Deer in Headlights - RCIA Catechumen Needs Guidance

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Catechism of the Catholic Church

vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM

How to recite the Holy Rosary

newadvent.org/images/rosary.pdf

Other things that may be of interest.

SACRED SIGNS

cfpeople.org/Books/Sacred/CFPtoc.htm

Saints’ Books

saintsbooks.net/BooksList.html

Faith Database

faithdatabase.com/

THE SPIRIT OF CATHOLICISM

ewtn.com/library/THEOLOGY/SPIRCATH.HTM

Catechism by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

alabamacatholicresources.com/Catechism.html

The ways of mental prayer (1912)

archive.org/details/thewaysofmentalp00lehouoft

🙂
 
Hmm, sounds like you have been studying a bit too much. I say that as one who has been there. Study, learning, and understanding as much as we can about God, His Holy Church, and the great mysteries is important. It helps us build a framework in which to preserve the faith God gives us.

On the other hand, it is a bit like the forest and the trees. Sometimes you have to step back a little, not press so hard, and remember the One who called you. Instead of learned prayers, try just spontaneously talking to Jesus about where you are just now and ask Him to surround you with His love and care. Try putting your current distress at the foot of His Cross and ask Him to help you. We all need a respite now and then on our journey. God Bless.
 
First of all, welcome home! I, too, am a convert, and was chomping at the bit way before the Catechumen process was over. When that first conversion moment happens, it’s hard not to run up to the priest and yell “I WANT TO BE CATHOLIC RIGHT NOW!!!” The next few months will feel like an eternity. And I’m also warning you, things will get harder, not easier, the closer you get to Baptism. Satan and the evil forces do not want to lose another soul to Christ’s mercy, and as you get closer, the roadblocks will get higher and the frustration will mount. But if you persevere, and love God as He desires you to love Him, He will make the way for you to become a part of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.

I read in a book once that once Satan has ceased being able to tempt you and torment you with evil, he begins to tempt you with things that appear to be good. Don’t fast to the point of eating disorder, don’t pray to the point where your house is a pit because you spend all of your time in front of the tabernacle, don’t buy statues and books and bibles until you’re in the poor house. Once you start setting those impossible standards for you Catholic “checklist”, you’ll either find that there’s nothing at the end of it when all of your To Do’s are checked, or you will find that you can never achieve everything you think you “need” to and you will fall into despair and depression.

I would recommend listening to a couple of homilies on Audio Sancto that talk about finding holiness in your vocation. If you are a soldier, then you are meant to rise to sanctity in your vocation as a soldier; if you are a mother or father, changing a diaper or tying a shoe can be a very pious act if done for love of God. As St. Teresa of Avila, (one of the founders of the Discalced Carmelite order) once said, it is not necessary to think much as to love much.

Sidenote: If you have an iPod or an MP3 player, I would highly advise downloading the homilies from Audio Sancto and listening them as often as you can - in your car, or when you’re cleaning your house, that kind of thing. There are over 500 homilies with over seven days worth of primo Catholic goodness in them. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a question and thought, I wonder if there’s a homily about it on Audio Sancto, and sure enough there is. You can learn so much about the Catholic faith, saints of the church, how to become holy, and how to pray. As a convert, I have learned so very much from these holy priests, and I am thankful that their ministry includes saving these wisdom-filled talks for those of us who are not in their parish. And for those of us who are as well, I suppose.
 
HonoraDominum said:
I read in a book once that once Satan has ceased being able to tempt you and torment you with evil, he begins to tempt you with things that appear to be good. Don’t fast to the point of eating disorder, don’t pray to the point where your house is a pit because you spend all of your time in front of the tabernacle, don’t buy statues and books and bibles until you’re in the poor house. **Once you start setting those impossible standards for you Catholic “checklist”, you’ll either find that there’s nothing at the end of it when all of your To Do’s are checked, or you will find that you can never achieve everything you think you “need” to and you will fall into despair and depression.
**
I would recommend listening to a couple of homilies on Audio Sancto that talk about finding holiness in your vocation. If you are a soldier, then you are meant to rise to sanctity in your vocation as a soldier; if you are a mother or father, changing a diaper or tying a shoe can be a very pious act if done for love of God. As St. Teresa of Avila, (one of the founders of the Discalced Carmelite order) once said, it is not necessary to think much as to love much.
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HonoraDominum,

Excellent post in its entirety, but I especially enjoyed the quoted portion, particularly the bold portion.

It is a slippery slope, though, isn’t it?

I set goals for myself regarding anything:
  1. identify objective (memorization of a prayer, for example, or, understanding and loving a doctrine)
  2. understand basic path to objective
  3. enjoy journey to objective as much as possible
  4. don’t fight against it, via my own failings and misunderstandings
  5. recognize failure is often what makes the objective so treasured once achieved.
  6. keep searching and don’t be afraid to explore ancillary information (history of doctrine/prayer/etc)
  7. apply the lessons learned once understood
  8. always, always, recognize that evil wishes to keep us down.
 
knit247 said:
For some reason the past few days I have felt frozen - like a deer in the headlights. I am going to RCIA weekly, have read and studied the notes that our teacher has given us, but other than that I feel like I have no idea what I “should” be doing. I am attending Mass weekly and learned the first part of the Hail Mary. I have read Rome Sweet Home and am going through Catholicism for Dummies. Other than that - nothing much.

What would you all suggest for me? As a sort of next step? I was thinking about going through the Baltimore Catechism, as I do not currently have a copy of the CCC. I feel like there are certain prayers or readings that I should say daily, but not sure what. Oh, and starting today I am also abstaining from meat on Fridays. Thoughts? And thanks in advance!
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I agree with “ThereWasADream.” I’m a convert too. 26+ years as a Catholic and going strong. A lot of cradle catholics are going to jump in here and tell you to run out and get an life-sized infant of prague statue or something, LOL. Not necessary. Don’t get so busy you can’t hear God. :eek:

THE BEST THING you can do is just let your conversion be what it is and grow with it. When you feel like praying, pray. Learn a few little prayers like the Hail Mary and put them with your own. When you feel like reading, read. Know that you will treasure this time later for its sheer purity. Make sure you do what they tell you to do at Church and go to Mass as often as you can. And relax and enjoy. God is bringing you home, a step at a time! You have a whole life ahead of you as a Catholic. You’ll learn what you need to learn when the time comes, if you just steadily work at it. Cheers!

And Welcome Home!!
 
Welcome to the Church.

On top of what everyone else has said, here are some things I would recommend!


  1. *]As you learn more of the prayers, start learning to say the Rosary. The priest will help you! There may be a rosary group at the chapel. Many parishes have groups which gather to pray the rosary.
    *]Volunteer to do anything! Though it is probably a small group (I have experience being in an overseas military setting) I’m sure they do some sort of charity work. Don’t be afraid to help out even though you’re not “technically” Catholic yet.
    *]Read “Born Fundamentalist Born Again Catholic” by David B Currie. It is geared more towards evangelical and fundamentalist protestants, but will likely address the concerns of mainline protestants as well. You may also identify with Mr. Currie’s conversion story.
    *]Check out the “http://www.catholicismseries.com/” Documentary series by Fr. Robert Barron. You can buy the whole thing, but the clips online are a nice intro.
    *]Read Catholic blogs. I particularly enjoy CatholicVote, Creative Minority Report, What Does the Prayer Really Say, New Liturgical Movement, and Whispers in the Loggia.
    *]See if the German diocese in which you live has an English-speaking parish. When I lived in Brussels the local diocese had an English Parish for the many diplomats/military from the English speaking world. If you are in a well-populated area of Germany they may as well.
    *]Check out Koln Cathedral if you haven’t already! Largest facade of any church in the world!

    http://menteriors.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/38-boat-trip-cologne-cathedral.jpeg
 
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