Help for the heartbroken, please

[River_Rat]

About a month ago, I posted about an issue that I was having with spiritual dryness (thanks again to all who responded).

Since then, it hasn’t gotten any better.

To make matters worse, I went to my priest for help. I have to be honest here and say that this hasn’t been the first time, there have been several times, that I’ve gone through this. He’s always given me pretty much the same advice, which has been right on the spot.

This morning, I guess he had had enough. I told him that maybe I need to take a break from things, i.e. going to Mass, and he agreed. He even went so far as to say that I should leave and find another parish.

I don’t blame him, since this isn’t the first time I’ve had this issue, but I have to admit that I’m very, very hurt. I really can’t see myself anywhere else but I think I’ve dug my own grave, so to speak.

He said that he feels like I’ll be coming to him with the same issues again and that it’s best that I go elsewhere.

To make matters worse, he’s been a friend to myself and family, not just our priest so it’s that much more hurtful.

How do I find the strength to walk away? I don’t think I can do it but feel like I have no choice.

 

[ANGELIC_PEACE]

About a month ago, I posted about an issue that I was having with spiritual dryness (thanks again to all who responded).

Since then, it hasn’t gotten any better.

To make matters worse, I went to my priest for help. I have to be honest here and say that this hasn’t been the first time, there have been several times, that I’ve gone through this. He’s always given me pretty much the same advice, which has been right on the spot.

This morning, I guess he had had enough. I told him that maybe I need to take a break from things, i.e. going to Mass, and he agreed. He even went so far as to say that I should leave and find another parish.

I don’t blame him, since this isn’t the first time I’ve had this issue, but I have to admit that I’m very, very hurt. I really can’t see myself anywhere else but I think I’ve dug my own grave, so to speak.

He said that he feels like I’ll be coming to him with the same issues again and that it’s best that I go elsewhere.

To make matters worse, he’s been a friend to myself and family, not just our priest so it’s that much more hurtful.

How do I find the strength to walk away? I don’t think I can do it but feel like I have no choice.

no offense…even if the priest is a family friend…he shouldn’t tell you to take a break from mass…he should encourage you to go so that you gain strength and graces from it…
he shouldn’t have told you to go elsewhere…that is a hurtful thing to say…at the end of the day it is his job to help you…he is a priest and you are turning to him with a spiritual problem…
don’t runaway and find another parish…is there another priest at your parish that you can talk to?..if so then speak to him…
and if your priest friend still tell you to go then speak to his bishop…the church is trying to get people to go to mass and believe in god without the priests sending them away and telling them not to come back…in the meanwhile just ask god to help and enlighten you and this priest about what you need to do in your situation

ANGELIC PEACE

 

[blessedstar]

I’m struggling to think why on earth a priest would say that to you if you are expriencing the Dark Night of the Soul. That simply doesn’t make sense.

Is there more to this situation?

Perhaps your Priest feels that you do not trust him nor his advice and his words to you are for your benefit. By that I mean this, you go to him with the same issue, he has already given you his advice on it and yet when the same situation arises again you don’t take his advice and continue on as he has told you to do, but you seek him out again and ask him about the same thing again. Perhaps your Priest wonders if he is any help to you at all because he has given you all the advice he can on the same topic and you are not taking his advice. This is perhaps why he suggested to you that you seek another Parish Priest to look after and shepherd you. I can’t believe for one minute the Priest wants you out of his care, I honestly believe the Priest has said what he has in your best interests.

If you seek a Priest out and as you say yourself, his advice is sound, then you might like to examine why you are not taking his advice and looking for reassurance repeatedly. What the Priest said to you regarding your issue was sincere and you didn’t heed what he said, yet you keep going to him repeatedly asking again and again. You can see why the Priest now has concern.

The Priest has not told you not to go to Mass, but has in effect asked you to lessen your spiritual practises whilst you are suffering from dryness, this is a spiritual mercy.

You might like to do as the Priest has previously told you and go to him and say that you value his advice and you are sorry you have not acted on it due to suffering spiritually, you will now follow his advice and you will not be changing Parishes.

Then in future when you face dryness you follow to the letter this Priests advice and you resist approaching him with the same matter again. Go to Mass when you are compelled to go and place all of these things in Jesus’ Hands.

I can assure you if you follow what your Priest has said to you this awful suffering will pass and you will feel more settled in your Parish. Sometimes the dark night is so very dark and it is so very painful, but remember morning always breaks.

Don’t you worry about anything.

For the record I think you seek the Priest out each time you experience dryness because you want spiritual comfort, you want this suffering to ease, but the Priest cannot ease this for you, only God can and God will as is best for your soul.

Have you read St Teresa of Avila’s writings or St John of the Cross? If not you can read them online, if you would like the link I can post it up. These will give you insight into what you are experiencing and you will realise it is the Christian path of prayer and you are not abnormal nor is your spiritual life.

I will keep you , the Priest and your intentions in the Living Prayer of my life.

 

[River_Rat]

**Have you read St Teresa of Avila’s writings or St John of the Cross? If not you can read them online, if you would like the link I can post it up.

I will keep you , the Priest and your intentions in the Living Prayer of my life.**

Your reply hit the nail on the head.

I believe that I didn’t give his advice a real chance.

I don’t know what to do at this point. I feel like I’m no longer welcome at the parish, and although that shouldn’t come between my going to Mass or not, I don’t have the strength to go elsewhere.

Please post the links. Thanks!

 

[blessedstar]

**Have you read St Teresa of Avila’s writings or St John of the Cross? If not you can read them online, if you would like the link I can post it up.

I will keep you , the Priest and your intentions in the Living Prayer of my life.**

Your reply hit the nail on the head.

I believe that I didn’t give his advice a real chance.

I don’t know what to do at this point. I feel like I’m no longer welcome at the parish, and although that shouldn’t come between my going to Mass or not, I don’t have the strength to go elsewhere.

Please post the links. Thanks!

This is the link:

catholicfirst.com/index.cfm

At this point the best thing to do is to carry on going to this Parish and next time you see your Priest you say to him that you are sorry and that you didn’t give his advice a fair go because you were suffring the dark night of the soul and you were looking for spiritual comfort, tell him you value his advice and you will follow it and thank him and ask him to pray for you and you’ll keep him always in your prayers, shake his hand, give him a big smile and stop worrying.

You are a member of the Parish and everyone would be poorer if you left. The Priest doesn’t want you to leave, he merely suggested it for your welfare so, stay put and you will settle down again where you are meant to be. Of course you are welcome at your Parish; the dark night can make everything spiritual seem so bleak sometimes.

I’ll ask the Holy Spirit to give you a large measure of courage and you ask Him the same. Meantime don’t let satan add mayhem to confusion.

Chin up, best foot forward, pray and persevere in prayer and stop worrying.

In the Living Prayer of my life