I no longer have contrition

[Link0126]

even imperfect contrition. I suppose I have at least a little bit of that to be writing this but I haven’t been to Mass or confession in over a month. I haven’t picked up the Bible or hardly prayed. I used to go to confession twice a month and struggle against temptation. I used to judge my actions against God’s moral code. Now, it’s like I like to indulge in sins. I still believe in God and all the Church teaches, I feel that if I died today I would go to hell. but I feel like if I pray it will be fake and not truly coming from the heart b/c I do not feel prompted by the spirit.

What should I do at this point?

 

[Dorothy]

even imperfect contrition. I suppose I have at least a little bit of that to be writing this but I haven’t been to Mass or confession in over a month. I haven’t picked up the Bible or hardly prayed. I used to go to confession twice a month and struggle against temptation. I used to judge my actions against God’s moral code. Now, it’s like I like to indulge in sins. I still believe in God and all the Church teaches, I feel that if I died today I would go to hell. but I feel like if I pray it will be fake and not truly coming from the heart b/c I do not feel prompted by the spirit.

What should I do at this point?

The Lord does not leave anyone in an impossible situation. Pray even if you don’t feel like it, and ask the Lord for the grace you need to get back on track.

 

[fhansen]

even imperfect contrition. I suppose I have at least a little bit of that to be writing this but I haven’t been to Mass or confession in over a month. I haven’t picked up the Bible or hardly prayed. I used to go to confession twice a month and struggle against temptation. I used to judge my actions against God’s moral code. Now, it’s like I like to indulge in sins. I still believe in God and all the Church teaches, I feel that if I died today I would go to hell. but I feel like if I pray it will be fake and not truly coming from the heart b/c I do not feel prompted by the spirit.

What should I do at this point?

Yes, if you’re concerned enough to ask us, you could ask God instead. He can aid our very wills into wanting the right thing again. In any case we can easily lapse into periods of doubt and/or non-concern or even anger but my bet is you’ll be back at it again soon enough.** “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."** John 6:68

 

[Scout]

You don’t want to pray right now, but you want to want to, so that’s something that God can work with. Well, H can work with anything and anyone, but it should give you some hope.

So, pray anyway, even if you don’t feel like it. That’s when growth really happens, when you do something even when you don’t want to, but because you know it’s the right thing to do.

And God is merciful. I’ve been reading St. Faustina’s diary, and all thru it Jesus talks about His love and mercy. He knows where you’re at, what you’re feeling, and what you’re thinking. He loves you. He’ll take you where you’re at, wherever you’re at, and carry you along the way, to where He wants you.

So, do what you know is right, even if you don’t feel like it. God will bless your efforts.

Scout :tiphat:

 

[Barbkw]

Get yourself to an Ignation retreat:

ignatianspirituality.com/making-good-decisions/discernment-of-spirits/

Discernment of spirits is the interpretation of what St. Ignatius Loyola called the “motions of the soul.” These interior movements consist of thoughts, imaginings, emotions, inclinations, desires, feelings, repulsions, and attractions. Spiritual discernment of spirits involves becoming sensitive to these movements, reflecting on them, and understanding where they come from and where they lead us.

EWTN just had a series on the discernment of spirits. The syllabus of the series is here:

ewtn.com/series/shows/living-the-discerning-life/livingdiscerningepisodes.asp

 

[Barbkw]

I was a member of OA (Overeaters Anonymous) and the 12 steps are a semi-secular version of Jesuit spirituality.

When fighting compulsive behaviors (food, sexual sins, smoking, alcohol, drugs, shopping, etc.) it’s very important to find ways to fill the void (where the activities of your past sins rested) with the good, the beautiful and the Truth.

What worked / works for me was / is daily Mass with Eucharist.

There’s a reading in the OA / AA books that says, “While I was resting in the recovery room, my addiction was out in the hallway doing pushups.”

I and others fighting compulsions have found that to be true. A holy life is “the good fight.”

Jesus talked about this in Matthew 12:43

The Return of the Unclean Spirit.*

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a person it roams through arid regions searching for rest but finds none.

Then it says, ‘I will return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it empty, swept clean, and put in order.

Then it goes and brings back with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they move in and dwell there; and the last condition of that person is worse than the first.

Thus it will be with this evil generation.”

St. Paul writes of Jesus in Romans 5:4:

Faith, Hope, and Love.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace* with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,and through whom we have gained access [by faith] to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God.

Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly.

Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.

But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath.

Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

even imperfect contrition. I suppose I have at least a little bit of that to be writing this but I haven’t been to Mass or confession in over a month. I haven’t picked up the Bible or hardly prayed. I used to go to confession twice a month and struggle against temptation. I used to judge my actions against God’s moral code. Now, it’s like I like to indulge in sins. I still believe in God and all the Church teaches, I feel that if I died today I would go to hell. but I feel like if I pray it will be fake and not truly coming from the heart b/c I do not feel prompted by the spirit.

What should I do at this point?

I do not feel like eating as I used before, now, but, as i need to be fed, I eat no matter what.

I do not feel like playing sportsas I used before, now,but, as i need to stay healthy, I run in rain and on snow or in heat no matter what.

I do not feel like studyingas I used before, now,but, as i need to pass the year, I study boring subjects with a tremendous headache no matter what.

I do not feel like listening to my granny as I used to, now, but, as she needs someone to talk to and sometime She will go to the Father, I hear for the 1000th time her stories no matter what.

I do not feel like standing the disorder that my husband lets our bathroom in now but, as i need to correct his faults one by one, I put up with this unbearable sight no matter what.

I do not feel like praying adn going to confession and I am totally absent minded in mass now but, as i need to be with My Father, My Creator, My Savior, My Mother from time to time, I do it with or without feelings no matter what.

 

[Barbkw]

Fr. Timothy Gallagher is online at Spirit Catholic Radio www.kvss.com on Thursday from 8 to 9 a.m. CST.

His EWTN series presented the 14 steps of Ignatian spirituality:

EPISODES Episode 1 - The Discernment of Spirits: The Teaching of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Fr. Timothy Gallagher begins this retreat on the 14 rules of St. Ignatius of Loyola by introducing us to St. Ignatius. Fr. Gallagher shows how the great saint converted from a life steeped in the secular culture of the time to one of deep love for our Creator. The priest also shows how we can discern whether events in our own lives are of God or the Enemy and how the choices we make can affect our immortal souls.

Episode 2 - The Enemy Hinders Those Seeking God: The Path of St. Augustine

Just as God tries to draw us near, Satan tries to pull us from God. Fr. Timothy Gallagher explains the 14 rules of St. Ignatius using the example of St. Augustine. He shows how we can easily fall into sin and have the inclination then to stay there instead of repenting and following God’s path for us.

Episode 3 - Spiritual Consolation and Desolation: The Third and Fourth Rules of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Fr. Timothy Gallagher shows us how the Good Spirit uses spiritual consolation to help us rise closer to the Creator. These consolations range from a simple hug from a child, smile from a co-worker or a full infusion of grace showing God’s actions in our lives. However, we may also feel periods of loneliness, but with God’s grace this to can be overcome.

Episode 4 - **Spiritual Desolation: The Pull Towards Low and Earthly Things **

Spiritual desolation is employed by the enemy to bring us down and draw us away from God. Fr. Timothy Gallagher shows that if we learn to live the discerning life, we can recognize the source of spiritual desolation and reject it, thus using it to enrich instead of harm our spiritual health.

Episode 5 - How Do We Handle Spiritual Desolation: **Rejecting Downward Movement **

We all experience times where we feel abandoned by God. Fr. Timothy Gallagher reminds us that God never leaves us, and we can combat spiritual desolation through prayer, meditation, and acts of penance.

Episode 6 - Spiritual Desolation: Why God Allows Hardships
The question is often asked “Why would a good and loving God allow us to suffer spiritual desolation?” Fr. Timothy Gallagher uses the teachings of St. Ignatius to show that because God is a good and loving God is the precise reason why we undergo desolation.

Episode 7 - **Growing in Times of Desolation: Consolation from Desolation **God may seem far from us in times of desolation. Fr. Timothy Gallagher shows us why God is closer than ever during these times and how we can actually prepare for times of desolation when we are in consolation, reducing the hardship of the desolation and instead making it a learning experience.

Episode 8 - **Moving Beyond Desolation: Fighting Temptation **Temptations abound when we are in times of desolation. Fr. Timothy Gallagher shows that we are always faced with temptations and the best way to resist is to stay close to God who will provide the strength to overcome all temptations.

Episode 9 - **Breaking the Spiritual Silence: Speaking with the Proper Spiritual Person **We give in to temptation many times by holding it interiorly and fabricating accompanying scenarios for the temptation. Fr. Timothy Gallagher uses Ignatian Spirituality to show how if we share our concerns with a competent person, we realize our concerns are often not real, giving us the ammunition we need to fight the enemy.

Episode 10 - **The Journey’s End: Concluding Our Ignatian Retreat **Retreats offer us time to renew and refresh our spirituality. Fr. Timothy Gallagher concludes the Ignatian retreat by summing up the saint’s 14 rules and answering participants questions.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

I do not feel like eating as I used before, now, but, as i need to be fed, I eat no matter what.

I do not feel like playing sportsas I used before, now,but, as i need to stay healthy, I run in rain and on snow or in heat no matter what.

I do not feel like studyingas I used before, now,but, as i need to pass the year, I study boring subjects with a tremendous headache no matter what.

I do not feel like listening to my granny as I used to, now, but, as she needs someone to talk to and sometime She will go to the Father, I hear for the 1000th time her stories no matter what.

I do not feel like standing the disorder that my husband lets our bathroom in now but, as i need to correct his faults one by one, I put up with this unbearable sight no matter what.

I do not feel like praying adn going to confession and I am totally absent minded in mass now but, as i need to be with My Father, My Creator, My Savior, My Mother from time to time, I do it with or without feelings no matter what.

:bigyikes:

That was funny, but all of these are true. Thanks for a great post.

 

[Loboto-Me]

One single act done with aridity of spirit is worth more than many done with feelings of devotion.
St. Francis de Sales

 

[fhansen]

One single act done with aridity of spirit is worth more than many done with feelings of devotion.
St. Francis de Sales

Wow- that’s nice to hear!

 

[Earnest_Bunbury]

It is well known that God withdraws His consolation and His apparent presence at times to show us what we are when left to ourselves. He is still where He was as before, just the appearance and goodness of this appearance is gone. It will return. This is meant to drive you to a deeper spiritual communion and to show you the misery that we all experience when separated from God. It lays bare the true motivation one has, either for mere spiritual consolation or for true love of God.

Attraction to evil is not good and your post here shows that even though you say you are liking sinful actions, this is prompting a reaction against it. Read about those who have gone through the same, and “Consoling the Heart of Jesus” by Fr. Michael Gaitley combines St. Faustina with Ignatian spirituality. It is a do-it-yourself retreat in a book.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

:bigyikes:

That was funny, but all of these are true. Thanks for a great post.

Oh! Boy! You highlighted something !!! O! Boy!

 

[fred_conty]

Your suffering from discouragement and listlessness. I can’t promise any magic
but I can tell you what will help.

Just keep saying “Lord, help me to want to change.”
Do not try to change yourself, it usually won’t work in your condition.
Just keep saying over and over whenever you have a moment,
“Lord, help me to want to change.” Even tho you know your going
to continue in your present pattern, still say that prayer no matter
how you feel, or even if you feel like your lying in saying the prayer.
Keep at it for days, weeks, months, as long as it takes for Jesus
to answer that prayer.

One day you will snap out of it and suddenly will be asking yourself
“what am I doing?” And then you will change. He will turn
on a light inside of you and suddenly you see it. And then
things will appear different. It will be all over and you will find
the self you want. The worst thing you could do is to quit.
The temptation to quit will be strongest when you fail and sin.
Then you will think, what good is it to pray this silly prayer?
Then you think its not doing any good and not working.
Don’t you believe it. Keep saying that short prayer over and over.

That prayer tells Him how dependent you are on Him and how weak
you are and in great need for his assistenance. You are admitting
that you need His help and without him you are helpless. That is
a strong prayer. He loves that kind of prayer. He now has your
attention and will answer you with a shower of his mercy.

Caveat. The prayer is not “Lord help me to change.”
The prayer is “Lord help me to WANT to change.”
It will pass in His time.

I will keep you in mine as well.

 

[A_Catholic]

even imperfect contrition. I suppose I have at least a little bit of that to be writing this but I haven’t been to Mass or confession in over a month. I haven’t picked up the Bible or hardly prayed. I used to go to confession twice a month and struggle against temptation. I used to judge my actions against God’s moral code. Now, it’s like I like to indulge in sins. I still believe in God and all the Church teaches, I feel that if I died today I would go to hell. but I feel like if I pray it will be fake and not truly coming from the heart b/c I do not feel prompted by the spirit.

What should I do at this point?

I think you articulated very well why you no longer feel any desire for things of God. St. Catherine of Genoa said: “Its (the soul’s) sinfulness increases because its communication with God grows less and less.” If you don’t eat, you will at first feel hunger, but after only a couple of days, the hunger goes away and then you just starve to death. That would seem to be what is happening to you spiritually, and that is far more dangerous than any physical starvation. You are not doing anything to feed yourself spiritually, and you are spiritually starving to death. And yes, unless you do something to stop the road you are on, your soul is in mortal danger.

It doesn’t matter what prayer feels like to you. Mother Teresa didn’t feel anything for 50 years (going through the dark night of the soul), but that never stopped her. Following Christ has nothing to do with our feelings. We keep following him no matter what it feels like. If the saints all waited until they felt “moved by the Spirit”, we would have very few saints.

I admire you for reaching out like this. It would seem to say that you are not happy with your spiritual state. But only you can do something about it. A great athlete, a great musician - anyone who achieves greatness in this life - kept doing what they needed to do no matter how they felt. It’s a cliche, but winners never quit, and quitters never win.

 

[freshair]

Peace be with you friend. I understand where you’re coming from in your post, I have been there. I believe in those times especially you need to exert every ounce of self-discipline you have over yourself! If you do not “feel” faith, act as if you have it! If you do not feel “contrite”, act as if you do. It will be given to you. If you feel like sinning, stop, pray and ask God, the BVM and all the saints for help! Ask for strength, and it will be given to you. Help someone else, and the help will be given to you. There is no steady life, it’s a roller coaster because we grow complacent in our faith. I think Satan sees this and uses our apathy or complacency to attack us, usually in our weakest moments. I willl pray for you. God bless.