Gift of Tears

[englishredrose]

I’m not quite sure what you are saying here. But I do think you misunderstood what I meant. I simply stated that when I do have a moment where I get choked up, I take a second or two to catch my breath and then continue; otherwise I would completely lose it. The words, as I read them, sometimes bring me to an emotional wellspring of joy! Not sure how else to describe the sensation.

I did not mean I read the entire gospel slowly, actually I do not try to look at the people much, I do not believe to properly proclaim the Gospel I need to “make the people feel like they are in the story”. I read it as it should be read, with tone and inflection as appropriate to the literary form and punctuation.

On another note, and I hope this doesn’t sound uncharitable, if you have medical issues which cause you concern during the liturgy then maybe you should reconsider serving. There are no laws mandating that you stand if you are not able to stand; go sit in the pew instead of taking the chance of fainting. Just a thought; if I misunderstood your words, I do apologize.

Hmm you haven’t totally misunderstood me.
The pew is right behind me if I really feel as though about to faint. and there are enough people to help me if I actually did. Plus the priest is 100% aware I do not like that part and whilst nothing has happend as am not a fainter. I have breakfast and everything, He is more than aware I struggle with that part and he has made no suggestion also knowing what serving means to me too and the worse thing possible is not to just do that bit of the service in case it turns into a panic situation for me. Lots of performers have anxiety issues and learn how to deal with them the priest himself has told me how to take a pleasant image into something I don’t like doing and I am trying at that in that time too. and am hoping it isn’t turning into that but to stop that one bit would make it so… It far better to learn how to see myself thru it as the priest is more than aware of the whole situation for me. Some of it is sound/balance but would fast turn into anxiety if I stopped it. The rest is fine when standing. Just that one part

 

[ccmcmg]

u wud drive me barmy in that we take the Gospel to the middle of our Church and when am Acolyting I am affected by the balance sound and that spot is where the ‘cut off’ is an just stand in the wrong place, I never yet fainted in the Gospel as I don’t faint but stand in that wrong place and I wonder how am going to get thru it especially with our Deacon as he does read slow and turns his head to look at the people and with the sound for me is a challenge. The other Sunday when I saw how long the Gospel was I actually said to the Priest if ‘he’ takes too long then may have to pick me up because wasn’t feeling well anyway. He just calmly said, thats alright, just if u fall make sure fall forward… I did sway a bit more that week and hit the Gospel with my candle much to the concern of the person who holds it - who luckily hadn’t heard me kind of warned the priest or would have been more concerned. But yes I am affected by sound/balance since Septicemia and u would drive me so crazy with the slow speed sometimes, enough that if u were slow regularly enough I would swap that week simply because i shake too much. Walking back down the isle is a huge relief for me

Could it be that you are being called to another part of the Mass, or another way to serve God, where physical problems will not exist? If you are about to faint, or cannot perform parts physically without that concern, which would perhaps cause major distraction or disruption to the worship of a large group of people, it might be time for a change. I do not mean to be unkind, so please do not take it as such; just something to consider in your conversation with God. Do not let pride stand in the way of what you could or should be doing for our Lord. (I myself struggle with pride.)

Thank you for your obedience and service at Mass.

 

[englishredrose]

thank you for your concern about health. As it is with the church i go to they are used to people taking ill during the service and get on with it with each other and carry on the service as calmly too. We are indeed only a small congregation but well used to someone taking ill in some way or other and wouldn’t actually cause too much distress or stoppage if somehow I did faint. But as I stressed I have never fainted yet. I been serving long enough and going to church even longer to qualify that. Most of the congregation would just be more than confused if I stop serving for that reason. they would think something am not saying etc… especially as never yet fainted. Plus the people who nearby by are learning I do not like that part, so if suddenly did join them in the pew for that second, they know… just i do not like that bit.
I haven’t yet ever fainted and don’t think i will faint. just sheer unpleasant five minutes if that. some weeks are better than others. some of it is sound and some of it beginning to perhaps be anxiety.
I have already made it known that palm sunday I will sit with the choir. I forgot this year and did manage reasonably as such, it wasn’t the most trying sunday one could say but I have already made it well known am in the choir that Sunday next year unless things rapidly somehow sort themselves out for me. I managed the longish Gospel the other week.
As I haven’t fainted there is no way i will reconsider serving as it equally important to learn to deal with the challenge of fight or flight effect verses is it really sound effect. I wish there was some way of being able to really test how much has become a fear and how much is microphone/sound barrier stuff. To put my own mind at peace but am working on that in that either way may be it the same skill at hand.

 

[ccmcmg]

thank you for your concern about health. As it is with the church i go to they are used to people taking ill during the service and get on with it with each other and carry on the service as calmly too. We are indeed only a small congregation but well used to someone taking ill in some way or other and wouldn’t actually cause too much distress or stoppage if somehow I did faint. But as I stressed I have never fainted yet. I been serving long enough and going to church even longer to qualify that. Most of the congregation would just be more than confused if I stop serving for that reason. they would think something am not saying etc… especially as never yet fainted. Plus the people who nearby by are learning I do not like that part, so if suddenly did join them in the pew for that second, they know… just i do not like that bit.
I haven’t yet ever fainted and don’t think i will faint. just sheer unpleasant five minutes if that. some weeks are better than others. some of it is sound and some of it beginning to perhaps be anxiety.
I have already made it known that palm sunday I will sit with the choir. I forgot this year and did manage reasonably as such, it wasn’t the most trying sunday one could say but I have already made it well known am in the choir that Sunday next year unless things rapidly somehow sort themselves out for me. I managed the longish Gospel the other week.
As I haven’t fainted there is no way i will reconsider serving as it equally important to learn to deal with the challenge of fight or flight effect verses is it really sound effect. I wish there was some way of being able to really test how much has become a fear and how much is microphone/sound barrier stuff. To put my own mind at peace but am working on that in that either way may be it the same skill at hand.

I hope that you are able to continue in your service; just remember, sometimes we are given signs by God that we should heed, until the harsh ice cold water in the face to wake us up hits us.

God bless.

 

[englishredrose]

I hope that you are able to continue in your service; just remember, sometimes we are given signs by God that we should heed, until the harsh ice cold water in the face to wake us up hits us.

God bless.

We are also given signs by the devil too and he will try his best to stop us from what we enjoy if he can. The devils actions only serve to strengthen us in our faith with God if we are able to use the devils’ approach as thus. He will play any trick on us to stop us from doing whatever brings us close to God in our ways of prayer. Remember Job very serious and remember CS Lewis ScrewTape Letters very funny, has lots of useful tips about how to be aware of the tricks the Devil plays.

Am suggesting neither is happening to me in this moment as I don’t have that kind of relationship with… Just simply I do not like that bit - react, and got to learn to relax. No deep hidden meaningful messages because my faith with God is very simplistic of style. God does not work like that in way I believe.

 

[Homie41]

Has anyone had the “gift of tears” before consecration?

I had them this morning, just before the priest washed his hands. I usually always have them after I receive Communion when they come. The tears just came all of a sudden for no apparent reason. I was not upset over anything.

The “Gift of Tears” is beautiful!
I have been privy to this many times and wish this gift for all who are open to our Lord!
I REALLY believe that it is given to certain people who truly have child like faith! It can happen any time! \

ENJOY this gift!

I know I do!

 

[englishredrose]

I’m not quite sure what you are saying here. But I do think you misunderstood what I meant. I simply stated that when I do have a moment where I get choked up, I take a second or two to catch my breath and then continue; otherwise I would completely lose it. The words, as I read them, sometimes bring me to an emotional wellspring of joy! Not sure how else to describe the sensation.

I did not mean I read the entire gospel slowly, actually I do not try to look at the people much, I do not believe to properly proclaim the Gospel I need to “make the people feel like they are in the story”. I read it as it should be read, with tone and inflection as appropriate to the literary form and punctuation.

On another note, and I hope this doesn’t sound uncharitable, if you have medical issues which cause you concern during the liturgy then maybe you should reconsider serving. There are no laws mandating that you stand if you are not able to stand; go sit in the pew instead of taking the chance of fainting. Just a thought; if I misunderstood your words, I do apologize.

Just want to say thank you in that I have now remembered why I grabbed at the chance of serving when it was offered me over two year ago. I had been in the choir all my adult life and had a bit of a fall out and left the choir but continued with Church. I sat in the pew for a few years. At first okay but then got more and more trying. Not just that the service felt longer but in time the sound balance issue because I was used to being the noise you could say rather than hearing the noise at ground level. For best part of the year I literally suffured each service wondering how I was going to get thru the next because it really does make you feel ill. Only at that time I didn’t know the cause. All I knew is that is definately wasn’t panic. The first Sunday I served I was instantly better. Someone came to the vestry after the service complaining about the microphone and how it was making his wife feel really ill. The chairman of the pcc didn’t handle it very well and I happend to be there and gleafully joining in declaring it been my best sunday. The chairman of the pcc let me join in although I didn’t know about it being microphone then and suddenly finding someone else felt ill the way I was previously doing. Research online told me about it is better with soft furnishings and of course the Altar is Carpeted where as the isle isn’t its wood panalling of sorts and all wood and harsh surfacings which don’t help. Then too the microphone was really playing up. The stand in priest at the time had told me too that where we stand for the Gospel is where sound ‘barrier’ is and if wobbly between it, if effects the microphone, hence making a few of us feel ill - though we are not. I didn’t affect me for ages when serving and only really been this year. Our current priest knows am affected by it and certainly at first if anyone asked about the microphone he would look at me for the answer… This year been harder though we gained a Deacon and he must stand in that spot slightly. The other month I verbally brought it up with the priest who said it was himself this week and he will have to let the deacon know etc. I had forgotten the microphone effect till he reminded me. I subtly moved half a step towards the priest in the Gospel making me out of line with the other acolyte and refused to look coz i knew she be trying to move me in line but eventually she met my line. That week was much better and we have moved up that half a step since, i have noticed.

So if I rejoined the congregation I would be worse off because there aren’t any soft funishings around to soften the sound which helps some what. I have the choir but I enjoy service and is my way of being in the service. thank you because it helped remind me what going off here and people are aware like i say we even moved up half a pew to make it easier. Not perfect but easier. But am not the only one affected tho sadly that person now deceased. But being in the congregation for me, really wouldn’t help. In fact would make it 100% more of a problem. That is why i grabbed the chance when it was offered, (a different story). the priest does know I feel the microphone/sound balance and knows how I join in.

 

[lakotak]

The “Gift of Tears” is beautiful!
I have been privy to this many times and wish this gift for all who are open to our Lord!
I REALLY believe that it is given to certain people who truly have child like faith! It can happen any time! \

ENJOY this gift!

I know I do!

I really do enjoy the gift. It is a very humbling and beautiful experience.

 

[crcurrie]

I’ve only had this “gift of tears” a handful of times. All except for two occurrences were during a period when I was evangelizing my then-girlfriend, who was raised as a Southern Baptist and was then a member of an evangelical megachurch.

She had no experience of liturgical worship, and during the course of our long dialogue we finally got to issues of the Catholic Liturgy. I’d never been a Catholic who profoundly understood or experienced the Mass, although I knew the basic catechesis.

As we moved into this phase of our discussion, I began having tears after receiving Communion at Mass – suddenly, and with a deep feeling of joy, gratitude and peace. I’m a man who has almost never cried since boyhood, and I was feeling no particular emotions before receiving the Eucharist – in fact, a couple of times I was a bit distracted.

I believe that God was granting me that experience in order to help me communicate the mystery and power of the Eucharist to my girlfriend in a more compelling way. After we moved on to other issues – and her eventual reception into the Church – the experience of tears stopped.

I think that this gift of tears is what is termed a “consolation.” It’s not an indicator of personal holiness, as someone mentioned above. It’s a gift that’s there for a reason – to help us, in our state of spiritual immaturity, to advance further along the path of holiness. And in my case, it may have been a consolation given to me to benefit another child of God – my wife – who was at a pivotal moment of her faith journey.

The other two occurrences were interesting, too, and both happened at Mass, although one was not at the moment of reception of the host. But I’ll leave it at that for now …

 

[TheWordSlinger]

For as long as I remember my mother has always had the gift of tears at Mass. She always thought it was weakness.

 

[15Lk_clu]

Has anyone had the “gift of tears” before consecration?

I had them this morning, just before the priest washed his hands. I usually always have them after I receive Communion when they come. The tears just came all of a sudden for no apparent reason. I was not upset over anything.

For the past few weeks at Mass, I’ve cried during every Eucharist. It ranges from just having my eyes tear up a little, to the first week it happened, when I was straight up sobbing. For me, it’s a combination of longing for the Eucharist and just marveling at the incredible beauty of that Sacrament.

 

[ccmcmg]

For as long as I remember my mother has always had the gift of tears at Mass. She always thought it was weakness.

For the past few weeks at Mass, I’ve cried during every Eucharist. It ranges from just having my eyes tear up a little, to the first week it happened, when I was straight up sobbing. For me, it’s a combination of longing for the Eucharist and just marveling at the incredible beauty of that Sacrament.

It does feel like weakness, but there’s nothing I can do about it. Today, I totally lost it while at the Cathedral Basilica in St. Louis and there was a life-sized black polished stone/marble statue of Mother Mary holding Jesus after His death. It nearly wiped me out. I might have to go back again tomorrow before I leave town.

 

[MaryMagdala]

Is crying at certain songs the same “gift”?

 

[Abba]

Has anyone had the “gift of tears” before consecration?

Never.

I have never experience it before, but many times after, I receive the Eucharist. To the point that I at one point got a little spoiled. Well, it was happening so frequently, I thought that was going to be the way, but then for several times it did not happened. So, I asked Our Lord where was He and if I was doing something wrong. I told Him that if I was doing something wrong to fix it. I did not want to be distant from Him. I told Him that I give Him my will and I want my will to be His will so He could fix whatever and to make me aware always of what I need to rectify and to help me to do so. I experience it here and there after I receive the Eucharist and that’s okay and it’s actually good.

I did experience it one day after Confession. There I was walking home one beautiful spring day, it was a Saturday. The tears of joy just started pouring out and inside it felt as though the Holy Spirit was caressing my heart. I got really embarrassed when I was approaching a home where on the front yard was a father playing with his children. I tried to wipe the tears away and get it together before I got closer so I slowed down my walk. It was all good, but, whao, it is beautiful and unforgettable.

It also happened to me one day at church that I smelled what people describe as lilac but is not really. That name will due but, I would also add that it is kind of like a mixture of flowers like and it is the soul that enjoys the aroma. It’s really nice. How it happened was that, well, there I was in front of the altar, it wasn’t even on the chapel where the Eucharist is, and I was praying and sharing with Our Lord. Then, I smelled this beautiful smell surrounding me and I looked around a little and disregarded it and went back to what I was doing and the smell got stronger and stronger until I could not ignore it. So, I got up from the bench to see if there were flowers around. I thought, this could not be really happening and I wanted to confirm it. So, I walked around the Cathedral the main section to see if there were any flowers - there were none. Then I went to the section where Mass is given at noon ( I don’t know what it is called) and I approached the altar. There, there was a bunch of white roses the ones that are big and do not have any smell really. But, I still got closer and smelled them just to make sure and they did not have an aroma. I thought, huh.

Then, an extraordinary thing happened. I went back to work and to my office which I shared with two ladies who were allergic to perfume. I started my work and soon after I was once again surrounded by that beautiful smell. I couldn’t believe it. I looked down the window to see if maybe there were flowers on the ground floor that someone may have planted and I looked around and nothing. Then, I asked the ladies in my office if they smelled that smell and they asked what smell. I asked them if they were wearing perfume and they told me that they were allergic. Amazing and beautiful! It’s really nice. It was away of confirming it - as it to say - where are the flowers now?

I don’t know why any of these things happen though.

Peace

 

[lakotak]

I’ve only had this “gift of tears” a handful of times. All except for two occurrences were during a period when I was evangelizing my then-girlfriend, who was raised as a Southern Baptist and was then a member of an evangelical megachurch.

She had no experience of liturgical worship, and during the course of our long dialogue we finally got to issues of the Catholic Liturgy. I’d never been a Catholic who profoundly understood or experienced the Mass, although I knew the basic catechesis.

As we moved into this phase of our discussion, I began having tears after receiving Communion at Mass – suddenly, and with a deep feeling of joy, gratitude and peace. I’m a man who has almost never cried since boyhood, and I was feeling no particular emotions before receiving the Eucharist – in fact, a couple of times I was a bit distracted.

I believe that God was granting me that experience in order to help me communicate the mystery and power of the Eucharist to my girlfriend in a more compelling way. After we moved on to other issues – and her eventual reception into the Church – the experience of tears stopped.

I think that this gift of tears is what is termed a “consolation.” It’s not an indicator of personal holiness, as someone mentioned above. It’s a gift that’s there for a reason – to help us, in our state of spiritual immaturity, to advance further along the path of holiness. And in my case, it may have been a consolation given to me to benefit another child of God – my wife – who was at a pivotal moment of her faith journey.

The other two occurrences were interesting, too, and both happened at Mass, although one was not at the moment of reception of the host. But I’ll leave it at that for now …

Yes, I think sometimes these gifts are consolation, as I have them sometimes just before I am going to receive bad news, like this past time. Within just a few days, I got very bad news about a longtime friend of mine. Others times, I just think Jesus is sharing himself with us in a very special way. These are tears of joy that at that moment we cannot contain within ourselves without this joy bursting forth from us.

Is crying at certain songs the same “gift”?

I really do not know, but I suspect a song that brings forth tears is an emotional response to something that may be going on in our life and we are relating to it in hearing the words of a song. I believe tears before, and after the Eucharist, are different. God is sharing Himself with us in a very special way that comes with an outward sign for us. Just a thought.

 

[Casilda]

I cannot sing How Great Thou Art audibly. I love the song, just get too choked up to be able to sing it. Sometimes when reading Psalms in church, the same thing. Its also why I have avoided seeing the Passion of the Christ. I will turn into a puddle. I cant even bear reading the accounts of it in the Bible.

 

[lakotak]

I cannot sing How Great Thou Art audibly. I love the song, just get too choked up to be able to sing it. Sometimes when reading Psalms in church, the same thing. Its also why I have avoided seeing the Passion of the Christ. I will turn into a puddle. I cant even bear reading the accounts of it in the Bible.

The Passion of Christ is a hard film to see. But I can tell you it is a powerful one. I watched this file on Palm Sunday of 2007. It turned my whole faith life around and I have only missed going to daily Mass a few times since 2007. I cannot tell you to the degree that that film brought me back and deeply involved in the Church. I hope some day you will be able to view it. It was a turning point for me, but I didn’t know it until I walked out of my Church after its viewing. I was not the same person that walked in.

 

[M1Garand]

I had no idea that this is considered a gift of some kind. I have experienced it many times especially as I walk back from receiving the Eucharist and for me it is especially powerful at the extraordinary form.

 

[M1Garand]

I cannot sing How Great Thou Art audibly. I love the song, just get too choked up to be able to sing it. Sometimes when reading Psalms in church, the same thing. Its also why I have avoided seeing the Passion of the Christ. I will turn into a puddle. I cant even bear reading the accounts of it in the Bible.

Wow what a revelation. I can’t get through “Holy God We Praise Thy Name”.

Forget the “Ave Maria” I cant even get the first word of that one out. I started learning that piece on my Cello and my instructor started playing it and it was all I could do to hold back the tears as she played that piece–she is a true master of the instrument. I don’t know what faith she is but man did she play that piece with complete and perfect emotion and beauty.

 

[Boy_Wonder]

Has anyone had the “gift of tears” before consecration?

I had them this morning, just before the priest washed his hands. I usually always have them after I receive Communion when they come. The tears just came all of a sudden for no apparent reason. I was not upset over anything.

Yes. Not too often, perhaps every 15th or 20th time.