How can I discern whether God wants me to be Catholic?

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vatoco6

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The struggle just seems to get harder and harder. I grew up Catholic. I never expected to have to fight to belong. I believe the Catholic Church is true. I believe it is the original. I made the mistake of leaving and of marrying a non-Catholic, and now it seems that even though I’m willing to do what it takes to come back, I’m not wanted.

Do you have to be unquestioning to be Catholic? Do you have to accept whatever the clergy says, regardless of whether it seems fair or even kind? How do I know that this is what God wants for me?

Therese
 
Keep in mind what St. Augustine said about understanding the Scriptures–we believe in order to understand, and when a bit of Scripture appears not to yield its secret at first blush, it is better to wait to understand it later than to try to apply worldly thinking to it. The same might be said of any Church teaching. At first blush, the teaching on, say, contraception might seem hard to understand, but with deepening faith I am now able to see that contraception induces tremendous immorality and a throw-away philosophy of life; some contraception is additionally abortifacient.

The way I became Catholic was simply realizing that it was the true form of Christianity. Christianity was already assured, as other philosophies felt inherently alien, and learning more about them later confirms this with demonstrated inconsistencies, absurdities, etc. (Some say the death of God is an absurdity, but it’s rooted in fact, can’t be made up, and shows the richness of our poverty: God loves us this much that He unites Himself to us totally–and the totality is only comprehensible with Catholic theology.) The point that flipped me toward Catholicism was simply the Bible. I was exploring Protestant web sites and ran across something about Catholics “adding books”, so I immediately checked that out, and discovered that the Catholic definition of Holy Scripture was the only one that made sense. I was Catholic from that instant, apart from baptism and confirmation. God wants us to be Catholic because the truth is Catholic. God wants us to be united to Him, and it is the Catholic Church that He has given us for this union. Don’t believe the talk of salvation outside the Church: there is a baptism of desire, to be sure, but rather specific conditions apply and to say that all, or that virtually any whim qualifies as, “desire” is to make the exception into the rule and to make the rule into a farce. We can see the truth far enough with our reason, and reason points exclusively to the Catholic Church–this is how we can discern whether God wants us to be Catholic. Other dimensions of discernment–whether to be a religious, for example, are more involved or at least need help from the clergy.
 
I’m not sure why you say you are not wanted. That is not a thing I expected to hear anybody say.

In most places there are other priests or lay people you could talk to about your decision to return to the church. LIsten to Marcus Grodi on EWTN’s program, The Journey Home. And, call him or contact him through his website for assistance.
 
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vatoco6:
The struggle just seems to get harder and harder. I grew up Catholic. I never expected to have to fight to belong. I believe the Catholic Church is true. I believe it is the original. I made the mistake of leaving and of marrying a non-Catholic, and now it seems that even though I’m willing to do what it takes to come back, I’m not wanted.
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What do you mean you aren’t wanted?
Do you have to be unquestioning to be Catholic? Do you have to accept whatever the clergy says, regardless of whether it seems fair or even kind? How do I know that this is what God wants for me?
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We have to keep questioning in order to learn, but we do have to trust that God knows what he’s doing and that what he’s revealed as true to his Church IS true, even if we have difficulty with it. I think it was Cardinal Newman who said “ten thousand difficulties to not make a single doubt”. As Catholics we’ve received a gift that no other Christians have in its fullness. That gift is truth. We need to conform to the truth. That’s hard sometimes, but God is so faithful and will continue to align our will to His if we allow Him.

In Christ,
Nancy
 
Dear Vataco6,
It is so good to know that your heart is still tugging at your roots. The fact that you even think of it is a sure sign that you are not satisfied with where you are. Choices are not always easy if memories are not satisfying.
First, I would say that you should make all efforts to go to Mass at least on Sunday, maybe to a different parish on some Sundays. This will give you a chance to see The Mass as it is said by different Priests and assisted by different people. You may find a place that really appeals to you. Then, as you do these things, get a copy of the Catechism and start reading about the infused virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love; about Mass and the Holy Eucharist; about Confession, about Marraige. If you find what you read and see and hear inspiring, then I would say that you should continue on. Pray to the Holy Spirit for Fortitude, Wisdom, and Knowledge, so that you may give your entire self to Jesus Christ in the fullness of Faith that He wants you to have and enjoy. You must develop a regularity in prayer. I would say at least Morning, Noon, and Night. It does not have to be long. Open up your heart and thank God for all that has come to you whether Good or Bad for that day, For in it all, He is leading us. We just need to learn how to discern His Will. The more your heart loves Him, the more He will reveal to you and help you fill your hearts desire. You must be patient and persevering for success. This is a work of God that you are persuing and so you must put effort into it. I assure you that your efforts will be rewarded. Then, when your heart is burning for full participation, see the Priest and tell him your story.
You didn’t mention much about your Marraige; as to whether it is the first for both of you. Do not be discouraged if things don’t seem to have a pleasant answer. If you really love God above all, then there is always a way. It depends on how much you want to give. Good luck to you and I keep you in my prayers.
P.S. Use the Sunday readings as your guide for the week. Ask the Holy Spirit to open these readings so that they may be a source of healilng and inspiration to go on.
Yes, you are wanted first by Jesus, our Lord, second by His Holy Mother, whose roses(Rosary) keep Her Son in our hearts, and finally by the Mystical Body of Christ, the Holy Church who needs you to keep her refresh with new vigor and bring the gift that only you can give to it. The reason why you were given life!!!
 
He does. He told me. 🙂

just kidding. i’m a convert, so i know the joys and the sorrows of coming into the church. i’ve lost friends by making the decision.

you definitely ARE wanted in the church. there may be some (maybe even ALOT of) people who make you feel unwanted. i know when i first became catholic, i felt very … out of place. protestants are much better at making people feel welcome. to be completely honest, i became catholic in spite of the fact that there wasn’t a single catholic person i liked very much.

now don’t get me wrong - i have alot of very close catholic friends now, and i see a whole other side to the folks i knew before. but my decision to become catholic wasn’t based on who went to that church, or whether they made me feel welcome.

i believed that Jesus was present in the Eucharist. how could i not go where He was?
 
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jeffreedy789:
I became catholic in spite of the fact that there wasn’t a single catholic person I liked very much.
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Thanks Jeff, now I really feel better. :rolleyes:

Just joking, your message was great!🙂
 
i didn’t know you then, greg. otherwise i’m sure i couldn’t say that. 🙂
 
My last pastor threw me out like human garbage. Never a word to me directly as to why. Wrote me a “no-contact” letter. I am told he “fell in love” with me. (Oh, puh-leease. Is the clergy a haven for destructive, dysfunctional men?) As a result, I haven’t been to Mass in 6 months.

I’m not sure I want to keep trying. I pray for other people. I have discerned that God doesn’t want to hear my prayers for myself. I read my Bible. I can’t have Communion or confession anyway, because my husband won’t participate in getting his (teenage) marriage annulled. I am looking into what I can do by myself, but I am by myself in this. My daughter is insisting on going to CCD with her friends this fall, in our old parish, with the pastor that threw me out on my ear.

Is there anything else I can do? I’ve tried the little splinter Catholic churches, and they just don’t seem like home. But sometimes you can’t go home again.
 
I doubt if the parish with the weird priest, or the old parish are the only ones within reasonable distance from you. Keep looking, there is a home for you, you just haven’t found it yet. I hate to say it but if you are going to judge the entire 2000 year old Catholic Church by the behavior of a few nut cases you are always going to be disappointed, because we oudo Planters in nuttiness. The Mass is still the Mass, and Jesus is still there, with or without nuts.

The Church is very wise, and in the beginning the process of being a catechumen and preparing for initiation was long and arduous, sometimes years. The process for a repentant sinner to return was even longer and more demanding. We have lightened up a lot since then.

The Rule of St. Benedict has a section on welcoming someone who comes to the door to apply for admittance to the monastery. He is allowed to come and knock 3 times, and no one is supposed to answer the door. If he persists and comes back again, then he is admitted and goes through the long period of novitiate.

Catholic Home Study from Liguori has the materials you need to work at home learning the faith while you are looking for your new home parish. God bless you, you are certainly welcome, and God surely wants you to be Catholic, since John’s gospel tells us over and over again we must be one.
 
Therese,

You ARE a Catholic.

You are experiencing a technical difficulty in returning to the practice of your faith, but you are still Catholic, even if you have repudiated the faith. Your Baptism holds.
 
If you pray to God, and He responds in Latin, I think you’ll have your answer. 🙂
 
Read the Book of Job. He faced many challeges, and was tested tremedously. But he would not say no to God. He is my strength, when I have felt alone. Truely it is an inspirational book, on how we are to remain stead fast in our faith, and keep on trying and trusting in God, even when all seems lost. All we have to have is faith, and not let the devil take it away.
 
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