I think Easter burned me out with Catholicism

[1neophyte]

katpants (the OP) is new to Catholicism, and I think she is discovering it in her own way. Look up her threads and posts. This is awesome! Give thanks and praise to God!

I thought doing things your own way was supposedly what Protestantism was all about? I’m sincerely confused.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

It was just too much…the fasting…all the prayers…etc. I just kind of chunked the whole thing aside for a bit.

I’m doing my usual prayers and saint prayers but that’s about it. I just don’t know…Hubby and I have been watching CBN and some Baptist preacher guy on Finnish tv…(not alot here for Christian viewing )…

I feel like I’m on the middle road these days…like I like the intercession of saints but MAN is it easy to be Protestant…but even that feels weird to me.

Ever go through spells like this?

Kat

It sounds like you may have religion but no spirituality.

I would suggest learning about contemplative prayer, and see if this is where God is leading you ?

Jim

 

[MaryHelp777]

It was just too much…the fasting…all the prayers…etc. I just kind of chunked the whole thing aside for a bit.

I’m doing my usual prayers and saint prayers but that’s about it. I just don’t know…Hubby and I have been watching CBN and some Baptist preacher guy on Finnish tv…(not alot here for Christian viewing )…

I feel like I’m on the middle road these days…like I like the intercession of saints but MAN is it easy to be Protestant…but even that feels weird to me.

Ever go through spells like this?

Kat

Ever hear of burnout?
An athlete doing too much training in the week, and then is too sick to keep his ordinary.training schedule going.

A lawyer who turns workaholic for one month and then needs 3 months off work because his mind can’t cope.

There is such a thing as spiritual burnout.

It’s satans biggest weapon against devout Catholics.
St Ignatius of Loyola wrote about it in his writings,
Satan can’t tempt a really devout catholic to sin, so he decides, to tempt them to do so much good work and prayers and fasting and almsgiving, that they end up sick and cannot pray, cannot keep up with their duties, and are spiritually tired, because he got them to burnout spiritually.

St Ignatius writings said the Holy Spirit is about balance.
God wants people to have rest, play, hobbies, talents, outings, fun, work, opportunities, social outings, prayer, reading, bits of everything
And not an overdose of just one thing, or too much of one thing.

Be balanced.

When satan makes someone go over the top, he then convinces them that a holy life is too difficult.

A complete lie.

God wants balance.
As St Augustine wrote: “Pray, keep the Commandments, love, and do what you want.”
The rest falls into place.

 

[Tablefor9]

A refreshing thing, to me, was learning to live liturgically. A gentle life in harmony with the Church, keeping the focus on Jesus, may fix what ails you. I would encourage the purchase and reading of The Catholic Home, by Meredith Gould. This book is great; available here in paperback or kindle.

 

[AnneElizabeth]

just putting my 2 cents worth in…

Yes, I think its fairly common for the newbie in the church to over do it… just as its the same for those really wanting to reach their fitness goals to over do it with enthusiasm… its just that their body is not there yet, and sometimes they are a bit misguided on the reasons for their enthusiasm- like perhaps they want to look better quicker rather than be healthier for the long run, the more noble purpose of a fitness regime. So keep that in mind and keep going, though I advise you to listen in prayer to what the Lord really wants you to do at this time and just do that. Remember He desires mercy and not sacrifice…

Matthew 9:13 Jesus Calls Matthew
…12But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13"But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Mathew 11:30 Rest for the Weary
…29"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

The guidelines of the church practices are just that- guidelines. It doesn’t mean if someone does them all perfectly that they are right with the Lord- or if someone hardly does them at all that God does not find them pleasing. God loves a cheerful and willing giver. He wants open and honest hearts and he is not a task-driver. Remember the woman that gave ‘all that she had’ which was a small amount and those that gave from their surplus which was not much in the eyes of God in comparison of the poor woman giving all. She gave from the heart. Focus on this rather than ‘duties’… without faith we can’t please God. Start where we are at… go back to your first love as said in Revelations. ( Revelation 2:1-7) We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19
The Lord is kind an merciful. Also remember, one can pridefully do things in hopes to 'earn' heaven, which none of us can do, but we can do things in hopes that it pleases God... which is different and according to Scripture what we should be doing if we love the Lord. We don't as Catholics do the things prescribed by the church to earn heaven, we do them because we understand that they are good for us and for all, when done in a prudent balanced manner, and desire to do them. Part of the difficulty of faith is learning prudence in faith matters. Its an individual lonesome 'walk' with the Lord thing. We learn along the way. Keep going! But do take it at a pace that is right for your body. ;)

 

[Beryllos]

I thought doing things your own way was supposedly what Protestantism was all about? I’m sincerely confused.

Perhaps you are! I said she is discovering it in her own way. We can’t all be Thomas Aquinas or Thérèse of Lisieux. And besides, weren’t their approaches rather different? Something is drawing the OP toward Catholicism, and I think it is the Holy Spirit working in her. God meets each of us where we are, and works within us according to our upbringing, personalities, talents, past experiences, and situations.

I am reminded of my mother, may God rest her soul. When she was about 20 years old, she came to realize that the Southern Baptist church in which she had been brought up was missing something. She visited some other churches. Back then, they didn’t have Google or Catholic Answers — and so much the better for her! — so she began by looking up religions in the Encyclopedia Britannica. To make a long story short, she became a Catholic, and went on to meet a handsome Catholic man and raise a Catholic family.

I’ll say it again: Give thanks and praise to God, who calls us and moves us toward faith, each on our own path.

 

[njlisa]

I grew up as a conservative Protestant. But, at age 29, I was received into the Catholic Church. Over the last 27 years, I’ve had my difficulties. But I’ve always felt that the Catholic Church is my home. I hope that helps.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I think I felt this way 2-3 years after joining the Church. I had several daily readings I did each day during Lent. I had attended a 3 day parish
retreat and I attended every service during Holy Week. I did feel burned out.
you just need to regroup and get your Catholic life back into perspective. we are between Easter and Pentecost now. now might be a good time to read about some of your favorite saints or Mary. always something to learn!

 

[pianistclare]

How does one get burned out on God?
Prayer practices get stale if we don’t focus on the right things.
Simply “doing stuff” isn’t real prayer.
Prayer is a conversation with the Most High. With your brother, Jesus. With your inspiration, the Holy Spirit. Any way you prefer. But you don’t have to have written down prayers to do it, although all of us acknowledge the joy of having it right there accessible when we can’t find the words, when we want to pray with whole worldwide Church together, or when we are just flat out tired…weary…and need to simply pray a sincere Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

If God was right in front of us: I’m sure He’d just say
What wrong with you guys? Can’t you come to your Father?
Children run to their Father, they speak with their Father, and they love their Father.
That’s all.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

People get burned out on religious practice, because its just religious practice.

Contemplative practice is having a relation with Jesus Christ out of love and this we never burn out from this, but hunger for union with him constantly.

Jim

 

[Red_James]

I hope you know that you’re only required to fast on two days: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and they’re weeks apart. You’re allowed one normal meal and two smaller meals on those two days, if I’m not mistaken, so its not a total abstinence from food for a given day. You’re not required to say extra prayers: if you have a call to build up your relationship with God then go do that, but you shouldn’t feel obliged to force it upon yourself, because as you said, it was too much. Even praying for a minute or two daily is enough, if that’s for how long you can keep focus.

I’ll keep you in my prayers today.

 

[katpants]

Thanks everybody!

Kat