Being Tossed Like A Ship In Stormy Seas

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closertohome

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Where to begin.

As a child I was baptized and had first communion. I was in catholic school until 4th grade, then switched to public school. (I just realized that I have no idea why this switch occurred). I never went through confirmation.

Throughout my life I have always felt drawn back to the Catholic Church.

My wife is not Catholic, but she is a Christian. My daughter was baptized Catholic, my son was not, both go to a non-denominational church that we all attend.

My problem is that I struggle with going back to the Church. I’ll get really into it for a while, then for some reason I pull back. The mass service has changed since I was young, even the people at the local parish do different things. Some will do it one way, others will do something another way. Things like this really bother me, so I begin to wonder if I am really having a desire to come back to the Catholic Church, or if I just find the traditions comforting and am looking for that comfort.

This always seems to happen just after it’s too late to get into an RCIA class. I still don’t get why they only do one per year. Right around now (October-November) is usually near when I get these feelings to come back.

So, I’ll attend mass for a month or so, then eventually I stop. Something will come up and I’ll start going to the non-denominational church again.

I feel so tossed around. I’m not committed to either church.

I’m not even really sure what I want to ask. Maybe for direction, books, information, etc. Prayers for discernment as to how I should proceed? I don’t know.
 
I suggest you make an appointment to speak to the pastor of your Catholic parish. He is in the best position to assist you.

God bless, and know I’m praying for you. :yup:
 
You might be holding back from coming home to the Catholic Church because you fear the tumult it will cause in the family. Maybe your just going along to get along, you know?

But our good Lord has given the man of the family the duty to be the faith leader of the family and it will be you that has to bring order to your families faith life. So, if the Holy Spirit is calling you to the Catholic Church, I believe you should answer that call, no matter how much pain or confusion it might cause in your family at first. If your family see’s your commitment to coming home, and you can explain your reasoning well, they will accept it and likely even follow you.

I say this because I went through a somewhat similar story in my life, and through the ceaseless prayers of my wife, I got my Catholic life together, and now as my family has grown up we are a focused, devout Catholic family that still attends Mass as a family nearly every week.

But please, this is only one mans imperfect advice and story, so please pray on it and do what you feel is best!🙂

God Bless!
 
closertohome said:
Where to begin.

As a child I was baptized and had first communion. I was in catholic school until 4th grade, then switched to public school. (I just realized that I have no idea why this switch occurred). I never went through confirmation.

Throughout my life I have always felt drawn back to the Catholic Church.

My wife is not Catholic, but she is a Christian. My daughter was baptized Catholic, my son was not, both go to a non-denominational church that we all attend.

My problem is that I struggle with going back to the Church. I’ll get really into it for a while, then for some reason I pull back. The mass service has changed since I was young, even the people at the local parish do different things. Some will do it one way, others will do something another way. Things like this really bother me, so I begin to wonder if I am really having a desire to come back to the Catholic Church, or if I just find the traditions comforting and am looking for that comfort.

This always seems to happen just after it’s too late to get into an RCIA class. I still don’t get why they only do one per year. Right around now (October-November) is usually near when I get these feelings to come back.

So, I’ll attend mass for a month or so, then eventually I stop. Something will come up and I’ll start going to the non-denominational church again.

I feel so tossed around. I’m not committed to either church.

I’m not even really sure what I want to ask. Maybe for direction, books, information, etc. Prayers for discernment as to how I should proceed? I don’t know.
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The Holy Spirit is calling you back to the Church; you may still have time to enroll in RCIA; call and ask about it. Even if you are too late to make confirmation, you can still attend the classes and learn more about your faith and the reason for all the changes and then decide for next year how you want to proceed.
 
My (non-Catholic) Dad probably went through RCIA classes 5 or 6 times. He’s super-involved in the church, and could probably have co-taught the class. 😉 Presumably there’s some sticking-point he can’t quite get over to actually be Confirmed— but it’s perfectly normal to take the class just for informational purposes.
 
If all you want is a little nudge? Here it is: Call the priest on Monday.
Tell him exactly what you have said here. He sees this all the time, really. He will know the best way to proceed, even if it’s simply meeting with you a few more times before formally doing anything.

But in case my instincts are correct…
Welcome home! Be assured of our prayers! 🙂
 
What it sounds like to me is spiritual warfare. Paul says in Romans that he has this struggle against the flesh such that he doesn’t do the good he wants to do. We all have this struggle. There are times I don’t feel like going to Mass but usually am glad that I went afterwards. I hear you listing a bunch of exuses not to go… the mass has changed, or you don’t like this or that. But see these for what they are…tactics of the enemy . For if God is calling you home to a deeper relationship to him in his Church- and how intimate to share in his true body and true blood- then any exuse is an impediment to God’s will for your life.

The eyes of faith help us to see what we can not see by reason alone. For our reason is limited. That is one reason we need faith. Having faith in God and trusting him with the eyes of faith will help you to see more clearly. Ignore the voice of doubt. Or any exuse that hinders your progress. Faith will take you much farther.

“But the light of faith is a participation in the truth and light of God. So it can’t possibly deceive you. In fact, it shows you things as God sees them: that is, as they truly are, and just as they exist in the eyes of God.”
  • St. John Eudes, ‘The Life and the Kindom of Jesus in the Soul’.
 
Thank you all for the help! I will be contacting the priest this Monday to talk.

Thanks again!
 
Just a thought, if your local parish can’t offer you instruction until next September, maybe see if there is anOrdinariate group near you. That’s the way I went and the Ordinariate structure seems more used to handling people who were baptised, whereas RCIA is principally aimed at non-Christians or those with little foundation in the faith.
 
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