Keeping Christ Close

[EllenMary]

I am a catachumen at the moment, going through my classes to become a baptized/confirmed catholic on Easter of next year. I have felt such an intense connection to God the past few weeks, but the past few days, I have been feeling “far away” from Him. Even today in mass I felt off. Does anyone have any tips on what is a really good way to keep your relationship with God strong and intense?

 

[wxboss]

Hello EllenMary,

Part of being a Christian means being one when you feel like it or not. The Bible is quite clear about not trusting your feelings “for they will lead you astray”. Feelings change just as the wind changes, and they aren’t necessarily an indication of your standing with God. In fact, I believe God tests us during these times of dryness to see whether or not we’re really committed to Him because it is easy to obey and follow Him when everything goes well. It it quite another thing to be faithful and praise Him when everything goes awry. That is why they call it “a sacrifice of praise”.

However, one prayer that I have started praying (especially right after I receive communion is Anima Christi). I would also suggest spending time in front of the Blessed Sacrament as well as praying the Most Holy Rosary. All of these will help tremendously in times of dryness.

Anima Christi means Soul of Christ, and it goes as follows:

**Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ’s side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever
Amen

**
Keep praying and clinging to Him, and you will find Him to be the most beautiful Person you could have ever imagined.

 

[ccolley]

I am a catachumen at the moment, going through my classes to become a baptized/confirmed catholic on Easter of next year. I have felt such an intense connection to God the past few weeks, but the past few days, I have been feeling “far away” from Him. Even today in mass I felt off. Does anyone have any tips on what is a really good way to keep your relationship with God strong and intense?

Each person has a different way of keeping their relationship with God strong and intense. One fairly easy way is to think about what keeps any relationship strong and intense? Spending time together, right?

One thing that brings ME closer to God, is to sit before the Blessed Sacrament. That is one of the places where I feel His presence the strongest.
You might want to try to attend Mass everyday. Even if you can’t receive communion, you can still be developing your relationship with God.
Understand that it is normal to experience periods where you don’t feel particularly close to God. St. Theresa of Avila had a particularly long period in her life not feeling particularly close to God. Still she continued to pray and develop her relationship with Him. I find that the times when I don’t particularly feel the presence of God are usually the times when He is closest to me. I try to think that maybe God is trying to get me to make an effort to grow closer to Him.
Sometimes you just have to find your own way out of those “dry periods”, by trying different things. You might want to ask your sponsor/God parents/RCIA team how they handle these periods of “dryness”.
Just my two cents!
CC

[SIGN] I love my Papal Papa! [/SIGN]

 

[JaredR]

We don’t always feel close to God, and the spiritual life does not always bring consolation and happy feelings. In these moments, we’re given the opportunity to choose God for His own sake and not out of any mixed motives (e.g., seeking God only when He makes us feel good is really seeking the good feelings instead of Him). Spiritual dryness is not fun, but everyone goes through it, and we can consider it a blessing because God is strengthening our faith and making us better disciples.

During my “dry periods,” I stick close to spiritual reading and vocal prayers like the ‘Hail Mary.’

Congratulations on your catechumenate!

 

[John_Russell_Jr]

I am a catachumen at the moment, going through my classes to become a baptized/confirmed catholic on Easter of next year. I have felt such an intense connection to God the past few weeks, but the past few days, I have been feeling “far away” from Him. Even today in mass I felt off. Does anyone have any tips on what is a really good way to keep your relationship with God strong and intense?

My dear friend

Welcome to the forums and te church - the biggest family of all…,…— Gods family.

The best way to keep your relationship with God strong and intense is to persevere and continue even if you do not feel any consolations or emotional love and the like. The greatest love we can have for God is sacrificial love. This is the type of love God had for us upon the Cross. Good times come and we think they will last forever, the same with bad. Loe God in the bad times too and this is how God purifies or love and helps us mature and grow in our relationship with Him.

A great quote from my patron saint, St Gemma, follows that may help-

This spoke straight to the depths of my heart and soul when I read it. Hope you like it.

Jesus once said to me: “Do you know, daughter, for what reason I send crosses to souls dear to me? I desire to possess their souls, entirely, and for this I surround them with crosses, and I enclose them in sufferings and tribulation, that they may not escape from my hands; and for this I scatter thorns, that souls may fasten their affections upon no one, but find all content in Me alone. My daughter, if you do not feel the cross it cannot be called a cross. Be sure that under the cross you will not be lost. The demon has no strength against those souls who for My love groan under the cross. 0 My daughter, how many would have abandoned Me if they had not been crucified. The cross is a gift too precious, and from it come many virtues."
I prayed then to Jesus that He would not concede to me any grace except that of loving Him very much, and Jesus said: “Oh soul dear to me, if you truly love Me, behold My chalice; you can drink it to the last drop. On this chalice I have placed My lips, and I want you to drink it.” I told Jesus to do with me as He would. And then He said to me: "I have sent this cross to you, you do not appreciate it; rather it is contrary to your desire, but the more it is contrary, the more it is like Mine. Would it not seem to you a dreadful thing to see a father in the midst of sorrow and the children enjoying themselves? When I shall be your Spouse of blood, I will come to you, but crucified; show your love to me as I have shown it toward you, and do you know how? By suffering, pains, and crosses without number. You ought, therefore, to consider yourself honored, if I lead you on paths hard and painful; if I permit that you be tor*mented by the demon, that the world despise you, that persons most dear to you afflict you, and with daily martyrdom, I permit your soul to be purified and tested. And you, daughter, think only of practicing great virtue; run in the path of the Divine Will, humbled, assured, that if I hold you to the cross, I love you.”

God bless you dear friend:thumbsup:

John