Enthusiasm or called to something more?

[legaleagle]

Hi, as I explore Catholcism, I have to say that the Real Presence is probably the reason I will convert. I started going to church on Sunday afternoons when it was empty to pray and light candles and I found it so peaceful. I’ve since been trying to get to daily Mass once or twice a week and I always feel better after going (even though I don’t get to receive Communion).

Here’s the problem/issue/concern that I have: I’ve been considering Catholicism for a long time now, but I really got enthusiastic and serious about converting this year. I took the summer off before starting a job as a lawyer and read books (Scott Hahn type books), watched EWTN and started going to daily Mass and Adoration. Now that I’ve started doing that, I want to be at church ALL the time. Where do I draw the line between beginner’s enthusiasm and something deeper? When I’m in a Catholic church, I think about Jesus’ words as a 12 year old that He had to be in His Father’s house.

Practically speaking, I can’t be at church all the time, I have a job. Do you all feel like I do? Is it just normal Catholic feelings? Or (I’m afraid to ask) is it a sign of some kind of calling?

I forgot to mention that the past few months, I find myself less interested in law. Not a good thing since I just began my legal career. I’m only interested in theology and I’m disgusted by the lavish lifestyle that I’m seeing with the big law firms.

Thanks for any insight you can help with.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

I was like that when I started taking my faith seriously after many years of lukewarmness. I wanted to be in church all the time. It’s like the honeymoon phase of a marriage; you will probably achieve some sort of balance after a while. A good spiritual director helped me realize that God does not want us to abandon our duties by spending too much time in prayer. We have to be faithful to the duties of our state in life, and sometimes let our work be our prayer.

Speaking of state in life, if you suspect you might have a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, find a good holy priest to be your spiritual director (if you do not already have one) to help you discern God’s will.

Pray to Saint Thomas More, who was both a lawyer and a saint. Who knows, perhaps you have a future in Canon Law (which can be practiced by priests or laity).

 

[4EverHis]

Hi, as I explore Catholcism, I have to say that the Real Presence is probably the reason I will convert.

that’s wonderful, that is the initial reason I converted!

I started going to church on Sunday afternoons when it was empty to pray and light candles and I found it so peaceful. I’ve since been trying to get to daily Mass once or twice a week and I always feel better after going (even though I don’t get to receive Communion).

Here’s the problem/issue/concern that I have: I’ve been considering Catholicism for a long time now, but I really got enthusiastic and serious about converting this year. I took the summer off before starting a job as a lawyer and read books (Scott Hahn type books), watched EWTN and started going to daily Mass and Adoration. Now that I’ve started doing that, I want to be at church ALL the time. Where do I draw the line between beginner’s enthusiasm and something deeper? When I’m in a Catholic church, I think about Jesus’ words as a 12 year old that He had to be in His Father’s house.

Practically speaking, I can’t be at church all the time, I have a job. Do you all feel like I do? Is it just normal Catholic feelings? Or (I’m afraid to ask) is it a sign of some kind of calling?

I forgot to mention that the past few months, I find myself less interested in law. Not a good thing since I just began my legal career. I’m only interested in theology and I’m disgusted by the lavish lifestyle that I’m seeing with the big law firms.

Thanks for any insight you can help with.

I’ve had something very similar happen to me when I ‘discovered’ the Real Presence. I think it’s normal but it won’t always be like this. God allows these times, and then gives us trials and times of dryness as well. Our job is to just believe in Him and love Him no matter what we feel. When I was converting, I also wanted to be in church all the time. I still do, actually…but now, I’m ALSO able to focus on my studies, which I had difficulty doing before. Just try to do all for the glory of God, whatever it is try to follow Him right where you are now. And when you have time, of course go and spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, I’m sure He’d be very pleased
pray as much as you can given your state of life, but don’t neglect your job either, unless God leads you to something else later on.

I can’t really say if you have a vocation or not or if this is a calling to ‘something more’… it could be, but it could also be that God is drawing you closer to yourself. I’m actually trying to figure this out for myself as well try to take it slowly, become Catholic first, and stay open to God’s will… He will show in time.

as for feeling disgusted with the lavish lifestyle in the law firms, that’s not wrong at all to feel that way, it just means that your heart is being removed more from the world we are all called for holiness… it doesn’t mean you should remove yourself from this environment, I mean - it could mean that, but it could also mean that God wants you to stay there and witness to these people.

I suggest, becoming Catholic first and then seeing where God leads you
it sounds like our journeys are similar in some ways…lol!

God bless

 

[FCEGM]

Hi, as I explore Catholcism, I have to say that the Real Presence is probably the reason I will convert. I started going to church on Sunday afternoons when it was empty to pray and light candles and I found it so peaceful. I’ve since been trying to get to daily Mass once or twice a week and I always feel better after going (even though I don’t get to receive Communion).

Here’s the problem/issue/concern that I have: I’ve been considering Catholicism for a long time now, but I really got enthusiastic and serious about converting this year. I took the summer off before starting a job as a lawyer and read books (Scott Hahn type books), watched EWTN and started going to daily Mass and Adoration. Now that I’ve started doing that, I want to be at church ALL the time. Where do I draw the line between beginner’s enthusiasm and something deeper? When I’m in a Catholic church, I think about Jesus’ words as a 12 year old that He had to be in His Father’s house.

Practically speaking, I can’t be at church all the time, I have a job. Do you all feel like I do? Is it just normal Catholic feelings? Or (I’m afraid to ask) is it a sign of some kind of calling?

I forgot to mention that the past few months, I find myself less interested in law. Not a good thing since I just began my legal career. I’m only interested in theology and I’m disgusted by the lavish lifestyle that I’m seeing with the big law firms.

Thanks for any insight you can help with.

It sounds to me like you’re making excellent progress in the Faith as you are understanding already that there must come a time when one’s initial enthusiasm wanes. It’s then that living by faith - and not by one’s changing emotions - “kicks in”. So it’s not a matter of drawing a line between enthusiasm and a deeper spiritual life, but a supernaturally aided progression in spiritual growth as one maintains a regular prayer life and is nurtured by the Sacramental life of the Church. Growth in virtue is the sign that all is going well in the face of lessening enthusiasms.

May God continue to bless richly you in your journey home!

 

[poetryforjesus]

I feel similar sometimes. I feel that the Church is Home and I don’t want to go home. But reality is, I have a husband and a son. I must attend to my duties and fulfill my obligations as wife and mother.

You must be patient with yourself and trust that God will sort out all these things in time. Sometimes I feel very drawn to certain holy plans but then sense that, though those intentions are holy, God is not calling me to fulfill them right now.

My practical suggestion would be this:

1. Always do your duties with the best efforts.
2. Pray the Rosary. The Blessed Mother is your best defense against spiritual confusion. If you have a strong devotion to Mary, she will not allow you to fall astray.

Hope that helps.

 

[legaleagle]

Thanks for your comments. I feel more ‘normal’ now. Hopefully I’ll figure everything out soon.