving power of our risen Lord.
It is true that there remain cultural differences between Catholics from a European background and members of other denominations who do not have the richness of Tradition that we possess. There are times for somber reflection of the price Christ paid and there are times for exuberant celebration that sin and death have been defeated. The Mass is a celebration of the Eucharist, a celebration of thanksgiving.
How did the Israelites react when they realized the Egytians had been destroyed?
On entering Jerusalem, David danced before the Ark of the Covenant. We belong to the New Covenant. We have the promise of the Resurrection.
 
how many people in a church have to be on fire before the church catches fire? all it takes is one match to start a fire!!! remember St Padriag [patrick] was one man and look what he did on one island not one church.
 
lovealways said:
I feel like i’m the only one any more who wants to go to a church and pray and worship God in His Holy Temple. I’m finding it more uncomfortable to be the only one who kneels when i go into church and prays before Holy Mass. Also, i’m one of very few who sing and want to give true praise to God.

Are there any areas of the country who are on fire for Christ and worship Him suitably? (i know many will say that one should stay where they are planted, but why not join with others who worship with great joy)

Am i the only one who feels like this?
Click to expand...
I would not judge the sincerity of the worship of others based upon mere external appearances. Some express themselves more solemnly at Mass, as it is truly a solemn Sacrifice which is offered.

Furthermore, whether others seem to lack the Holy Spirit or not should have no bearing upon your own worship. Be thankful for what you have and pray the Holy Spirit fills the hearts of the faithful, and enkindles in them the fire of his love. Your faith, love, and hope is not dependent upon the “appearant” piety of others, but upon Divine grace.
 
This is a matter of spiritual immaturity. When Christ came into my life and I returned to the Church, some 33 years ago, I too felt I was the one of the few, who were on fire for Christ at my parish. My uncle, who was always a devote Catholic, told me that in time I would mature and settle down. I thought he was just being and old fashion fuddie-duddie Catholic and really didn’t have the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Well, 32years later I’ve come to learn how wise he was.

Jim
 
I will tell you, 25yrs ago THE HOLY SPIRIT touched a match to a wayward soul and started a fire that hasn’t been able to be extinguished, maybe slowed down now and then, but always comming back stronger,so what I’m saying is if you have the fire let THE HOLY SPIRIT fan the flames for GODs purpose in your life, remember we all don’t have the same gifts.
 
lovealways said:
I feel like i’m the only one any more who wants to go to a church and pray and worship God in His Holy Temple. I’m finding it more uncomfortable to be the only one who kneels when i go into church and prays before Holy Mass. Also, i’m one of very few who sing and want to give true praise to God.
Are there any areas of the country who are on fire for Christ and worship Him suitably? (i know many will say that one should stay where they are planted, but why not join with others who worship with great joy)
Am i the only one who feels like this?
Click to expand...
Hi your heading “lovealways” is something you should look at. You have used the term " I " in many places, and the word “suitably” suitably for who God or you? It is easy to think the way you are when young in the spirit and rightfully so since there is usually much want to give all to God, see God glorified in every way. But when people are you in the spirit as children they think they can fly but when the storm (of satin) comes they do not have the wisdome to wheather it. Wisdome comes from ageing in the spirit and this is the very reason why the bible tells us to “be still and know that God is God”

Think of the church Jesus belonged to, were they peole who glorified God in every way (the Jews) or what? Did they see Jesus as the son of God , did they praise God for sending a person to teach them how to love each other,ever since Moses did they follow God without saying there is no one else we want to go back to Egypt,see what I mean?

A question for you, Would it not be worth having ***a home ***and if need be you have some extra in other prayer groups if you can’t get it in the Catholic church, but ,stay at home for that is where God put you.
Do you realise that if you start moving around (that is what satin wants you to do) GOD WON"T be able to use you , no, He wants stable minded servents, who GOD can rely upon. God can only rely upon those who have a home base.

Be still and know for I am the Lord your God I know every need you have for did I not know you from before time I have you carved in the palm of my hand. For I know every need you have and I am a God who loves you. All I ask, is that you be still and let me do the works I need to do for the love of God to be shown to this world that walks away from my love.

Godbless
 
What is it with the Spirit and the use of the words I, you, me, mine… Ever had a reflective conversation like that before? I did for a couple of days once, but couldn’t discern the S/spirit. Weird. Tim
 
TOP said:
What is it with the Spirit and the use of the words I, you, me, mine… Ever had a reflective conversation like that before? I did for a couple of days once, but couldn’t discern the S/spirit. Weird. Tim
Click to expand...
Hi Tim I’m interested in your conversation would ou like to elaborate.
If you wish
Hey Blessings for the new year
Godless
 
Godlovestrength said:
Hi Tim I’m interested in your conversation would ou like to elaborate.
If you wish
Hey Blessings for the new year
Godless
Click to expand...
I was advised by a Priest to be leary of what was put across because of the person the spirit used. Someone spoke about themself using the words my, mine, myself, me that refered to my own “self”. “I” refered to the Lord as well as “you”. I became aware that what came from the lips revealed the hearts disposition with God. Positive afirmations became a good idea after that ;). Most is still a mystery to me that I try not to ponder anymore because it caused distress making me further question the source. Sorry for not being clearer, it’s hard to understand. Tim
 
celticcrusader said:
I will tell you, 25yrs ago THE HOLY SPIRIT touched a match to a wayward soul and started a fire that hasn’t been able to be extinguished, maybe slowed down now and then, but always comming back stronger,so what I’m saying is if you have the fire let THE HOLY SPIRIT fan the flames for GODs purpose in your life, remember we all don’t have the same gifts.
Click to expand...
Whatever our gifts may be, they are to placed at the service of God’s people. As the prayer of St. Francis says, “It is in giving that we receive.” There is a real desire to share our experiences with others, especially the graces we have received from God… I mentioned in earlier posts places where the fellowship that helps us on our journey can be found.
Years ago, I attended a Jesus Day conference and one of the things I remember is “It is possible to be so filled with the Spirit as to lose sight of Spirit.” Prayer is about more than praise and petition. It is also about listening. It is in listening that we allow the Holy Spirit to show each of us our individual purpose in life, to fan the flames of zeal to give ourselves entirely to God.
There are many times in my life that I have heard the complaint,“I need to find a new church because mine is no longer feeding me.” My response was always the same, “I do not go to church to be fed but to worship God.” This was especially true during the years when fellowship with other Charismatics was not available to me.
Several posts have mentioned the difference between Catholics and members of other denominations who may also be “on fire” for God. Some of these groups focus solely on praise, on “shouting.” Our worship allows for the still quiet voice of God to be heard. Recently, after reading that shouting is a sign of insecurity, I began to take note of the prayer of Charismatic Catholics compared to those of other denominations as we pray in tongues. With maturity, this prayer does become quieter, more assured. The fire continues to burn brightly.and more evenly.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top