Catechumen Needs Help!

[TeresaElizabeth]

If you have the time, this catechumen needs some Catholic advice, please!

I was raised in a Protestant home and learned to love our Lord a great deal. My prayer and Bible-reading skills were never very consistent, unfortunately–even though I know a lot of Sacred Scripture and longed for a vibrant relationship with Jesus, I lacked discipline and always could find something to put off having a good quiet time of prayer.

Now, by God’s grace, I have found His Holy Church and hope to be received at Easter Vigil.

I just moved into a very small parish after transferring to college. The people are friendly and kind, and the priest and RCIA people are wonderful. Everyone is really busy, though, and my sponsor–though kind–leaves promptly after class. I haven’t even had time to get to know her or to ask her about her own conversion.

Here is my problem: I am having a really hard time knowing how to construct a habit of regular devotion. There are so many possibilities: the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet. There is so much to learn, and so many books to read. And to whom should I address my petitions? To our Lady? To a saint? Which one?

I’m never sure if I am doing something the right way. I love to go to the adoration chapel and daily Mass, but again, that old habit of procrastinating torments me.

Ultimately, I feel really alone. Thought Easter Vigil is coming soon, I feel so weak without the sacrament of penance and without being able to receive the Eucharist.

Does anyone have advice for me? I would appreciate it sooo much!

~M. Teresa Elizabeth
2008 Tiber Swimmer-in-Training

 

[InLight247]

Dear Teresa:

There are many daily devotions you can do. Choose one you like to start with.
Rosary is good. Though we cite many “Hail Mary”, keep in mind Mary always points us to Jesus. Rosary contains many Bible meditations. It is a good devotion. Divine Mercy Chaplet is addressing to our Heavenly Father, focusing on Jesus’ Passion.
Take your time to learn.

Why don’t you make an appointment with the priest and talk to him?
He may answer your questions, give you good suggestions and point you to the right direction. He can also tell you about different church groups you may join.

As for your sponsor, may be you can ask her if you may find some time to get together and chat. Ask, you will receive.

God bless!

 

[bcuster]

I am sure that there will be many on the Forum to help you. In forming a prayer life, place yourself under the care of the Holy Spirit. In the beginning, keep it simple and do not be too hard on yourself when you fail. Offer even your failing to the Lord. It is okay for you to try out a devotion for a brief period of time to see what fruit is born from it. Both the Rosary and the Chaplet are simple repetitive prayer that help you enter into the Mystery of the Life of Christ. Scripture is important also. I have found that reading the Scriptures of the Day can be a help. The Holy Spirit plants special daily gifts in these Scriptures. Also there will be a balance of Old Testament and New Testament. I would be careful though about Scripture commentaries. Choose those that are recommended by Catholic Answers or EWTN to make sure that you are getting Catholic teaching and not worldly teaching.

Keep in focus that The Holy Trinity is courting you. The Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit want to envelope you with Life and Love. Be patient with yourself. You are precious in the eyes of the Lord!

 

[YADA]

Teresa,

God Bless you… You are walking a blessed journey of faith …

First of all contact your sponsor by phone or email. Many questions could be answered in that way. … RCIA evenings can run long and your sponsor may have many other obligations [family, work, sleep]… You can meet your sponsor for coffee and / or perhaps meet to share the Sunday Mass [with coffee and donuts after?]

Perhaps your Sponsor or RCIA director could introduce you to a daily Mass attendee if you are able to attend daily Mass … most daily Mass attendees are very friendly folks who would be delighted to take you under their wing …

There are many kinds of prayers and I am sure that prayer will be a topic covered in your RCIA formation, perhaps at a retreat if not on the normal weekly meeting … your parish may offer a retreat on prayer [or contact the diocese, an abbey or monestary in the area where you might have an oportunity to learn about prayers…

If you can discipline yourself then begin very easy … pray in the same manner you have always prayed [Christian prayer is very universal]. Set a reguar time of day fro prayer. A priest frined always recommends a straight backed chair, feet flat on the ground…silence is good, a prayer card, diologue with God, listen… you can light a candle, put on some contempletive music … read the psalms and 'sit with them [the psalm] awhile"

Good Luck, youwill do fine …

 

[Neophyte_Rose]

If you want a particular Saint to pray to, why don’t you look for one with the same name as you?

Teresa - St. Teresa of Avila, a very holy woman.
Therese - St. Therese the Little Flower, again, very holy.
Elizabeth - St. Elizabeth.

Just pick one, type her name into Google, and read a little bit about her. Then, when you pray, you can just add on at the end “St. ____, pray for me(us)!”.

Also, perhaps you’ll pick your gaurdien angel to pray to, they’re always good.

Whatever you decide to do with your prayer life, start easy. If you pick the Rosary (always a good one), maybe start with just one decade a day… or every other day, or one decade on Sundays before MASS… something simple and easy, so that you don’t get discouraged.

My prayers are with you.

Pax Christi,
Esther Rose

 

[water]

also, don’t put so many things/devotions on your plate at one time. You need to recognize your limit and work it out one step at a time. Trust in God for His guidance and His peace.

I am very happy for you. God bless you!

 

[JoanOfArc]

Teresa Elizabeth,

Do you know how to make the Sign of the Cross? I know a lot of converts who didn’t know for a very long time because no one ever thought to tell them and they were too embarrased to ask. Now it is one of the first things I ask.

If you do know, you are already ahead of the game! If not, you aren’t alone.

This thread has more than enough to keep you reading your Bible, praying every day, and celebrating the liturgial calendar. I found it yesterday and was amazed! Maybe you could find an online accountability partner who you could talk to about it or who you could pray together with every day for a few minutes. Another person who wants to pray but needs that little push of being responsible for it to someone else. If your sponsor is a computer type person, she would be ideal. If not, you can probably find someone here. Whatever you do, don’t burn yourself out!

 

[puzzleannie]

If
Ultimately, I feel really alone. Thought Easter Vigil is coming soon, I feel so weak without the sacrament of penance and without being able to receive the Eucharist.

Does anyone have advice for me? I would appreciate it sooo much!

~M. Teresa Elizabeth
2008 Tiber Swimmer-in-Training

welcome home, it will blow you away when you see the great “cloud of witnesses” with which you are uniting yourself.

for the present, daily Mass as often as possible, and anything else such as rosary, chaplet, bible study, being offered by your campus Catholic ministry, but especially Mass. If that is not possible, spending time in the chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is reposed in the tabernacle. the goal here is time with Him, consciously making and act of spiritual communion (simply asking Christ to be with you and in you.)

know that in all prayer you are united with all Christians around the world.

for questions you don’t get a chance to ask–and it would be worth while to tell your sponsor what you just told us and ask for help, maybe go out for coffee after class–is to go on Amazon or your campus bookstore and order Catholicism for Dummies (NOT the Idiot Guide), the yellow and black one by Fr. Trigilio. It answers those questions without a lot of confusing backstory, just what you need at this time.

 

[TeresaElizabeth]

Thanks to you all for taking your time to answer me. You have helped me realize that I was putting too much emphasis on my devotional efforts and too little on the grace of God as He guides me gently.

God bless!

 

[Tim_c]

Develop a devotion to the Blessed Mother. Find a particular title or apparition that interests you and ask the Blessed Mother under that title to intercede for you.