Feeling sad after Mass

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nevadairenaeus

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I was attending Mass Saturday evening alone as usual, without my family who are not Catholic (they are Mormon). It was a First Communion Mass for a sizable group of young boys and girls. Although I was happy for the families who were celebrating, it just brought home to me again my isolation and the faith divide running through my own family. My youngest daughter will be baptized into the LDS church next month. How I wish she was receiving First Communion instead!

I guess I’m just looking for any words of support and for your prayers.

Just a side note - I was married and all my children were born before I converted from Mormonism to the Catholic faith this year.
 
For some reason, God called and your heard Him. Although your family is divide now, it may be that in time, and when they get older, they may see your example of being Catholic and feel the call too. After all, it happened to you, it may happen to them one day too. 🙂

Until then, continue to pray quietly for them. No need to announce it, just pray in the silence of your heart. You may want to check out some novenas, I find them useful when praying for something that may take a while, or a miracle. 😉

Welcome home, by the way. Perhaps one day, you will say that to your own family members. Don’t give up hope. Just keep the faith. May God bless you and guide you.
 
nevadairenaeus said:
I guess I’m just looking for any words of support and for your prayers.
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In my point of view you should feel lucky for being in the Catholic faith. Don’t give up on your faith and try to respect your familys point of view if they really don’t want to join.

I guess the best advice I can give you is to be an example for others that don’t belong to our religion. Blessings.
 
I’ll be praying for you.

Keep praying for your family and glorify God through your life.

My wife is currently a non-practicing Catholic and I am much comforted by the words of my confessor - “Your prayers are heard. But you are on God’s time…not yours, so be patient and trust in Him.”

Pray and trust in His wisdom. There’s a reason your life has taken the path it has. I don’t know what it is, but the Lord does.

God bless,
Bryan
 
I know how that feels. I also attend Mass by myself. Prayers going out to you and your family.
 
I go to Mass by myself also, and it certainly can be disheartening to see so many happy families together when that is what you want for yourself. The other posters have given good advice on your family situation.

I will say a prayer for you, especially if I end up going to the Adoration Chapel today. Its becoming my best piece of advice - if you have one near you, I advise you to drop in once in awhile, especially when you’re feeling lonely and out of sorts. It really does help!
 
The Mass, more than being a re-enacting of the Last Supper, is also an expression of Calvary and the Bloody Sacrifice of Christ for us; For you to feel isolated and aching for your family to be with you is only too fitting, because it was during His Passion that Jesus felt most isolated and aching for His family.

Take comfort from Him whose “soul was sorrowful even unto death” and who understands the pain you’re going through.
 
For all of us who attend mass without a spouse or surrounded by family, let us pray:

Lord, Jesus, consoler of broken hearts, the lonely, and the sad, lift our spirits and help us to carry this, our cross, that we bear out of love of You.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, pray for us!

AMEN.
 
Bowljr300 said:
For all of us who attend mass without a spouse or surrounded by family, let us pray:

Lord, Jesus, consoler of broken hearts, the lonely, and the sad, lift our spirits and help us to carry this, our cross, that we bear out of love of You.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, pray for us!

AMEN.
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Amen.
 
Sad to say, when I was still Mormon, but inactive, I let my husband cart the kids off to Mass with him and I really liked that time alone without them under foot.

Then I started going with them a few times… in 1999 I became Catholic. Do not despair! The very best thing my husband did as an example to me was remaining the man of God that I originally married. He completely showed me the love of Christ. He was just a part of my conversion story, but he was a focal point.

Praying for you and yours!
Steph
 
nevadairenaeus said:
I was attending Mass Saturday evening alone as usual, without my family who are not Catholic (they are Mormon). It was a First Communion Mass for a sizable group of young boys and girls. Although I was happy for the families who were celebrating, it just brought home to me again my isolation and the faith divide running through my own family. My youngest daughter will be baptized into the LDS church next month. How I wish she was receiving First Communion instead!

I guess I’m just looking for any words of support and for your prayers.

Just a side note - I was married and all my children were born before I converted from Mormonism to the Catholic faith this year.
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Keep your head up and keep praying! My wife is divorcing me because I left Mormonism. At least you still have your marriage. Be thankful for that. I attend an FSSP parish so I have the advantage of the Latin Mass. The Latin for me serves as a sort of Christlike meditation for me.
 
In RCIA, did you learn about Reparative Suffering (sometimes referred to as “offering it up”)? You are probably already doing this in a way. When you are faced with some trial, you can make a conscious act of offering your suffering to God as a prayer (or sacrifice).

We all have to suffer, but you can tell God you are accepting the suffering that comes to you because of the division in your family.

I go to Mass–daily–alone, also. (My kids are grown.) Not just with regard to being at Mass alone, but whenever there is some cross I must carry, I offer it to God. If I make a conscious effort to patiently sacrifice my small suffering sort of in trade for all those who suffer more than I do, it helps! (And Christ suffered for us on the cross!) This offering up makes so many things easier for me; maybe it will work for you.

Also, I will Offer Up for YOU. This must be a particularly hard time when your daughter is becoming more involved in LDS, and you are feeling more alienated from your family’s faith practices. :ouch:
 
Dear soul, please praise God that you are ABLE to attend Mass (even "alone). And find the greatest joy in the Presence of Jesus. For He is truly present, in the Eucharist.

I’m living through a nightmarish hell of a situation… where every, single weekend… my ability to attend Mass… is almost completely dependent on the cooperation (or lack, thereof) a non-believing sibling (we share the care of our 90 year old mother, who can not be left alone). Many is the time… that I have either been prevented from attending Mass, altogether… or made so incredibly late, that I didn’t know if it “counted”. On those occasions, I sit through Mass… shaking, shuddering and always one eighth of an inch from tears.

Please find the Peace of Our Lord… in your ability to get to Mass. Even if you go “alone”… for I assure you, you are NOT alone.

God bless you.
 
nevadairenaeus said:
I was attending Mass Saturday evening alone as usual, without my family who are not Catholic (they are Mormon). It was a First Communion Mass for a sizable group of young boys and girls. Although I was happy for the families who were celebrating, it just brought home to me again my isolation and the faith divide running through my own family. My youngest daughter will be baptized into the LDS church next month. How I wish she was receiving First Communion instead!

I guess I’m just looking for any words of support and for your prayers.

Just a side note - I was married and all my children were born before I converted from Mormonism to the Catholic faith this year.
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I’m not sure what to say, but I think your feelings make a lot of sense. It is very hard to watch others enjoy something wonderful when you cannot share the experience in your own life (at least, not yet!) It’s a type of grieving. It is ok to feel that way. That doesn’t make it go away, of course. But sometimes there is comfort in the knowledge that one’s grief is normal.
 
nevadairenaeus said:
I was attending Mass Saturday evening alone as usual, without my family who are not Catholic (they are Mormon). It was a First Communion Mass for a sizable group of young boys and girls. Although I was happy for the families who were celebrating, it just brought home to me again my isolation and the faith divide running through my own family. My youngest daughter will be baptized into the LDS church next month. How I wish she was receiving First Communion instead!

I guess I’m just looking for any words of support and for your prayers.

Just a side note - I was married and all my children were born before I converted from Mormonism to the Catholic faith this year.
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Hey, I was baptized at 2008 Easter Vigil. My husband and daughter are atheists.

The truth is, from my experience, your life in this respect is going to go up and down, highs and lows. I’ve been where you are, as someone pointed out, grieving. I never felt more alone in my life than the 1 or 2 months before my baptism. Someone at the time told me that is what it means to be a Catholic: we are alone, together.

There will be times where you wonder, what were you thinking, doing something where your family doesn’t have an interest in being with you. There will be times you will have a great hope, in something said in a conversation, or an action, only to have that hope dashed into a thousand pieces. I have had people in the parish who I talk to and discussed scripture with,every week,for two years suddenly shocked to learn that I am married, with a grown daughter. I still think most people who see me every week at mass believe I am single. I have had people tell me point blank that they cold never be married to someone who wouldn’t come to mass with them. I’ve had people tell me that my husband isn’t really an atheist, because EVERYONE knows there is a God. These types of things only push me further into feeling isolated. The beauty of the parish is everyone is Catholic, and I believe the same things they believe. Something that I don’t experience the other 6 days of the week.

There is only one constant in this roller coaster ride:Jesus Christ. There is no other Reason to put yourself through this. Keep Him at your horizon, with Mary as your guiding star.
 
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