Do you weep when you are at prayer?

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Joysong said:
Dear Romano,

Although you provided a “book” reference, we are unable to read a description of the gift of tears, which is what Fergal asked about. It is not too probable that many of our readers will purchase the book in order to learn what this means. Incidentally, your first post did not provide a link, just the mention of the book.

Carole
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Hi Carole:

Well, PARDON ME!. I guess yours is what we must call American gratitude.

I discovered the book, ordered the book, paid for the book, read the book, wrote a post providing FULL BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS OF THE BOOK WITH RELEVANT PAGE NUMBERS, and now I am being asked to write up a precis of the contents?

My! My! MY!. I guess someone around here is a member of the remote control generation, folks who are used to having absoluteley EVERYTHING done for them while not lifting a finger to help themselves or anyone else.

Well, happily I do not live in the degenerate West. I live in the East and, among other things, have read Confucius. Let me tell you what he says. He says: “I lift one corner.” What did he mean? He meant that, for anyone with the ability to truly benefit, a hint should be enough. Those unable to lift the other three corners themselves he dismisses as not worth bothering with.

And guess what? I’m inclined to agree with him.
 
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Joysong:
Although you provided a “book” reference, we are unable to read a description of the gift of tears, which is what Fergal asked about. It is not too probable that many of our readers will purchase the book in order to learn what this means. Incidentally, your first post did not provide a link, just the mention of the book.

Carole
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Hi Carole:

Well, PARDON ME!. I guess yours is what we must call American gratitude.

I discovered the book, ordered the book, paid for the book, read the book, wrote a post providing FULL BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS OF THE BOOK WITH RELEVANT PAGE NUMBERS, and now I am being asked to write up a precis of the contents?

My! My! MY!. I guess someone around here is a member of the remote control generation, folks who are used to having absoluteley EVERYTHING done for them while not doing a thing to help themselves or anyone else.

Well, happily I do not live in the degenerate West. I live in the East and, among other things, have read Confucius. Let me tell you what he says. He says: “I lift one corner.” What did he mean? He meant that, for anyone with the ability to truly benefit, a hint should be enough. Those unable to lift the other three corners themselves he dismisses as not worth bothering with.

And guess what? I’m inclined to agree with him.
 
Dear Romano,
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Romano:
Well, PARDON ME!. I guess yours is what we must call American gratitude.
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Do I detect a bit of huffiness? My heart was in the right place, and I think you read my words without sensing my meaning. I was not criticizing you, for I, too, was anxious to hear about the gift of tears in the same manner as Fergal, as were many others for whom you whet their appetites. Yet, we probably will not purchase the book to read a short description that may take only a couple of paragraphs, such as mine did.

Many people are on fixed incomes, and if they would want to budget money for a spiritual book, it might be one of another choice. Not all of us are freely able to purchase every book we might like to read. Remember, too, there are shipping charges. I was merely giving you feedback in case you might want to print it out for those who would not be purchasing the book itself.

If that warrants from you an abrupt remark about being in a “remote control generation,” — well, then, I guess I obliged you. Sorry!

Carole
 
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deb1:
I do this too during mass. Because I see no one else crying, I fight very hard to hide my tears. I don’t want people thinking that I am odd-especially as I don’t even start RCIA until this Tuesday!!! It is actually a relief to me to find that other people do this also.
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Deb and everyone else who cries,
Hoo boy. What a relief to read this thread. I have cried during mass, the rosary, stations, adoration etc. Not always, not even really often. But especially in public places, like mass I do feel like a dork afterwards.

The year I came into the Church the first stations of the cross I attended was a Living Stations exercised. I had already meditated on the Passion quite a bit, so I thought I had cried all those tears in private, but during the Stations I started weeping, silently and uncontrollably. It took me 5 min after stations were over to compose myself and lift my head. All that pain, just for our sins. Oy.

Thanks for this thread, Romano. I hope to find the book in the near future.
 
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Joysong:
Dear Romano,

Do I detect a bit of huffiness? My heart was in the right place, and I think you read my words without sensing my meaning. I was not criticizing you, for I, too, was anxious to hear about the gift of tears in the same manner as Fergal, as were many others for whom you whet their appetites. Yet, we probably will not purchase the book to read a short description that may take only a couple of paragraphs, such as mine did.
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Hi Carole:

I read the relevant chapter several times looking for some way to summarize it but, although it’s short, I felt that any summary of mine would involve a real danger of seriously misunderstanding what the chapter says.

Now then, you folks have libraries, you have book request services, you have nice bookshops where you can actually sit down and read one of their books in comfort. You have a wealth of free services. Please use them.
 
Dear Romano,

Again, you are assuming. If you knew the size of my town and the inaccessability one has to book stores and libraries, it would amaze you. My town only recently got on the state map. 😃

I had visited in Florida for several months, and the city was equipped with a wonderful modern library, full of about 50 computers, and A/V materials, loads of newspapers/magazines – yet their spiritual library was so inept it surprised me for a library of that size.

I can appreciate your reservations about doing justice to a beautiful work by another author. Are you still unable to appreciate where I’m coming from? :confused:

Carole
 
**Here’s part of aThe Spiritual World of Isaac the Syrian book review by Dana R. Miller. The entire review may be found here.
**

Fordham University
Department of Philosophy
441 E. Fordham Rd.
Bronx, New York 10458

Alfeyev seems to assume that we, readers living in the twenty-first century, will be able to make sense of and find interesting what Isaac writes about what he, as an ascetic of seventh century Persia, thinks is of greatest possible importance. Alfeyev seems to think that discussions of prostrations, rivers of involuntary tears, and awestruck states will attract our attention and we will not think that we are witnessing a form of lunacy. I mean to say that his introduction does not attempt to bridge the enormous gap between how ordinary people now think and lead their lives and how ancient Christian ascetics did so. There are, no doubt, deeply religious people nowadays who will not find Isaac’s thought-world foreign, but such people are few. What about the rest of us?**
Not to distance myself, however, I did not read the book, thus I have no opinion or purpose other than to share some information.
 
I cried when I couldn’t take the Eucharist (I was longing for it!) because I’m yes, still in RCIA! Am I crazy?

I cry sometimes or feel the tears coming when I meditate on the Passion (I think I cried when they showed the 14 Stations of the Cross in Rome on Good Friday this year on EWTN).

I weep when I pray that I’m weak and all that stuff. Am I crazy?
 
Dear PeterC

:bigyikes: Oh my, I’m beginning to see why Romano was rather harsh with me. Thanks so much for providing this book review for our readers. Hmm, eastern mysticism once again rearing its head. I was particularly disturbed by this paragraph:
“Is that complete cessation of intellectual activity which Isaac calls ‘stillness of mind’ a migration beyond the borders of personal existence, a complete loss of personal self-awareness? No” On what basis does Alfeyev answer “no”? He goes on to quote Isaac: “As soon as the governance and stewardship of the Spirit rule the intellect… then a man’s nature is deprived of its free will and is led by another guidance… and is not able to direct the movements of the mind” That someone is deprived of free will and cannot direct the movements of his or her mind strongly suggests that there is a significant loss of personal self-awareness. Perhaps this loss is not “complete,” but it seems to be a loss of the most important aspect of personhood, a cognitively directed will.
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:blessyou:
Carole

%between%
 
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PJR:
I often get a little watery at Mass and sometimes feel kind of dorky for it, like I should hide any emotional reaction, but sometimes I feel more attuned to it and it seems to overtake me.I always look to see if anyone things I’m a fruitcake.
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AAAAAAhhhh, so I’m not the only one. Whew!!!

DustinsDad
 
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DustinsDad:
AAAAAAhhhh, so I’m not the only one. Whew!!!

DustinsDad
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Not - not the only one for sure. I feel like the only one balling at times. I think it makes my kids uncomfortable too.
 
Well there is nothing we can do that our kids won’t think we’re fruitcakes. I find nothing more likely to make me cry than the witness to real manhood-and womanhood, not cuttin’ us gals out-to see someone willing to bow in humility before God, even if it might seem undignified or goofy.

Our priest has moments when you can tell he’s on the verge of tears. I almost want to lie prostrate it is so humbling.
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jrabs:
Not - not the only one for sure. I feel like the only one balling at times. I think it makes my kids uncomfortable too.
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Yes, I do, but more often at mass. Actually, it’s more like misty eyed - I prefer to “contain” my emotions. It feels weird to come out and admit it; I kinda thought I was the only one.
 
An elderly Franciscan Friar once told me I have the Gift of Tears and I found the comment to be a source of relief and very comforting.

The body reacts to being touched by the Spirit of God in a very emotional way and the result is overwhelming to the point of tears of joy and realization of the very presence and essence of God in every day events.

Magdaline
 
I have cried at prayer when praying for other people. Sometimes, in terrible situations, words are difficult to come by…
 
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Wildgraywolf:
Yes, I do, but more often at mass. Actually, it’s more like misty eyed - I prefer to “contain” my emotions. It feels weird to come out and admit it; I kinda thought I was the only one.
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You are not the only one. I find myself getting "misty eyed " everytime I walk into church. Kinda like “coming home” after being away for awhile, even though it was just a few days. I am emotional anyway, but I find that prayer moves me like nothing else can.
~ Kathy ~ :yup:
 
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aine:
I am someone who cries a lot (unfortunately…sympathetic crier) but i felt as if Mary had wrapped her arms around me and allowed me to cry everything out.
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Over the last year this has become a problem for me as well. if I see some one else cry, it is very hard for me not to cry. Particualrly if the person is at Church. and I seem to sense peopel’s moods more. I feel so awkward, because I feel that I should offer some sort of help or ear to the person, but don’t want to invade their privacy.

And I cry so badly during confession or even just when waiting for confession, that I feel that the priest must think I have some sort of mental instability issues. I can barely speak in the confessional.
 
After a long time of praying all-too-rarely outside of church, since the death of Pope John Paul II I have gone back to my childhood ritual of kneeling down and praying before bed every night. Twice now, I have started crying heavily while doing so. I am very comfortable with that at home, and it has been an emotional release, which is something that doesn’t come easily for me. But last week, while kneeling down to pray before Mass, I could feel the tears well up in my eyes. I took some deep breaths, but ultimately I had to cut my prayer short, sit down, and distract my thoughts to keep the tears from coming down noticeably. And rationally I know that there would have been nothing wrong with that, but I am too much a private person to cry so publically.
 
Lately, this had been happening often. John 11:35 - Jesus wept. - runs through my thoughts almost daily.
 
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