My struggle with the sacraments

[AntalKalnoky]

Thanks for your prayers too! I think if I keep asking for prayers in here, my life may get a big turnaround
Here’s what happens with me though (and I’m totally with you about prayer being a conversation) when it comes down to it, am I not going to have to say rosaries, the chaplet of the devine mercy, prayers in novenas? As I learned and saw, these are staples of Catholicism, and I’m dreading having to kneel and repeat all these over and over on a regular basis. I always learned that we have to pray “with the heart”, but after so much repetition growing up I barely even say them with my voice. I’ve lost all interest

Nope! I’m still weak praying formulas; finally began the Rosary occassionally. The Main Prayer is The Lord’s!. And thanking, talking to Our Lord directly, even asking Him to help you find Him. RCIA is the Door-opener, to begin to Discover Christ, His Massive Chutch, as ideal as He Is. Bless you. Pray the best you can, when you can. Praying for Others who Really Need help the most is The Catholic Way (and most rewarding on the side) Chatting with a Priest about your concerns is a best bet, Then taking the Free RCIA Course, registering now For September is a major Help!.

 

[TrueLight]

Hi One,

I would recommend plenty of spiritual reading, so that you have something to occupy your mind during Mass and prayers. It will encourage like the posters above, but there will be much more material!

I know very much what you’re talking about, and I share your struggles. God Bless you in your spiritual life.

Joan

I agree with this. I recommend reading devotional books by some of the Saints who struggled with sin. I don’t have any to recommend , but I’m sure someone could recommend something.

 

[jpjd]

OneBigSinner, your original post has stuck in my mind, and I recently read something which may help you put our human inclination to sinfulness, and our struggle for sanctity, in perspective.

From the book “Theology and Sanity” by Frank Sheed:

“Sanctity does not mean the absence of sins, though it will result in that, but the right direction of energy. There is no particular virute in not committing sins for which one has not the taste or the temperament…If abstinence is for the love of God, it is a virtue; but not if it is only because on is afraid of women, or has not natural inclination towards persons of the opposite sex, or prefers one’s stamp collection…Given that sanctity is the right direction of energy, then…if it takes the wrong direction, runs into sins of passion, and will if it turns to the right direction produce the heroic virtue of the saint.”

So, the task before all of us is to have the right direction. We may stumble and fall which we want to avoid, but the real question is, are we continuing on the path to Christ despite our stumbles?

Pope Benedict said, “Holiness does not consist in not making mistakes or never sinning. Holiness grows with the capacity for conversion, repentance, willingness to begin again, and above all with the capacity for reconciliation and forgiveness.”

So, dear brother in Christ, do not feel you must achieve sinlessness, for we will never be sinless. God only asks that we be faithful to Him. I think you will find that the more you try to be faithful, the more you will want to put Him first over your own desires; you will be able to resist temptation better. But you must at least take the first step. Starsmurf has good suggestions on that.

 

[AnneTeresa]

So, the task before all of us is to have the right direction. We may stumble and fall which we want to avoid, but the real question is, are we continuing on the path to Christ despite our stumbles?

Pope Benedict said, “Holiness does not consist in not making mistakes or never sinning. Holiness grows with the capacity for conversion, repentance, willingness to begin again, and above all with the capacity for reconciliation and forgiveness.”

So, dear brother in Christ, do not feel you must achieve sinlessness, for we will never be sinless. God only asks that we be faithful to Him. I think you will find that the more you try to be faithful, the more you will want to put Him first over your own desires; you will be able to resist temptation better. But you must at least take the first step. .