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Hi Water,
When I’m fresh from confession and have received the Eucharist, I feel like I’m “walking” with Jesus for a while, but little sins distance that. I have to beware of pride then.
I have a “loud” conscience. Sometimes, I know it is the Lord, other times I can’t discern and then even other times it’s invasive or unkind. Again the Lord is “louder” and more clear in me with better understanding fresh after the sacraments and the unkind thoughts cease or lessen. Tim
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Exp. This morning while driven, I remembered something that was a borderline sin and was talking to Jesus trying to explain why it happened and apoligized. I knew He knows my heart, but I still verbalized it. In my thoughts I heard “I understand”. The sin was veniel at most and I had planned on bringing it up at my next confession, so I discerned it to be true. This is something I am very weary of though, as to not be misled by a false spirit. I have at times asked this inner voice if it comes in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to have it vanish instantly from thought. God Bless,Tim
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I thought about this some more. It maybe I don’t trust Him with the bag. Like He will hit me with it, because I couldn’t carry it. I don’t trust enough and I’m afraid to let my guard down. Is the bag a test? Do I really deep down want more weight, as a mortification or offering to save myself? complex idea. I think , He is saying to me that I’ve carried enough. Thanks, Tim
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Hi Tim,
I keep you in my prayer and that your heart will be filled with peace from Jesus. To me, I believe it is such a blessing to realize that a little tiny sin can make us feel like your walking with Jesus is a bit distant. However, be alerted that it is not Jesus who walks away from you, but it is our own sins that block His Light shining on us. Be alerted that it is not Jesus who stops talking to you, but it is our own sins which plug up our own ears.
Jesus is and will be always walking by your side. If the inner voice tells you that Jesus is not with you, do not listen to it. If the voice says “I understand” and your thought about it is “Ok! then I don’t need to go to confession for this venial sin”, do not listen to that!
Listen to the voice that brings you to Jesus through the Sacrament of Conciliation. Through this, you will be blessed with His Peace and knowledge of His very forgiving.
God bless.
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Sound advice, thank you, Tim
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Harry, I read both Psalms last night. Interestingly, Psalm 51 was one of my first penence as an adult when I first came back the Church. It gave me goosebumps reading it again. Thanks, TimYou are not alone. Our biggest problem with newcomers to Alcoholics Anonymous is … yes… to have them forgive THEMSELVES. It is baggage from the past, and go it must if any spiritual progress is to be made. :hug1:
You must remember that humans have a hard time forgiving unconditionally. God does not. :heaven:
Another suggestion…recite Psalm 51 twice a day, morning and night, as us 1221 penitents do. If you feel you must really, somehow, punish yourself, read ALL of Psalm 119.
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mommyof4
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Tim, I’ve been reading this thread for the first time today, and I don’t have anything else to add to some of the excellent advise that other posters have given you, but I just wanted to let you know that I’m praying for you. I have a hard time forgiving myself, too, and I think I understand what you’re going through a little. You have had some very taumatic events happen to you over the past couple of years, and I don’t think anyone who went through all of this could come out unscathed. I’m going to start a novena for you today. Now I realize that you’re not going to be completely “better” after 9 days, but I do hope that it gives you a boost in the right direction.
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Wow, Thanks Mommyof4!! I’m doing pretty good now, this will make it even better. I hope it reflects back to you as well. :hug1: Tim
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Something for all of you, Tim
interfacelift.com/wallpaper/downloads/00146_whiterose_1920x1200.jpg
interfacelift.com/wallpaper/downloads/00146_whiterose_1920x1200.jpg
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Manresa
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Keep going to the well.
Just remember Jesus and the Samaritan woman in chapter four of John.
In physics there is a key principal, two similar substances cannot occupy the same space at the same time. However, two dis-similar substances can.
If i placed a brick on the ground I cannot place another brick in that exact same place without moving the first brick first. The best I can do without moving the first brick is to lay the second one on top of it and call it even.
However… if I took a water hose and started drenching the brick with water eventually water will seep under the brick and the two will occupy the same space as one is a solid and the other is a liquid.
Now, if I took a class of milk I could not introduce water and have it occupy the glass because both are water. However if I inserted the garden hose into the glass and turned it on eventually the water would displace the water.
The point of all this, as I tell my religion class, is one it gives me the chance to play in the water and mud but it also shows that by displacing the everyday routine that you have become used to with something that is better, and this is seen in the second example when the water displaces the milk. The milk represents our old ways, the water the new ways, the living water, and this is done through prayer. The going to the well like the Samaritan woman. This is the spiritual side of our soul.
The first example shows that even in our life we don’t have to be displaced we can coexist with God. And this is the temporal side of our soul, the side that exists in this world.
The spiritual always takes presidence over the temporal, so, simply keep going to the well…which is your faith… through prayer to displace the old stuff. And take part in the sacraments the substance of our faith and let allow them to coexist with you in the temporal.
Just remember Jesus and the Samaritan woman in chapter four of John.
In physics there is a key principal, two similar substances cannot occupy the same space at the same time. However, two dis-similar substances can.
If i placed a brick on the ground I cannot place another brick in that exact same place without moving the first brick first. The best I can do without moving the first brick is to lay the second one on top of it and call it even.
However… if I took a water hose and started drenching the brick with water eventually water will seep under the brick and the two will occupy the same space as one is a solid and the other is a liquid.
Now, if I took a class of milk I could not introduce water and have it occupy the glass because both are water. However if I inserted the garden hose into the glass and turned it on eventually the water would displace the water.
The point of all this, as I tell my religion class, is one it gives me the chance to play in the water and mud but it also shows that by displacing the everyday routine that you have become used to with something that is better, and this is seen in the second example when the water displaces the milk. The milk represents our old ways, the water the new ways, the living water, and this is done through prayer. The going to the well like the Samaritan woman. This is the spiritual side of our soul.
The first example shows that even in our life we don’t have to be displaced we can coexist with God. And this is the temporal side of our soul, the side that exists in this world.
The spiritual always takes presidence over the temporal, so, simply keep going to the well…which is your faith… through prayer to displace the old stuff. And take part in the sacraments the substance of our faith and let allow them to coexist with you in the temporal.
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The Priest in the confessional ask what brought me back. I thought about it for a while and said “obedience”. Thanks, Tim
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Obedience is one of the very important aspect of a Catholic spiritual life, and we see obedience being demonstrated through lives of the many Saints and of course of Jesus.
I am glad I had listened to my mother praying 10 Hail Mary’s per day and daily Readings for one year - I first did it “because my mom told me so”.
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I was just confirmed two years ago. The vows really mean something to me. When I got sick, I couldn’t be a US soldier anymore, so at Mass one day. I asked Jesus if I could be one of His soldiers. Didn’t expect basic training to be so tough . Thanks, Tim
. Thanks, Tim
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I’m sorry for that last statement, it was vain. Yes , the novena might be needed after all. How quickly the dark cloud surrounds. Tim
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TraditionalCath
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Those are good for a start. The next thing to do is to pray the rosary, and focus your mind on enriching your prayer life, and do some reading a well. That is really a good idea. you can learn to put the past behind you and move on by enriching your spiritual life and focusing on the present and the future. Another thing to do is to say, Jesus, I trust in You.
Attend Mass as often as possible. This really focuses your life on Christ and what He did for us. Everything else in the past becomes irrelevant. as you put your mind and energy on the faith you build a new life for yourself, a life in Christ Jesus.
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Yes , I agree, prayer is so important. Praying the Rosary is part of my daily devotion. Even then though, I have to fight to pray it sometimes. I’m considering going to Mass on e extra day during the week and weekly to biweekly confessions. Thanks , Tim
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It hit me today not to forget everything, but “retain what is good”. Or the hard fought lessons would be for nothing. Tim
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