How do we feel what we know?

[LoverofChrist]

I know in my heart certain things like I know that Jesus is alive in the eucharist. I know that!!! How do I feel it though?? I go to communion and pray to feel it each time and it doesn’t happen. I know it but don’t feel it and it makes me wonder what is wrong with me. How do I get there? Is it because there is something in my life that interferes with that? I don’t know what it is but I sure have to wonder. I love Jesus very deeply and I want to feel him!!

 

[puzzleannie]

the feeling is not the proof of faith, nor the result of faith. those feelings and consolations are gifts that God gives occasionally when we need them, but not something we go after and work on ourselves. The faith is what is important, the evidence of things not seen, as today’s reading attests.

 

[pharmacistUH]

While I know what you are saying, we must try not to search for “feelings” or “emotions” with regards to our faith. We KNOW that God hears our prayers, we KNOW that Jesus walks with us if we reach for him, we KNOW that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ, etc. All we have to do is believe. It’s not like something is going to change even if you do have a “feeling”. When you pray, do you feel anything? I don’t, but I have FAITH that God hears me, so I am relieved knowing that God is on my side. This is something that we all can work on, and my suggestion to you is that every time you find yourself trying to search for a feeling or something, bring yourself back to reality and tell yourself, “a feeling isn’t important, but my faith is what matters”. It works. God Bless.

 

[LoverofChrist]

While I know what you are saying, we must try not to search for “feelings” or “emotions” with regards to our faith. We KNOW that God hears our prayers, we KNOW that Jesus walks with us if we reach for him, we KNOW that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ, etc. All we have to do is believe. It’s not like something is going to change even if you do have a “feeling”. When you pray, do you feel anything? I don’t, but I have FAITH that God hears me, so I am relieved knowing that God is on my side. This is something that we all can work on, and my suggestion to you is that every time you find yourself trying to search for a feeling or something, bring yourself back to reality and tell yourself, “a feeling isn’t important, but my faith is what matters”. It works. God Bless.

I really appreciated and liked what you had to say here!! But what about all the people that talk about what they “feel” when they pray, when the sit in front of the eucharist and when they receive the body and the blood? When I pray, I feel calmer and I feel like God is truly listening to me. I feel nothing though when it comes to the body and blood of Christ. That is why I worry that something is wrong. Something wrong with me.

 

[ALLGIRLS]

I know in my heart certain things like I know that Jesus is alive in the eucharist. I know that!!! How do I feel it though?? I go to communion and pray to feel it each time and it doesn’t happen. I know it but don’t feel it and it makes me wonder what is wrong with me. How do I get there? Is it because there is something in my life that interferes with that? I don’t know what it is but I sure have to wonder. I love Jesus very deeply and I want to feel him!!

I know exactly how you feel (no pun intended ), as I’m the same way! I think part of my problem is I “hang out” on line w/ protestants too much, w/ their “do you have a personal relationship w/ Christ do you believe on Him (how do you believe ON Christ, I thought we believed IN Him, but that’s the language they use, and they claim there is a difference) for your salvation” jargon, and arguing constantly that Catholics are Christians and not just followers of a “traditionalist ritual based religion w/ no real relationship w/ Jesus” etc, etc. It gets me down, and I’m constantly evaluating myself: Is it real, or is it just “intellectual assent”. I LOVE the Eucharist, He’s what will keep me Catholic no matter what, but I’m constantly praying “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief”, and worrying that it’s just not enough!

So anyway! I’m sorry, I know that’s not any help to you, but I did want to let you know that you’re not alone, I have the same problem. I don’t know about you, but I think I may need to hang out here more, and stay away from the protestant boards

In Christ,

Ellen

 

[TOP]

I know in my heart certain things like I know that Jesus is alive in the eucharist. I know that!!! How do I feel it though?? I go to communion and pray to feel it each time and it doesn’t happen. I know it but don’t feel it and it makes me wonder what is wrong with me. How do I get there? Is it because there is something in my life that interferes with that? I don’t know what it is but I sure have to wonder. I love Jesus very deeply and I want to feel him!!

I sat there looking Christ in the face and didn’t feel a thing. The first time I went to adoration, it was the first time I had ever seen a montrance. I didn’t know really what to do. So I pick up a bible off the shelf and said to myself “what do you have to say to me?”. Every once in a while I would look at the montrance and wonder why they would frost an image of Jesus on the glass in the center. I even wondered if it was lasereched on or frosted. Then I would go back to reading the bible. I spent an hour there then left. A couple of months later, I went back. The glass was clear. Thats how I came to believe in the real presence. I didn’t “feel” a thing. It was so subtle. Could have been a shadow. But for me, it was what He had to say. Tim

 

[Nordar]

I want to thank you for posting this, posts like yours are one of the reasons I love CAF. I have read many posts of how " Tears have streamed down my eyes when I recieved The Eucharist" or “I was so filled with emotion”. I am quite sure that all those people felt those things but unfortunately I am not one of them.

There was a time when I would think to myself what is the matter with me, why do I have no feelings when I recieve? Then I would read posts like yours and know I am not alone, infact most are like you and I we do not have those feelings. Like others have said, I just know that I am Recieving The Body and Blood of Jesus
and I trust him and if he wants me to have those feelings then he will give them to me. If he does not them he has good reason, it is his will!

 

[LilyM]

I want to thank you for posting this, posts like yours are one of the reasons I love CAF. I have read many posts of how " Tears have streamed down my eyes when I recieved The Eucharist" or “I was so filled with emotion”. I am quite sure that all those people felt those things but unfortunately I am not one of them.

There was a time when I would think to myself what is the matter with me, why do I have no feelings when I recieve? Then I would read posts like yours and know I am not alone, infact most are like you and I we do not have those feelings. Like others have said, I just know that I am Recieving The Body and Blood of Jesus
and I trust him and if he wants me to have those feelings then he will give them to me. If he does not them he has good reason, it is his will!

Well, our relationship with God should be one more of respect but also familiarity, than a rollercoaster of intense emotion.

Imagine a marriage where husband or wife cried or shook with emotion every single time they met! It’d be unbearable.

 

[LoverofChrist]

I want to thank you for posting this, posts like yours are one of the reasons I love CAF. I have read many posts of how " Tears have streamed down my eyes when I recieved The Eucharist" or “I was so filled with emotion”. I am quite sure that all those people felt those things but unfortunately I am not one of them.

There was a time when I would think to myself what is the matter with me, why do I have no feelings when I recieve? Then I would read posts like yours and know I am not alone, infact most are like you and I we do not have those feelings. Like others have said, I just know that I am Recieving The Body and Blood of Jesus
and I trust him and if he wants me to have those feelings then he will give them to me. If he does not them he has good reason, it is his will!

The responses have all really touched me!! It is good to know that I am not alone in what I don’t feel… You truly have helped me!

God Bless you all always!!!

 

[LoverofChrist]

Well, our relationship with God should be one more of respect but also familiarity, than a rollercoaster of intense emotion.

Imagine a marriage where husband or wife cried or shook with emotion every single time they met! It’d be unbearable.

I am not sure of what you are saying here. I guess I think that the relationship in a marriage is much different than our relationship with God. To me it would be awesome to shake with emotion every time I encountered God!! I have loved my husband tremendously in his life and in his death but we were both human and our humaness made us fail at times and hurt each other. God won’t hurt or fail us.

 

[LilyM]

I am not sure of what you are saying here. I guess I think that the relationship in a marriage is much different than our relationship with God. To me it would be awesome to shake with emotion every time I encountered God!! I have loved my husband tremendously in his life and in his death but we were both human and our humaness made us fail at times and hurt each other. God won’t hurt or fail us.

We as members of the Church are the Bride of Christ, and He is our bridegroom. It is precisely a marital relationship. And should have the ease and peace that exists between husband and wife in a good marriage.

Besides which God is with us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in Mass, in Church, and out. Why wouldn’t we then be shaking and crying all the time? It would be insupportable.

 

[LoverofChrist]

We as members of the Church are the Bride of Christ, and He is our bridegroom. It is precisely a marital relationship. And should have the ease and peace that exists between husband and wife in a good marriage.

Besides which God is with us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in Mass, in Church, and out. Why wouldn’t we then be shaking and crying all the time? It would be insupportable.

But you weren’t talking about being a bride of Christ. You were talking about a human relationship. There is a tremendous difference between the two and can’t be compared in the way you are saying. I am not even saying that I would want to be “shaking and crying all the time”. I am saying that I would like to experience some emotion when receiving the Body of Christ. I don’t though. To some day have that happen would be phenomenol for me.

 

[Jeanette_L]

There are times, and only sometimes, when I become very emotional when receiving the Eucharist, but not necessarily because I “feel” Christ in the Eucharist, but because I am overcome with the reality of what He has done to make me His. It has little to do with my belief in the Real Presence, but in Christ’s love for me and my unworthiness, although I absolutely do believe in the Real Presence.

I have had to learn (because I think God wants me to learn), that my faith needs to be more centered and less emotional.

I was an Evangelical my whole life, and my faith was very emotionally based. I’m not saying that’s what I was taught, but the premise of having a “personal relationship” lent itself to that mindset, one of a relationship with Jesus needing to be felt. My relationship then became a roller coaster ride based on feelings, it was not good for me spiritually.

Now I am learning that my faith can remain steady, because I believe He is always with me, in my life, in the Eucharist, in the Word, in my spirit, He’s always there, even if I’m feeling dry as a bone. It has become the greatest blessing for me to remove the dependence on emotionalism from my faith.

So don’t get hung up on having to feel all the time. It is not what faith is about, we are to move beyond that.

 

[LilyM]

But you weren’t talking about being a bride of Christ. You were talking about a human relationship. There is a tremendous difference between the two and can’t be compared in the way you are saying. I am not even saying that I would want to be “shaking and crying all the time”. I am saying that I would like to experience some emotion when receiving the Body of Christ. I don’t though. To some day have that happen would be phenomenol for me.

Not a human relationship? Are we not all human beings? Is not Christ true man as well as true God? Of course it’s a human relationship, though it is infinitely more besides.

Christ, being human, knows that humans simply aren’t built to feel emotion on demand. Neither will He provide it to us on demand. Because ANY relationship, human or divine, cannot survive if it is based on emotions mainly or solely - it will surely fail if it is.

And do you think the saints in heaven who see him face to face are all a-twitter for all eternity? What an odd idea.

 

[LoverofChrist]

Not a human relationship? Are we not all human beings? Is not Christ true man as well as true God? Of course it’s a human relationship, though it is infinitely more besides.

Christ, being human, knows that humans simply aren’t built to feel emotion on demand. Neither will He provide it to us on demand. Because ANY relationship, human or divine, cannot survive if it is based on emotions mainly or solely - it will surely fail if it is.

And do you think the saints in heaven who see him face to face are all a-twitter for all eternity? What an odd idea.

I feel like you are trying to ridicule me and I guess I don’t want to play the game.

 

[LoverofChrist]

Not a human relationship? Are we not all human beings? Is not Christ true man as well as true God? Of course it’s a human relationship, though it is infinitely more besides.

Christ, being human, knows that humans simply aren’t built to feel emotion on demand. Neither will He provide it to us on demand. Because ANY relationship, human or divine, cannot survive if it is based on emotions mainly or solely - it will surely fail if it is.

And do you think the saints in heaven who see him face to face are all a-twitter for all eternity? What an odd idea.

I guess I will bite… You have taken my initial question totally out of context and belittled what has been bothering me. Yes, Jesus became human. Our human relationships are lacking and we both know that. I am not looking to be “a-twitter” now or for all eternity. I was asking something for me…something that I did not want ridiculed or belittled. I am not basing my relationship with God on emotions. I BELIEVE!!! I love God with all my heart and I know He loves me even when I am unworthy of that love. I know people who truly experience wonderful feelings and emotions when recieving the eucharist. That was all I was talking about. I loved the majority of the responses because they understood what I was talking about. Their responses told me that I was “okay”. That is good enough for me.

 

[LilyM]

I guess I will bite… You have taken my initial question totally out of context and belittled what has been bothering me. Yes, Jesus became human. Our human relationships are lacking and we both know that. I am not looking to be “a-twitter” now or for all eternity. I was asking something for me…something that I did not want ridiculed or belittled. I am not basing my relationship with God on emotions. I BELIEVE!!! I love God with all my heart and I know He loves me even when I am unworthy of that love. I know people who truly experience wonderful feelings and emotions when recieving the eucharist. That was all I was talking about. I loved the majority of the responses because they understood what I was talking about. Their responses told me that I was “okay”. That is good enough for me.

Forgive me. My intent was not to attack you. You are more than OK, rest assured of that.

I have, however, seen an awful lot of people put their souls in peril through choosing their faith or some of their beliefs based on emotional appeal. I don’t want to see you go down the same path is all.

 

[Kissy]

A very wise woman (my mother) told me something a long time ago that I have never forgotten She said that when you are having that mountain top experience “feeling” immersed in the love of God: that is Gods GIFT to you. On the contrary, when you are experiencing the “desert” (as Jesus did) “feeling” abandoned, alone,lacking Gods presence and yet, continue to praise God and persevere in faith, that is our greatest and purest GIFT to God. To LOVE Him when we “feel” dryness and void. (Many marriages and relationships today could use a dose of this kind of sacrificial love).

“Feelings” have no morality. Our actions are an outward expression of the condition of our heart.

Have you ever meditated on the story of the “prodigal son”? He was showered with love and affection,his father killing the fatted calf for celebration of his return. The father already appreciated the “good” son and didn’t need to celebrate his return. He was already faithfully persevering! He had “proven” the condition and fruitfulness of his loyal heart by his actions of consistent service.

Deuteronomy 10:17… For the Lord, you God, is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who has no favorites, accepts no bribes… (Note that God has NO FAVORITES).

Rest assured, you are LOVED by God just as much as the next person. You are a son/daughter of the KING OF KINGS through the blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

[Nordar]

Well, our relationship with God should be one more of respect but also familiarity, than a rollercoaster of intense emotion.

Imagine a marriage where husband or wife cried or shook with emotion every single time they met! It’d be unbearable.

Also exhausting

A thought! When we go to recieve The Body and Blood of Christ it makes God Happy. I think that is what we need to concentrate on, how happy it makes Him everyrime we recieve him. Not on any feel good emotional feelings we should have.

 

[LoverofChrist]

Also exhausting

A thought! When we go to recieve The Body and Blood of Christ it makes God Happy. I think that is what we need to concentrate on, how happy it makes Him everyrime we recieve him. Not on any feel good emotional feelings we should have.

I think a big part of my point is being missed here. I am not looking for “feel good” feelings. I am looking for “feeling Jesus” when I receive the eucharist. I always thought it should be more than the wafer and the wine. I thought it should be a feeling in my heart that doesn’t need to be outward but inward.