Feeling skeptical

[Devotedtoyou12]

Lately, I have been feeling very skeptical of my Catholic faith. Actually, make that faith in general. I’ve been recently trying to overcome an eating disorder and over the summer I had problems with my friends. All of these sufferings have been building up, and I know a good Catholic would just offer them up, but for some reason it has turned into skepticism. I love my faith so much, but sometimes I wonder if praying to God or the saints really works. It hurts me so much to be going through this. I haven’t been able to feel God’s presence at all, even in the Eucharist! I think back and remember how it brought tears to my eyes when I used to receive. Now I try and feel anything, but I feel nothing. I really want to receive in Mass tomorrow, and I went to confession last week, but I don’t know if I should because of this skepticism. Can someone please help me?

 

[Linda_Marie]

By all means, continue to go to Mass and receive the Sacraments. The skepticism you describe sounds more venial than mortal. Although I keep getting told off for saying this - if you are at all concerned that you are in mortal sin, take it to confession. Only your confessor can determine the degree, only he hears all the details and he is uniquely equipped through his ministry to advise you. At this point I think you should make an appointment with your confessor to discuss your difficulties. This may take more time than for confession.

The thing to remember is that our faith does not rest on our feelings. Feelings are slippery things that can lead us astray, especially if we make the mistake of equating the feelings with the actual presence of God. God is present whether we feel him there or not.

I have been going through a particularly long dry patch, pretty much since 1989. The thing that I keep remembering is that before I even knew Him, He was there, before I ever once felt His presence, His hand was on me. I know this now, looking back on my life with eyes of faith.

Now that I do know Him and initially had those wonderful uplifting feelings, I know that even though I have had very few consolations in many years , He is still with me, just as He was all those years when I was oblivious to Him.

We have the visible Sacraments, most especially the Eucharist. The Sacraments are unlike sacramentals which operate only by a person’s faith. The Eucharist is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus, whether we feel Him there or even believe Him there or not.

This is a time for you to build your trust in God apart from any feelings. Whenever you start to doubt or feel skeptic, banish those thoughts with, “Jesus, I trust in You.”

 

[BarbaraTherese]

To have a talk with a priest sounds a very good suggestion…either in Confession or by appointment and by appointment probably would be the better option.

The dryness in prayer was almost the ruin of St. Teresa of Avila, causing her to turn back and discontinue prayer - she did persevere and became a great saint, religious foundress and a mystic and Doctor of The Church. Is it helpful to you to remember that just because we cannot feel God, nor even Jesus in the Blessed Eucharist…our feelings cannot change anything in our Faith at all…they are still realities - they are all still there. Feelings, I like to say, can be like windmills, they will shift in the slightest breeze. What our Faith tells us is constant and unchanging ever.

Sometimes life problems can bring about difficulties with prayer and with our Faith and to persevere is the answer…but persevere with gentleness to yourself. God well understands your difficulties and He has said “It is mercy I desire, not sacrifice” and this includes to be merciful with ourselves as well as others.

I hope you will have a talk with a priest.

May God Bless you and grant you His Peace…Barb

 

[b_justb]

Devotedtoyou12,

Being skeptical keeps you from falling prey into the hands of the unstable. People will tell you all sorts of things and without skepticism you will fall for whatever they say. Hold to your skepticism. It very well may be the development of internal discernment.

Does praying help you? It doesn’t matter if it helps you or not. Pray for others, it helps them. Don’t look to help yourself. You are part of a great community, work for the good of that community not for the good of yourself.

Is God omnipresent or He is not? If so then He is present in the Eucharist, as He is present with you when you walk down the street. Do you feel the air you breath? No you don’t, yet it sustains your life without you even thinking about it. Is God present even though you don’t perceive a physical entity? Yes He is.

Enjoy the Sacraments given to you by God! Confess often, come to the table and sup with Christ. And hold on to your skepticism, embrace it, and nurture it.