Being a Catholic at 86

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Ewald_Holzhaus

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I am struggling. I can still walk, but not too well. I can still go to church on Sundays. During the week I follow the Mass readings (Living Space) and meditate/contemplate. I have a feeling I am not doing enough. Has anyone got any suggestion?

Thomas Merton’s Prayer

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
You will lead me by the right road
Though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust you always.
Though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
And you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
 
Ewald_Holzhaus said:
I am struggling. I can still walk, but not too well. I can still go to church on Sundays. During the week I follow the Mass readings (Living Space) and meditate/contemplate. I have a feeling I am not doing enough. Has anyone got any suggestion?

Thomas Merton’s Prayer

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
You will lead me by the right road
Though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust you always.
Though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
And you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Click to expand...
God Bless You! 86 years old and asking what else you can do as a Catholic!

Pray for your family members. Pray for the youth. 🙂
 
My parents had me later in life, I never met my grandparents. I have adopted many, however. What I have learned from them is priceless. My grandmother M always greeted us before Mass with a ready smile and a hug. She was a hugger. She attended a fellowship once a month where she shared her wisdom. Grandfather C always shares his stories of living and struggling in a big city. Always with a smile and a joyful laugh. Grandfather A, though he struggles with back and hip issues, doesn’t fail to volunteer as a cheerful usher and makes sure everyone is welcomed and has Liturgy book. Lastly two grandmothers, L and P, never fail to amaze me with their love of God, their service to others who cannot do for themselves and their seemingly boundless energy and their imaginative way of gathering resources to do what all they do.

Greet people with a smile, share your love of God, encourage a younger person, share your wisdom.

Thank you for that prayer by Thomas Merton, it is exactly what I needed to read today and I will pass it on to a dear friend who is struggling today.
 
Ewald_Holzhaus said:
I am struggling. I can still walk, but not too well. I can still go to church on Sundays. During the week I follow the Mass readings (Living Space) and meditate/contemplate. I have a feeling I am not doing enough. Has anyone got any suggestion?

Thomas Merton’s Prayer

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
You will lead me by the right road
Though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust you always.
Though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
And you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Click to expand...
I want not to patronize, So just congratulation`s, intentions. serve well.

Thanks , _______________________________________ : )
 
Ewald_Holzhaus said:
I am struggling. I can still walk, but not too well. I can still go to church on Sundays. During the week I follow the Mass readings (Living Space) and meditate/contemplate. I have a feeling I am not doing enough. Has anyone got any suggestion?

Thomas Merton’s Prayer

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
You will lead me by the right road
Though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust you always.
Though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
And you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Click to expand...
You can add prayer, like the rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy to your meditation time. If you want to get more involved, you can always make rosaries for the missions or knit or sew blankets for the homeless.
 
I,am happy to hear that you still go to church,even thought you have trouble walking, God Bless you,for Jesus know how much you are devoted too his Love ,just by being in his present all the times you have been their, If you feel you want too do more,pray for those that don,t even care to come too church. :heaven:
 
I try to do the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1904 version in Latin) along with those things that you already do. I’m 75 pushing 76 real hard. (yah, I know, I’m just a kid :D)

Also, try the Rosary and the Seven Dolors Rosary.
 
Thanks for the prayer.

I know some older people like to share their experiences with others, especially the young if they are willing to listen.

God bless.
 
Offer your loneliness and sufferings for those not making it so that God will arrange things to wake them up to change their life. This has to be done with a lot of trust in God to carry out your wishes. Because you will probably never know the ones you have touched with your self offering.

And in addition this is a good way to prepare for your own death as St. James says that charity covers a lot of sin. And don’t we have a lot of that to make up for.

And then too remember the poor souls who suffer so much. You can also do wonders for them as well by your prayers and mortification. They are so grateful when you do.

And one more thing. Try to practise the awareness of God within you. That simply means the constant knowing that he is there in you and one with you in all that you do. For he loves us that much to always want to be a part of our lives. So from time to time, give him your love and thought.
 
I would like to thanks everybody for their (name removed by moderator)uts. I have learned a great deal and now have a lot to think about - and, of course put into practice.
.
 
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