Difficulty in coming to Faith

[easter88]

I was received into the Catholic Church at the last Easter Vigil but I have been having doubts about the Church for a long time and lately I have been reading the Baltimore Catechism No. 1 to review what I forgot about the Faith, and to try to know what the Catholic Church is about. (In case you’re wondering why I didn’t choose to read the official Catechism of the Catholic Church instead, I chose the Baltimore Catechism No. 1 because it is SHORT!) Yesterday this article came to my attention catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0502fea1.asp and it made me ask some questions.

Basically the author states “… the essence of being converted to Catholicism is recognizing the teaching voice of the Church as the teaching voice of Christ.”

“Once the lover of truth realizes that Jesus Christ is Truth (cf. John 14:6), he becomes focused on the person of Jesus. He wants to know him, love him, and serve him ever more faithfully. This leads to a love of Scripture. It is often through the frustration of trying to determine which interpretation of Scripture is correct that he realizes that something is missing in Protestantism. The thought that “God must have made a way to know” becomes both the catalyst and the prayer of his continuing search. With astonishment he learns that the way God provided for his children to know the truth is the Catholic Church.”

The Baltimore Catechism No. 1 says this:

1. Q. How shall we know the things which we are to believe?
   A. We shall know the things which we are to believe from the Catholic Church, through which God speaks to us.

What I understand is this: Catholicism claims to have its authority from Jesus Christ. But the way to learn about Jesus Christ is in the Bible. The Bible is a Catholic book, and as the author says “… if Christ has not given his guidance and authority to the Church, then nothing is sure. We cannot be sure of the canon of Scripture, the validity of baptism, the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, or anything else.”

My problem is this: I feel like this whole thing just GOES IN CIRCLES, and I wonder how does anyone come to complete CERTAINTY?

 

[mdrummer5]

I wonder how does anyone come to complete CERTAINTY?

I understand your struggle which is perhaps why after 31 years I’m just now looking forward to converting to Catholicism

Consider the definition of certainty.

1: something that is certain
2: the quality or state of being certain especially on the basis of evidence

There are many arguments that suggest that some beliefs may not be “correct” but that’s why they’re beliefs. It’s a matter of faith and believing not the presentation of evidence and proving if any one religion could claim fact everyone would follow that faith.

I’ve never seen God, but I believe in Him, I have faith. Someone may present ideas or opinions that contradict the idea of his existence but it’s my choice to continue to believe. But as an intelligent human being I can acknowledge the fact that what I believe could be wrong… I just choose to believe it’s not.

 

[Della]

Well, actually, it’s not just from the Church alone that we derive our faith. The Church is the voice of the faith and within it subsists the truths Christ wanted us to have, but it is not the sole source from which we know that God is and that he has a plan for humanity. Rather, the whole of human history reverberates with the story of God. Indeed, the whole of creation does, as well, as the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 19. And no, I’m not saying that the Bible alone is our source of knowing God either. The Psalmist tells us that God tells us about himself in two ways. 1) In nature and 2) in his revealed word. Both tell the same story and direct us to the same end–recognizing that God is all in all. The NT tells us about the culmination of all things in Christ, the Son sent by the Father to reveal his redemptive love to us. And what is the NT? It’s the witness of those who knew Christ or sat at the feet of those who knew him. Every created thing be it nature or the Bible or the Church tell us the same thing. God speaks to us with one voice. And what he asks is that we seek him and know him as he has asked us to, in Christ and his Church. St. Paul talks about the beliefs of the Gentiles and how they too had evidence of the truth in nature and in their consciences that directed them to worship what they did not know. He came to tell them what they did not know, which was God’s plan of salvation in Christ. So, this is for all men and God is for all men and Christ’s Church is for all men.

 

[Barbkw]

A shorter version of the Catechism is the Compendium written by Pope Benedict.

It’s available online:

vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html

or for purchase the book looks like this:

amazon.com/Compendium-Catechism-Catholic-Ratzinger-Benedict/dp/1574557203

Our faith is built upon Sacred Scripture (Bible), Sacred Tradition based in the Apostles, and in the Magisterium of the Church (Pope and the Bishops).

 

[Scoobyshme]

Easter88, let me see if I can help you out here.

I’ll try to put all this in some perspective.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, the Word, became man about 2000 years ago.

He selected 12 Apostles, and taught them His truths, along with some disciples, too.

He taught orally. He never wrote a book. He was called a teacher (rabbi). He taught the Apostles orally and instructed them to do likewise. He established a Church to spread His teachings, based on the Apostles.

SOME of what the Apostles learned and taught was written down. Notice, I said “SOME” of what the Apostles learned and spread was written down. Not all. NOT everything Jesus did or said is IN the Bible (see John 21:25). Yet, Jesus commanded the Apostles to go forth and teach “ALL” that He had taught and did (see Matt. 28:20). So, if everything Jesus wants taught is not IN the Bible, where is it? Holy Tradition, a.k.a., oral tradition. (See 2 Thes 2:15)

The Bible, remember, wasn’t assembled till the fourth century. At least not the New Testament. At that time, the Church’s Magisterium (the Pope & the bishops), gathered at the Councils of Hippo (393 A.D.) and Carthage (397 A.D.) and prayed to the Holy Spirit for guidance. Then, they went through over 300 documents that were considered holy. They selected only 27. These became the New Testament. On the authority of the Catholic Church!

The Word of God is not a book. It is a Person, Jesus Christ! But the Word of God is transmitted to us in two ways: Orally (word of mouth) and in written form (Scriptures). And, like any human communication, it needs an authentic and authoritative interpreter to make sure we get the message right. Otherwise, we end up with what Protestant Christianity has become: a mess of literally thousands of man-made, doctrinally disagreeing denominations, all founded on some mere human’s personal interpretation (which St. Peter talks against in 2 Peter 1:20).

God has a Trinitarian nature. One God, three Divine Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). By the Mystery of Unity, wherever we find One Person of the Trinity, we necessarily find the other two. Always, and forever.

Similarly, the Word of God has a trinitarian flavor to it. Wherever we find Holy Tradition, we necessarily find Holy Scripture, and the Magisterium of the Church. They cannot be separated. If they are, then they are no longer the Word of God. They’re something else. St. Paul warns against changing the teacings of Christ in Gal. 1:8.

So, as Catholics, we must always read the Bible using the following methodology:

1. Scripture must always be read in the context of the whole of Scripture in mind. Jesus is a unified Whole, as the Word of God. He cannot be splintered into pieces.
2. Scripture must always be read in light of Holy Tradition, which preceded it and of which it is a subset. Nothing in Holy Scripture contradicts anything in Holy Tradition. If you think you read something in Holy Scripture that contradicts Holy Tradition, then you have an error in your interpretation of one or the other.
3. Scripture must always be read through the analogy of the faith as presented by the Magisterium of the Church. In other words, there is absolutely nothing in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that contradicts anything in Holy Scripture, and vice versa.

You might like to listen to a short course on this by Fr. Corapi, if you have time.

Just download the following audio files and listen to 'em on your PC, iPod/iPad, MP3 player, CD, etc.

alabamacatholicresources.com/Downloads/Fr.%20Corapi—Word%20of%20God—Pt.%201%20Divine%20Revelation%20Itself.mp3

alabamacatholicresources.com/Downloads/Fr.%20Corapi—Word%20of%20God—Pt.%202%20Transmission%20of%20Divine%20Revelation.mp3

alabamacatholicresources.com/Downloads/Fr.%20Corapi—Word%20of%20God—Pt.%203%20Scripture%20Inspiration%20&%20Interpretation.mp3

alabamacatholicresources.com/Downloads/Fr.%20Corapi—Word%20of%20God—Pt.%204%20The%20Old%20Testament.mp3

alabamacatholicresources.com/Downloads/Fr.%20Corapi—Word%20of%20God—Pt.%205%20The%20New%20Testament.mp3

alabamacatholicresources.com/Downloads/Fr.%20Corapi—Word%20of%20God—Pt.%206%20The%20Life%20of%20the%20Church.mp3

God bless!

 

[Barbkw]

Our faith is built upon Sacred Scripture (Bible), Sacred Tradition based in the Apostles, and in the Magisterium of the Church (Pope and the Bishops).

vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html

“The Transmission of Divine Revelation”

"11. Why and in what way is divine revelation transmitted?

74

God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4), that is, of Jesus Christ. For this reason, Christ must be proclaimed to all according to his own command, “Go forth and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19). And this is brought about by Apostolic Tradition.

1. What is Apostolic Tradition?

75-79,
83,
96, 98

Apostolic Tradition is the transmission of the message of Christ, brought about from the very beginnings of Christianity by means of preaching, bearing witness, institutions, worship, and inspired writings. The apostles transmitted all they received from Christ and learned from the Holy Spirit to their successors, the bishops, and through them to all generations until the end of the world.

1. In what ways does Apostolic Tradition occur?

76

Apostolic Tradition occurs in two ways: through the living transmission of the word of God (also simply called Tradition) and through Sacred Scripture which is the same proclamation of salvation in written form.

1. What is the relationship between Tradition and Sacred Scripture?

80-82
97

Tradition and Sacred Scripture are bound closely together and communicate one with the other. Each of them makes present and fruitful in the Church the mystery of Christ. They flow out of the same divine well-spring and together make up one sacred deposit of faith from which the Church derives her certainty about revelation.

1. To whom is the deposit of faith entrusted?

84, 91
94, 99

The Apostles entrusted the deposit of faith to the whole of the Church. Thanks to its supernatural sense of faith the people of God as a whole, assisted by the Holy Spirit and guided by the Magisterium of the Church, never ceases to welcome, to penetrate more deeply and to live more fully from the gift of divine revelation.

1. To whom is given the task of authentically interpreting the deposit of faith?

85-90
100

The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the deposit of faith has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone, that is, to the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome, and to the bishops in communion with him. To this Magisterium, which in the service of the Word of God enjoys the certain charism of truth, belongs also the task of defining dogmas which are formulations of the truths contained in divine Revelation. This authority of the Magisterium also extends to those truths necessarily connected with Revelation.

1. What is the relationship between Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium?

95

Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium are so closely united with each other that one of them cannot stand without the others. Working together, each in its own way, under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.

Sacred Scripture

1. Why does Sacred Scripture teach the truth?

105-108
135-136"

The text continues on at: vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html

 

[tbcrawford]

There is a thread going called ‘How do you know you are right?’ in the Non Catholic Forum.
I hope you take a look it may be of some help to you.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=501528&goto=newpost

I have posted several posts on the last page.One of which is

[We realise that every believer has been given a measure of faith by God. (Romans 12:3). We just have to use and develop what God has given. We must put it into action.

Develop a life of praise and worship. Praise drives the powers of darkness away and brings the throne of God into your circumstances. Praising God is an act of faith and helps your faith to grow. It is commanded (Hebrews 13:15). Worship is admiring God through the Spirit. If you can perceive who is God, His power, faithfulness and love your trust and faith in Him will grow.

Spend as much time as you can with people of faith. The spirit of faith on them will touch your life also (Proverbs 13:20).

“The essence of perfection is to embrace the will of God in all things, prosperous or adverse. In prosperity, even sinners find it easy to unite themselves to the divine will; but it takes saints to unite themselves to God’s will when things go wrong and are painful to self-love. Our conduct in such instances is the measure of our love of God.”

St Alphonsus de Liguori]

May God bless you and I hope this link helps you

 

[easter88]

Thanks to all who replied.

SOME of what the Apostles learned and taught was written down. Notice, I said “SOME” of what the Apostles learned and spread was written down. Not all. NOT everything Jesus did or said is IN the Bible (see John 21:25). Yet, Jesus commanded the Apostles to go forth and teach “ALL” that He had taught and did (see Matt. 28:20). So, if everything Jesus wants taught is not IN the Bible, where is it? Holy Tradition, a.k.a., oral tradition. (See 2 Thes 2:15)

The Bible, remember, wasn’t assembled till the fourth century. At least not the New Testament. At that time, the Church’s Magisterium (the Pope & the bishops), gathered at the Councils of Hippo (393 A.D.) and Carthage (397 A.D.) and prayed to the Holy Spirit for guidance. Then, they went through over 300 documents that were considered holy. They selected only 27. These became the New Testament. On the authority of the Catholic Church!

And what is the NT? It’s the witness of those who knew Christ or sat at the feet of those who knew him.

I didn’t mean that everything Jesus did and said is in the Bible, I meant that everything we know about Jesus is in the Bible. Which is a problem to me in the sense that the Church says it comes from Jesus but everything we know about Jesus comes from 27 books that were chosen by the Church, which is why I say that this goes in circles! Church > comes from Jesus BUT what we know about Jesus > comes from the Church.

But I will think about what you all said…

 

[Della]

I’m afraid your wrong to say that all we know about Jesus comes from the NT. It also comes from the Early Church Fathers, the oral teachings of the Apostles, the ongoing teaching of the Church, the experience of the Saints, etc. The Bible is only one part of Sacred Tradition. All these other things are, as well.

Ask yourself (you don’t have to answer here, this is for you to consider) have you read the Church Fathers? Have you read the writings of the Saints? Do you have a daily prayer life? Do you follow the liturgical seasons and life of the Church, such as praying Morning and Evening Prayer and attending Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation? Do you live according to the precepts of the Church? All these things are helps to faith, not just the Bible. Each of us has to cultivate our own spiritual lives. And that takes a bit of effort on our part. The Catholic faith is practiced not just believed. If you aren’t practicing it as fully as you could, try it. Let God talk to your heart and soul. Read good spiritual works. Considering how harsh the world is and how it tries to destroy our faith at every turn it’s more important that ever that we do our part to fight against these forces.

 

[Doeadeer]

the Church says it comes from Jesus but everything we know about Jesus comes from 27 books that were chosen by the Church, which is why I say that this goes in circles! Church > comes from Jesus BUT what we know about Jesus > comes from the Church.

I have a similar difficulty. This is one of parts of the Summa that’s always confused me, right at the beginning of Part I, Article 1. I get that in order for man to know the course of his salvation he must have both knowledge gained by reason and divine revelation (because man must know that his end is salvation in the first place, and that requires knowledge from God), but Thomas simply goes on to say “once they are revealed by God, they must be accepted by faith. Hence the sacred text continues, ‘For many things are shown to thee above the understanding of man’ (Sirach 3:25). And in this, the sacred science consists.” Which Scriptures, though, are to be accepted? How can we be sure of the validity of the OT, since there was no Magisterium at that time?

I’m not trying to be obnoxious, I promise! I’m honestly confused–what non-historical, non-contingent reasons can be given for the validity of the OT (and Christ as the fulfillment of it) rather than some other supposedly divine body of knowledge? Is there anything as rigorous as the Summa, medieval or modern, that gives a direct answer to that? (Maybe the Contra Gentiles? It’s been forever since I read it). But I’d very much like an answer to the circularity question as well!

 

[tbcrawford]

Thanks to all who replied.

I didn’t mean that everything Jesus did and said is in the Bible, I meant that everything we know about Jesus is in the Bible. Which is a problem to me in the sense that the Church says it comes from Jesus but everything we know about Jesus comes from 27 books that were chosen by the Church, which is why I say that this goes in circles! Church > comes from Jesus BUT what we know about Jesus > comes from the Church.

But I will think about what you all said…

The Catholic Church teaches that the Bible is indeed inspired by God and all teachings in the Church are based or inferred in Scripture.Only the Bible truly has human authors as well as a divine author. The best way to start to know the author, God, is through reading the Bible.

The big difference between Catholics and most other Christians is that most Protestants believe in what is called Sola Scriptura (Scripture only), whereas Catholics believe that the Magisterium (authoritative teaching office) is also divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit.

There is an abundance of scriptures that support the Catholic doctrine that oral teaching from the apostles was equally solid, but there is no place in Scripture that says that only Scripture is authoritative.
The documents that ultimately became recognized as God-breathed and scriptural were preserved by the apostles and the early Christians.

There were several Church councils that met near the end of the 4th century. They ultimately listed the current books of the Bible as we know it now. The Bible with 73 books was accepted by all Christians until the Reformation in 1546. At that time, the Council of Trent met to reaffirm that the canon was indeed the inspired word of God.

The Catholic Church, founded by Jesus Christ, has the fullness of the Truth. The Catholic Church has Christ as its head; and the Holy Spirit as its soul; the faithful as its body. The Catholic Church has the guarantee of the Holy Spirit to keep it from falling into error on matters of faith and morals.

Christ established upon Peter and the Apostles, the Church, one, holy, universal, apostolic, with which He declared He would remain all days to the consummation of the world, and against which the gates of Hell would not prevail.
Many people who leave the Catholic Church are blessed by the experience of worshiping for a while in various Christian denominations. But some people come back when they realize that Catholicism has the fullness of truth and grace. The Catholic Church was not founded by a single reformer or historical movement. It is not fragmented by individual interpretations of Scripture. There are thousands of Christian denominations, but only one Catholic Church. This Church has been guided by the Holy Spirit and protected from teaching error on issues of faith and morals from generation to generation for some two thousand years. Our Lord Jesus promised: (foretold Isaiah 22:15-25) Matt 16:13-20; Matthew 18:15-18 (in this verse the word is church, not community); 1 Tim 3:15

 

[Della]

I have a similar difficulty. This is one of parts of the Summa that’s always confused me, right at the beginning of Part I, Article 1. I get that in order for man to know the course of his salvation he must have both knowledge gained by reason and divine revelation (because man must know that his end is salvation in the first place, and that requires knowledge from God), but Thomas simply goes on to say “once they are revealed by God, they must be accepted by faith. Hence the sacred text continues, ‘For many things are shown to thee above the understanding of man’ (Sirach 3:25). And in this, the sacred science consists.” Which Scriptures, though, are to be accepted? How can we be sure of the validity of the OT, since there was no Magisterium at that time?

I’m not trying to be obnoxious, I promise! I’m honestly confused–what non-historical, non-contingent reasons can be given for the validity of the OT (and Christ as the fulfillment of it) rather than some other supposedly divine body of knowledge? Is there anything as rigorous as the Summa, medieval or modern, that gives a direct answer to that? (Maybe the Contra Gentiles? It’s been forever since I read it). But I’d very much like an answer to the circularity question as well!

The way we know that something is of God is if it’s true. Thus, if prophecies are fulfilled we know the prophet was a true prophet. The OT tells us about the relationship between God and the human race, how he chose Abraham and his descendants and made a covenant with them. The OT isn’t a proof text any more than the NT is. It’s a witness to what God did in and through Israel. In it God revealed himself through the writings of men inspired by the Holy Spirit. It’s not circular reasoning to simply state these facts. If the OT were not of God (or the NT either) neither would have had the impact on history that they did. Many other holy writings were written in other cultures, but none of them has had the effect that the Bible has had on human history. None of them has been studied and proclaimed as it has been. The Koran is a very young entry into the genre and borrows most of it ideas and text from the Bible. If God has not spoken through the Bible then I don’t know what all the fuss has been about all these centuries.

 

[easter88]

I’m afraid your wrong to say that all we know about Jesus comes from the NT. It also comes from the Early Church Fathers, the oral teachings of the Apostles, the ongoing teaching of the Church, the experience of the Saints, etc. The Bible is only one part of Sacred Tradition. All these other things are, as well.

The big difference between Catholics and most other Christians is that most Protestants believe in what is called Sola Scriptura (Scripture only), whereas Catholics believe that the Magisterium (authoritative teaching office) is also divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit.

How would anyone think of such a thing as the Holy Spirit if the Church hadn’t said it? And for that matter, about God or His attributes?

I am NOT trying to be disrespectful, I am just looking for answers. I guess my question is WHY TRUST THE CHURCH? If everything that is known about Jesus is in the Bible AND Sacred Tradition, and this comes from the Church, and the Church says it has its authority from Jesus, what is this supposed to mean to an “outsider”? Does this make sense?

I guess I am looking for reasons to believe that the Church is telling the truth, that it IS what it claims to be (and again I refer to the article I linked to):

“… the Catholic Church as the Church Christ founded, the depository of the fullness of truth, the font of life and grace.”

“… so too, they now “know that they know” that the Catholic Church is who she says she is: the Bride of Christ, divinely founded, divinely guarded, the budding forth of the kingdom of God on earth (cf. Lumen Gentium 5).”

The Catholic Church, founded by Jesus Christ, has the fullness of the Truth. The Catholic Church has Christ as its head; and the Holy Spirit as its soul; the faithful as its body. The Catholic Church has the guarantee of the Holy Spirit to keep it from falling into error on matters of faith and morals.

How does one do this? Any suggestions? (By the way, I go to Mass on Sundays, but I have stopped praying with any regularity or confidence. If I am going to believe in the Church, I know it has to be intelligently done, at least to the best of MY ability, not just because it’s nice, or pretty, or comforting, etc.)

 

[Della]

It isn’t just that the Church claims infallibility and indestructibility for itself, it’s that God has proved it by sustaining it through many centuries in which it has been attacked from inside and out. It still teaches the same things and still exists as Christ said it would. It’s been the one institution in the world that has effected history more than any other. Its Saints are glorious and it’s mission is ongoing. What more proof could anyone ask for?

 

[tbcrawford]

Hi easter.You mentioned that you have stopped praying with regularity and confidence.
Might I suggest the best way to help yourself rediscover your faith is to begin praying again.Build up your relationship with Our Blessed Lord once again.

We all go through periods of doubt and it is healthy and normal to do so.Make a list of all the questions you have and make an appointment to speak with your priest.In the meantime it is very important to begin your prayerlife once again.

I guess what I’m saying here is that maybe you can’t study your way back to faith. Maybe you just have to endure the trial and wait for God. Keep going to Mass and confession.

Just start to pray.The more you pray the more you will gain and the easier it will become.
Your faith will grow again.
An analogy is…plant a seed,water it,feed it nourish it with sunlight and watch it grow and blossom.If you don’t feed it it will wither and die.So will your faith.
Every time i receive Holy Communion I pray immediately afterward for His Body and Blood
to feed and nourish my soul and my faith.

Some of the Saints (notably Therese of Lisieux) have advised that there are two temptations that you don’t engage, you just flee. One is the temptation against purity and the other is that against faith.

What is Faith
Faith is a “spiritual substance” on the inside of you that can either grow or wane

If you don’t continue to seek after knowledge about God, your faith will stagnate - it will stop growing
This is why the Bible says that your faith will grow by hearing the Word of God. In other words, your faith will grow as you continue to increase your knowledge base about the Lord, especially through the study of Scripture.

When you are hearing the Word of God - you are increasing your knowledge levels about God, and that is what will cause the Holy Spirit to raise your faith.

“Now faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
Easter and all who feel similarly you are all in my prayers.May God bless you and guide you all to open your hearts and minds and come to Him.

Eventually it comes down to… read and learn as much as possible but you need to pray also.

“You will indeed listen, but never understand, and will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn - and I would heal them.” Matthew 13.14

PRAYER OF AFFIRMATION

I am loved by God; I am made by God; I am forgiven by God; I am accepted by God unconditionally; I am a child of God; I am sustained by God; I am important to God; I am used by God; I am enabled by God; I am destined for God. Amen.

PRAYER FOR FAITH
Lord, I believe: I wish to believe in Thee. Lord, let my faith be full and unreserved, and let it penetrate my thought, my way of judging Divine things and human things. Lord, let my faith be joyful and give peace and gladness to my spirit, and dispose it for prayer with God and conversation with men, so that the inner bliss of its fortunate possession may shine forth in sacred and secular conversation. Lord, let my faith be humble and not presume to be based on the experience of my thought and of my feeling; but let it surrender to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, and not have any better guarantee than in docility to Tradition and to the authority of the magisterium of the Holy Church.
Amen.
Praying that you find your way back to faith in God and His Holy Church

 

[easter88]

I guess what I’m saying here is that maybe you can’t study your way back to faith.

Apparently not!

Keep going to Mass and confession.

Going to Mass in this state of mind can be very uncomfortable. As for confession, I personally wonder how a practical unbeliever would benefit from it at all, or even bother to go, but from these forums I get the impression that it’s perfectly acceptable?

Eventually it comes down to… read and learn as much as possible but you need to pray also.

Again, thanks to all who tried to help.

 

[3DOCTORS]

For some reason, I find myself wanting to suggest to you to study Church history. A good beginners guide. There is a link on CAF to a blog about the Church Fathers by Jimmy Akin, and there are basic Church history books or websites by well-known and trustworthy apologists and Catholic teachers.

It sounds like you’re trying to find a context to place your wonderings into, and I’m wondering if what happened in the early history of the Church might be that context.

Also want to extend an invitation to a group which I started - originally for family & friends of converts having second thoughts, but it looks as if we’re going to expand it into helping the questioning converts more directly. Here’s the link, check it out:

Tiber River Lifeboat Patrol: forums.catholic-questions.org/group.php?groupid=664

 

[tbcrawford]

Apparently not!

Going to Mass in this state of mind can be very uncomfortable. As for confession, I personally wonder how a practical unbeliever would benefit from it at all, or even bother to go, but from these forums I get the impression that it’s perfectly acceptable?

Again, thanks to all who tried to help.

Dear Easter I am praying for you my friend that you will be reassured of your doubts.Go and see your priest with your concerns written down.He will be able to reassure you far better than any of us here.In the meantime 3Doctors suggested a very good idea of joining the Group
Tiber River Lifeboat Patrol: forums.catholic-questions.org/group.php?groupid=664

The early Church Fathers give evidence that the basic teachings of the Catholic Church were very present during the earliest days of Christianity. In the original Catholic Encyclopedia, see:
‘Fathers of the Church’
Some of the greatest saints suffered with long periods of doubts. Saint Catherine of Siena was one of them. Finally after a long difficult period, our Lord appeared to her and she said: “Where WERE you all this time? And He answered: “Catherine, I was in your heart.” She could never have survived such temptations without His being there. I suspect that the Lord is closer to you that you realize. Keep praying and asserting your trust in Him. Reflect on His passion. No mere human could conjure up the notion that an infinite God could love His creatures that much!

See this (answer from Fr Vincent Serpa)

How can I overcome my doubts about my faith? - Catholic Answers Forums2 posts - 2 authors - Last post: 26 Jan 2005
How can I overcome my doubts about my faith? Ask an Apologist. …

Prayer for Faith in Time of Doubt
I don’t even know what to say, Blessed Lord,
I am so confused.
I am caught in the midst of a violent crisis of faith,
so uncertain and doubtful.
I am going through a difficult time
in what touches the depth of my belief.
I am almost tempted to give in
to impatience and despair.
Something within me cries out for you,
yet you seem not to be there.
I have broken away from many childhood beliefs.
I decided to let me faith pass through the filter
of my personal experience.
Suddenly, I found myself too far from you,
from security and certainty.
If I still turn to you, Blessed Lord,
it is because I have not yet lost
the hope of finding
an exit door
for my spiritual anguish
I begin to realize
that by myself I will not be able to overcome
life’s ambiguities and contradictions.
I know the mystery of you continues,
and that my faith-existence is a challenge
to be embraced.
The light of your occasional shadowy presence
makes me see that my crisis comes
from the depth of my maturity,
from the depth of my faith.
The irony, Lord;
there is a crisis of doubt
only because there is faith.
Perhaps I have become too demanding
and too positive.
Open my heart, Lord,
to the right attitude
when confronted with questions
of my faith.

Amen.

www.ithaca.edu/…/catholic/prayers/timeofdoubt/ - United States

 

[3DOCTORS]

That’s a good prayer! Gives me an idea to post some links to it and other prayers on the Tiber River Lifeboat Patrol group wall.

Another good thing to remember is the short Scripture verse, Mark 9:24:

“I do believe, help my unbelief!” :bible1:

When life gets challenging, even a cradle Catholic like yours truly finds that verse quite a help.