RCIA Process and Evil

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NurseCatechumen

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I am a Catechumen who is presently progressing through RCIA. Recently, my sponsor and I began having some arguments and disagreements. I believe that the devil is trying to cause division between us so that one of us may choose to quit. In addition, I have been having horrific dreams about snakes hissing and trying to bite me.

Is it common for things like this to happen to a Catechumen when they are on the road to receiving the Sacraments. How can I protect myself and my sponsor?
 
Satan will do his level best to discourage you–to keep you from God. Ignore him. He can’t stand ridicule.

I am happy you feel comfortable enough to voice your own opinions. Just try to be sure your discussions generate more light than heat.
 
IMHO, which represents no one but me, and almost never my children, evil attacks when you’re weakest. Times of great joy and stress. Joy-when you think you’ve done it all your self, and stress, as in, do I really think the wafer turns into G*d. With that comes weird dreams, crabby attitude, stomach ache. Pray, thinks of the things you are going to discuss with your teacher, the priest, your sponsor. Look them up in the Catechism. Again, (read above disclaimer) evil know it is losing you-and is…evil about it. Turn it over to the Lord,and work your way through this. You’ll be a better Catholic and when you sponsor someone you’ll know where they are coming from.
Pray said
Ani

Is it common for things like this to happen to a Catechumen when they are on the road to receiving the Sacraments. How can I protect myself and my sponsor?
 
NurseCatechumen said:
I am a Catechumen who is presently progressing through RCIA. Recently, my sponsor and I began having some arguments and disagreements. I believe that the devil is trying to cause division between us so that one of us may choose to quit. In addition, I have been having horrific dreams about snakes hissing and trying to bite me.

Is it common for things like this to happen to a Catechumen when they are on the road to receiving the Sacraments. How can I protect myself and my sponsor?
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I think it is very common for soon-to-be Catholics to be attacked by the devil in various ways.

If it is from the devil, remember what James 4 says: Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. I’m also in RCIA, and various temptations & trials have come my way from all sorts of directions. It sounds like you’re facing a similar test. If at all possible, perhaps you could seek peace with your sponsor. 🙂 We’re basically in the last leg of the RCIA process! The Lord has called you to His wonderful Church and has guided you this far; he won’t abandon you now. And the devil cannot defeat His purposes. We can’t let things like this stop us!

So, my advice would be:
  1. Seek peace with your sponsor, and see it as a way of submitting to the Lord for this season. I found myself in an argument last night, so I’m not one to talk about this issue! 😃 But when I remind myself to serve Christ in serving difficult people, it becomes much easier to get along with them.
  2. Pray, pray, pray. If the devil is attacking or distracting, prayer and devotion are mighty weapons in our arsenal! And remember Christ’s promises to those who remain faithful!
 
Does it really matter whether it is Satan or something more mundane that is responsible for your argument with your sponsor, and you bad dreams? Either way it amounts the the same thing. You’re probably better off not to speculate on Satan’s personal behavior. Even if Satan himself has taken personal interest in corrupting you, it is nothing to be afraid of, because the power of the Lord is infinitely greater than the power of the corrupter.

The best way to overcome any difficulty is through prayer. Follow the example of our Lord when He faced temptation in the wilderness.
 
NurseCatechumen said:
I am a Catechumen who is presently progressing through RCIA. Recently, my sponsor and I began having some arguments and disagreements. I believe that the devil is trying to cause division between us so that one of us may choose to quit. In addition, I have been having horrific dreams about snakes hissing and trying to bite me.

Is it common for things like this to happen to a Catechumen when they are on the road to receiving the Sacraments. How can I protect myself and my sponsor?
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Yes, it is common. I was attacked in just about every way you can think of, including nightmares and physical accidents on my way to RCIA class. Hang in there! It’s very very worth it.

Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary before you go to bed, and that will help with the nightmares. Meditate on the Passion. This is a good idea anyway since Lent is coming up.

With regard to your sponsor, do what you can to make peace. Worst case scenario, if he/she leaves, find someone else - if you don’t know anyone else who qualifies, the parish should be able to provide someone, like one of the deacons, or just some nice elderly lady - there are always going to be people they can find in a pinch, so don’t worry about that.

Welcome home. 🙂
 
stanczyk said:
Does it really matter whether it is Satan or something more mundane that is responsible for your argument with your sponsor, and you bad dreams? Either way it amounts the the same thing. You’re probably better off not to speculate on Satan’s personal behavior. Even if Satan himself has taken personal interest in corrupting you, it is nothing to be afraid of, because the power of the Lord is infinitely greater than the power of the corrupter.
.
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I understand what you are saying, but are you a convert? Because as a convert coming into the Church, one’s life can really be turned upside down, at the same time as one is being barraged with all sorts of doubts and fears. Knowing that it is common to be attacked by the devil while converting can be extremely helpful when dealing with such things.

You are right that the remedy in any case is prayer.
 
Also, if you are so inclined, make use of Holy Water, a powerful sacramental that, if I’m not mistaken, can be used, if with respectful intentions, by all - check with a priest if you want but I’m pretty sure that’s true. Holy Water is a great weapon against the devil.
 
NurseCatechumen said:
I am a Catechumen who is presently progressing through RCIA. Recently, my sponsor and I began having some arguments and disagreements. I believe that the devil is trying to cause division between us so that one of us may choose to quit. In addition, I have been having horrific dreams about snakes hissing and trying to bite me.

Is it common for things like this to happen to a Catechumen when they are on the road to receiving the Sacraments.
Click to expand...
Everyone’s walk is unique. Some face even more difficult trials than you. Good news? God thinks you can handle it (with His help, naturally); otherwise, He would not have permitted you to face this struggle.

If you read the beginning of Job, you will see that Satan had to obtain permission before attacking Job.
How can I protect myself and my sponsor?
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You can’t. It’s not your job, actually (that job belongs to God).
Jude 1:9
Yet the archangel Michael, when he argued with the devil in a dispute over the body of Moses, did not venture to pronounce a reviling judgment* upon him but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”

See, even St. Michael, leader of God’s army, did not confront the devil himself. It may be helpful for you to know the prayer to St. Michael. When you ask his assistance, it is not only for his help but for God to come to your defense.

Prayer to
Saint Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen…
 
In addition to the prayer to Saint Michael, the Rosary is a great help, since the devil has nothing to do with Mary.
 
When I was going to RCIC, a lot of obstacles were thrown in my path. My notebooks would mysteriously go missing, only to be found after praying for help from St. Anthony. I had to replace my bible after I found it in our backyard with all the pages ripped out. (My dad thought it was my younger brother, but he isn’t the type.) I was struck by the flu no less than 4 times that year, and laid out for 2 weeks each time. And yes, I had TERRIBLE nightmares.

My family, thankfully, helped me deal with this. Bibles were replaced, a crucifix was hung in my room, they even had the priest come over and bless the house again to be safe. I didn’t really believe that Satan would actively interfere before that, (I’d been raised in a household where I was told that ‘Satan’ was just a word for the negativity of others, and wasn’t a real and active force.) but boy did that change my mind. It was more than just ‘bad luck’.
 
Spiritual attacks are very common for people coming into the Church through RCIA… either during the RCIA process itself, or even soon after receiving the Sacraments. Satan does not want people to become good, faithful Catholics and will try anything to get in your way.

Lots of great advice here: the St. Michael Prayer can be very powerful, and the Rosary even more-so. Pray, pray, pray! Ask the intercession of the Saints. Your dedication and faith will be rewarded; Satan cannot win unless we let him by turning our backs on God.

God bless you.
 
Student09 said:
I understand what you are saying, but are you a convert? Because as a convert coming into the Church, one’s life can really be turned upside down, at the same time as one is being barraged with all sorts of doubts and fears. Knowing that it is common to be attacked by the devil while converting can be extremely helpful when dealing with such things.

You are right that the remedy in any case is prayer.
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I think you get into some dangerous territory when you start to speculate on the devil’s motives. If you start to think the devil himself is persecuting you, especially when a much more mundane cause will do, it can be very spiritually unhealthy.

I really don’t think it matters whether the difficultly is caused by the devil or something mundane. Either way it doesn’t change the solution, which is prayer.

I don’t mean to downplay legitimate concerns about a corrupting influence. Quite the contrary, I think if you have a stumbling block, even one that has been put their by Satan himself, it is actually helpful to treat it as due to on a mundane cause. This robs the devil of his power. After all, the devil only has as much power over you as you voluntarily give him.
 
Indiana_Jones said:
I think it is very common for soon-to-be Catholics to be attacked by the devil in various ways.

If it is from the devil, remember what James 4 says: Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. I’m also in RCIA, and various temptations & trials have come my way from all sorts of directions. It sounds like you’re facing a similar test. If at all possible, perhaps you could seek peace with your sponsor. 🙂 We’re basically in the last leg of the RCIA process! The Lord has called you to His wonderful Church and has guided you this far; he won’t abandon you now. And the devil cannot defeat His purposes. We can’t let things like this stop us!

So, my advice would be:
  1. Seek peace with your sponsor, and see it as a way of submitting to the Lord for this season. I found myself in an argument last night, so I’m not one to talk about this issue! 😃 But when I remind myself to serve Christ in serving difficult people, it becomes much easier to get along with them.
  2. Pray, pray, pray. If the devil is attacking or distracting, prayer and devotion are mighty weapons in our arsenal! And remember Christ’s promises to those who remain faithful!
Click to expand...
Hello thank you so much for your reply! It is nice to hear from someone who is going through the same process, who can identify with what I am going through. I have talked to my sponsor about my thoughts and he did not have much to say about it. But, it seems that we have made peace now. I have started a novena to St. Therese and have also prayed the St. Michael the Archangel. I’ve also started attending church during the weekdays, as well, as my schedule permits. Since I started doing these things, I have not had any more nightmares.

Congratulations on your choice to become Catholic, as well! 👍
 
Student09 said:
Yes, it is common. I was attacked in just about every way you can think of, including nightmares and physical accidents on my way to RCIA class. Hang in there! It’s very very worth it.

Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary before you go to bed, and that will help with the nightmares. Meditate on the Passion. This is a good idea anyway since Lent is coming up.

With regard to your sponsor, do what you can to make peace. Worst case scenario, if he/she leaves, find someone else - if you don’t know anyone else who qualifies, the parish should be able to provide someone, like one of the deacons, or just some nice elderly lady - there are always going to be people they can find in a pinch, so don’t worry about that.

Welcome home. 🙂
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for your reply. I’m glad to hear that this is not my imagination and is a common happening for Catechumens and Candidates. I was afraid to mention it to my RCIA teachers and priest for fear that they would really think there was something wrong with me lol. I was afraid of their reaction. Again, it was probably the work of the devil placing these thoughts in my mind!

I am now praying to St. Therese and St. Michael the Archangel before bed each night.

I talked to my sponsor and hopefully made peace although he hasn’t much to say about my opinion regarding the devil. Hopefully we continue to get along well and he stays on my side.

Thank you for replying and may God bless you!
 
3DOCTORS said:
Also, if you are so inclined, make use of Holy Water, a powerful sacramental that, if I’m not mistaken, can be used, if with respectful intentions, by all - check with a priest if you want but I’m pretty sure that’s true. Holy Water is a great weapon against the devil.
Click to expand...
I have a bottle of holy water and have used it in every room of the house, at doorways, etc. In addition, we also received blessed chalk at mass and I made the 20 + C + M + B + 12 marks at each doorway of my house and said the prayer. I believe this all will help for protection.

Thank you for the advice!🙂
 
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen…

Thank you for your advice! I have begun saying the St. Michael prayer at bedtime and different times throughout the day and I have not had any further nightmares.

I will also read the beginning of Job as you suggested. I’ll take any amount of insight that I can get 🙂
 
mandajane said:
When I was going to RCIC, a lot of obstacles were thrown in my path. My notebooks would mysteriously go missing, only to be found after praying for help from St. Anthony. I had to replace my bible after I found it in our backyard with all the pages ripped out. (My dad thought it was my younger brother, but he isn’t the type.) I was struck by the flu no less than 4 times that year, and laid out for 2 weeks each time. And yes, I had TERRIBLE nightmares.

QUOTE]

I have had similar things like that happen to me! My bible had gone missing for no reason at all. And, just the other day, I couldn’t find my favorite Padre Pio rosary beads! I can tell that the devil is messing with me but I won’t let him win.

:signofcross::gopray2:
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