Being pulled all over the place

[Struggling323]

I am trying to be as close to God as possible. I have been reading here for 2 years but recently created this account because I am having issues understanding some things.

While trying to find the answers, I sometimes find myself unsatisfied with certain beliefs. As I understand, we are supposed to follow all the beliefs of the church. Sadly, along the way to finding these answers, I come across how we have different Rites, and Eastern Orthodox, and other variations that are here on these forums. (Im in the US, so Im assuming im in a Latin Rite)

With me wanting to be as closed to God as possible, I tell myself that its very important to be in the “right” spot, but every Rite and “side”, they all are 100 percent convinced they are right. IT seems I spend more time trying to find out where I should be, than focusing on my relationship with God and praying like I should. Its becoming very distracting.

I know I am a good person, and I know God knows I love him but Im seeking a deeper relationship with him.

My questions:

1. What should I do when I am reading, and things get thrown into my mind about how some things can be a conspiracy and that the faith/Rite/Whatever I am in, is wrong and it doesn’t allow me to have the relationship I should. Does one Rite give more grace than the other? Can being, ignorantly, in the wrong one not allow me the fullest relationship possible?
2. What do you do when you have a very hard time accepting a teaching of the church because you find no foundation other than the Church says so and I have to accept it?
3. Should I stop reading too far into things, and just try to improve my relationship with God through where I am now and in the Church im in now.

And as a note, I pray about this multiple times a day so Im doing that

 

[Holly3278]

All of the different rites of the Church are 100% Catholic. Byzantine Catholics are just as Catholic and “right” as Roman Catholics. This is just one example. There are many other rites such as Melkite, Maronite, and others.

 

[stephe1987]

1. All the rites of the Catholic Church are in communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. It does not matter which rite you choose; each one has different traditions and spirituality, but at the same time follows the teachings of Holy Mother Church. Some people are called to join different rites, but most churches in the US are Latin rite unless they say otherwise. There are many different rites and they are often times associated with another country of origin, immigrants that came over and brought their faith and traditions with them.

However, you should not confuse Eastern Catholic Churches with Eastern Orthodox. Those churches are not in communion with the Bishop of Rome, and history shows that Churches that are not in communion with the Bishop of Rome can fall into heresy pretty easily. At one point in the early church, around 70% were teaching some kind of heresy or another, but those that stayed in communion with the Bishop of Rome, the “Catholic” churches, did not fall into heresy and the Catholic Church called councils to clear things up. Although the Orthodox have similar teachings as the Catholic Church, there are some issues that they do not agree on, different theology, etc.

1. Depends on the teaching, I suppose. I, for example, used to have issues with some of the church’s teachings in regards to human sexuality, but not anymore. Pray and do as much research as you can. Catechism. Catholic Answers tracts. Knights of Columbus website. The Bible. EWTN. Women of Grace. The more you know and trust in God and his Church, the easier it becomes to accept the Church’s teachings. And I learned that there is always a foundation for the teaching; they didn’t just make things up to make Catholics’ lives more difficult. Scripture, tradition, etc. Many teachings now have science and research to back them up!
2. If you’re reading so much that your head is spinning in circles, then I guess it is time to stop. You need to build your faith before you look into contradicting things, because it is too easy to fall into error and not see errors if your faith is not strong to begin with.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

1. What should I do when I am reading, and things get thrown into my mind about how some things can be a conspiracy and that the faith/Rite/Whatever I am in, is wrong and it doesn’t allow me to have the relationship I should. Does one Rite give more grace than the other? Can being, ignorantly, in the wrong one not allow me the fullest relationship possible?

Don’t worry about being in the “wrong one” at this point. Listen to what “they” say but don’t believe them 100% until they can at least tell a consistent story. Take note of it; maybe you’ll find a better answer.

1. What do you do when you have a very hard time accepting a teaching of the church because you find no foundation other than the Church says so and I have to accept it?

Good question. I’d like to get into it more but I only have a few minutes so I’ll check back later.

1. Should I stop reading too far into things, and just try to improve my relationship with God through where I am now and in the Church im in now.

I say go for it. Consider silent prayer, or “contemplative prayer.” It can bring you to true union with Christ, and you don’t have to believe me; it’s in the catechism. Plus the scientific basis for contemplative prayer is satisfactory IMO so that’s a bonus.

But don’t take my word for contemplative prayer. CCC 2700-2724, “Expressions of Prayer.”

 

[Splagchnizomai]

Should I stop reading too far into things, and just try to improve my relationship with God through where I am now and in the Church im in now.

Bloom where you’re planted!

“Truly charity has no limit; for the love of God has been poured into our hearts
by His Spirit dwelling in each one of us, calling us to a life of devotion and inviting us to bloom in the garden where He has planted and directing us to radiate the beauty and spread the fragrance of His Providence.”

–St Francis de Sales