How do you 'grow' as a Catholic?

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I am recently returned to the church. I returned with one intent, I did NOT want to be a cultural Catholic… not the Easter/Christmas church go-er. I have gone through RCIA with 2 of my children. We are figuring ways(and have been successful) to be at Mass every Sunday… despite travel and crazy crazy schedules. It’s #1 priority

But I am not yet satisfied with that. I want more… more from the faith? More from me? I’m not sure, but I haven’t found where I want to be.

What are your suggestions to help one grow in the faith? I was raised as a cultural Catholic, barely. I made a conscious decision to be more than that, yet I find myself drawing a blank as to how to be more.

It’s kind of a catch here…lol. I want to have it be a larger part of my life, yet, I’m not sure how to do so. I know there is so much more to learn. I had a meeting at the church, and it was kinda useless, all I know is I want it to be more, but I didn’t know what to ask, or answer when I was asked.

Maybe in the larger audience of the boards, some one will understand where I’m coming from.
 
Have you been to confession? I’d start there.

Pray. If you can pray something like the rosary I would do that. If that seems a bit overwhelming I would start with a prayer in the morning. Offer yourself and the day to Jesus and Mary, pray for the intentions of the pope, ask God to help you be virtuous in the areas where you struggle with sin.

Receive the sacraments as often as you can.

Read about your faith. Read the catechism, the Psalms, read about the saints, read conversion stories, read these boards.

Find and hang out with people who are practicing their faith.

Listen to Catholic Answers

I hope you find everything you need for your spiritual growth! Welcome home!
 
These are my suggestions for you: Set aside a regular time each day for prayer and do it faithfully. Choose a devotion that you like to do regularly, also. Mine is to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Read books about the lives of the Saints, books by Bishop Sheen, like the “Life of Christ” or “Peace of Soul”. Listen to Catholic Radio to stay informed on issues in the Church and programs that help you to be holy. I made a loose leaf binder into a book with my prayer intentions, novenas, and an examination of conscience that I found online, etc; Make sure you understand fully the Sacraments and use them, especially Reconciliation. Oh, one more thing; another of my favorite books is “Introduction to a Devout Life” by St. Francis de Sales. “How to Profit from Your Own Faults” by Joseph Tissot is very helpful, too. If you are married, remember that God gives special graces for the vocation of marriage, but you must ask for them.
 
Things that help me are the traditional Mass, praying the Rosary everyday and often the hours of the Divine Office, saying the Angelus at noon, abstaining from meat on Fridays throughout the year, making it to holy hour and confession at least once a month, reading my Baltimore Catechism from time to time and reading the sermons of the saints during Advent and Lent.

I try to fill my life with the Faith and live it culturally too by celebrating special feast days and ember days and things like that. It’s both a routine and source of spontaneous joy.

Please say a prayer that I keep up these things and I’ll say a prayer for you.
 
Some of this might be controversial. My faith was asleep until it was awakened at a “Life in the Spirit” seminar in which a Priest laid hands on me and I received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I lost my fear. Fear of practicing my faith, of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, of speaking about my faith. I learned what my charism was. I began evangelizing. I was drawn strongly to adoration of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. I began listening to Catholic radio and reading scripture. I developed a devotion to the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. I realized the gift of tears.

I do not pride myself on what I have become (because that is the Holy Spirit’s doing), but rather, I condemn myself for what I was not before all of this. I still view myself as an unprofitable servant in great need of repentance but, I am so much more aware of the Lord’s mercy.
 
A good book is ‘Introduction to the devout life’ by Francis de Sales.
 
  1. Go to mass as much as possible
  2. Learn and Follow the lives of the Saints
  3. Go to Eucharistic Adoration, even if its just for a few minutes
  4. Pray a Rosary every day
  5. Go to confession at least 1-2 a month
Hope this helps, this kinda helps for me right now
 
MHT32 said:
  1. Go to mass as much as possible
  2. Learn and Follow the lives of the Saints
  3. Go to Eucharistic Adoration, even if its just for a few minutes
  4. Pray a Rosary every day
  5. Go to confession at least 1-2 a month
Hope this helps, this kinda helps for me right now
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👍

AND … read the Bible a lot.

Find a good Catholic study bible.

Find a good Catholic Bible study.
 
This is a great question. I started with a book called " An idiots guide to the Catholic Catechism". I know its funny but it gave me a quick understanding. I read the Bible and I love this web site, you can just read posts you don’t have to actual post. I am just starting the actual Catechism from the Holy See on line.

Remember, if you don’t understand something, ask. There is no such thing as a dumb question. I think too many people now a days are afraid to ask questions about what they believe.

Praying and rejoicing for you!! Good Job!!
 
Pray the Rosary! It’s always a good start and then you’ll have Mary’s protection!👍 Can’t go wrong with that
 
JillianRose said:
This is a great question. I started with a book called " An idiots guide to the Catholic Catechism". I know its funny but it gave me a quick understanding. I read the Bible and I love this web site, you can just read posts you don’t have to actual post. I am just starting the actual Catechism from the Holy See on line.

Remember, if you don’t understand something, ask. There is no such thing as a dumb question. I think too many people now a days are afraid to ask questions about what they believe.

Praying and rejoicing for you!! Good Job!!
Click to expand...
I do not have any of the “Idiot’s Guide” books. I have heard them panned and their Amazon ratings are generally rather low. HOWEVER, this one is a great exception, being praised by none other than Fr. John Trigilio, the co-author of Catholicism for Dummies. Do you have this one, too? It is a great resource. I learn sometihng each time I read my copy.
 
Limit your time on CAF. 🙂 I’m not even joking.

Aside from that, I find that the following things help me to grow:
  • Spiritual reading (Introduction to the Devout Life and are both books that help me to focus on the important things.
  • Praying the Divine Office (just the act of setting time aside to pray an office or two reminds me that I am to pray without ceasing.
  • the Rosary - Some people look forward to saying the Rosary. I don’t. However, I find that denying myself and making time to say the Rosary daily helps me in my spiritual life.
    – Taking time for meditation and contemplation.
    – Simple prayer - spontaneous conversation with God helps me a lot.
  • attending mass whenever possible.
Now, I’m going to contradict myself. CAF helps me to grow. Now how could that be when I said one should limit their time on CAF?

Seeking the more spiritual threads rather than the more contentious ones helps me to grow. When I get involved in too many debates/arguments, my flesh comes out.
 
Welcome home! :extrahappy:

There are consistently good replies here, but I would add one thing: participate in your parish! Join a prayer group, a Bible study group, or volunteer at the church or in the surrounding community. If groups like that don’t exist in your parish, start one, or, if it makes sense to do so, find another parish. When you make friends who share your faith, and especially when you together live the life Christ calls us to, it makes growing in faith not only so much more natural, but immensely enjoyable as well. The Church is a community, and it is through our Brothers and Sisters that we truly find the happiness that God blesses us with.

God bless you and your family!
 
Practice moderation in all things except agape. That is how you will grow in holiness.

-Tim-
 
Invest time talking to a priest and ask for a spiritual director.
 
***…make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love. If these are yours and increase in abundance, they will keep you from being idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. *(2 Peter 1:5-8)
 
po18guy said:
I do not have any of the “Idiot’s Guide” books. I have heard them panned and their Amazon ratings are generally rather low. HOWEVER, this one is a great exception, being praised by none other than Fr. John Trigilio, the co-author of Catholicism for Dummies. Do you have this one, too? It is a great resource. I learn sometihng each time I read my copy.
Click to expand...
No I have not. I got one to start me going. I read it before I spent 1 year concentrating on the Bible. Now I am reading the Holy See copy online. It was a good outline for someone wanting more. It also gave a quick reference to where I could find certain topics in the actual text. It was nice so I could get my main questions answered. You know the topics that people ALWAYS ask. (I.E. Mary, Saints, Sacraments)

To the OP. I am already loving topics that are being discussed. When I first started CAF I really love the Apologetics page. I would start there. God Bless!! A spiritual awaking is a beautiful think. Just pray!!
 
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