Recommended resources for dealing with doubt?

[Caitlin_Noreen]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post in the forum. I was raised as a Catholic and had a very deep faith during most of my years as a child and young adult (partly out of necessity, as I grew up in a pretty dysfunctional home). Unfortunately, a lot of terrible things happened in my early 20s (parents’ divorce, and an extremely abusive relationship of my own, among other things) and I found I couldn’t believe anymore. I’ve been going through a pretty severe depression over the past couple of years, and I’m kind of at the end of my rope. I know that if I could regain the faith that gave me strength for so many years, I’d have the motivation I need. But somehow I just can’t seem to believe it like I did, after everything I’ve experienced. Does anyone have books, articles, or any other resources they would recommend for someone in my position? Words can’t express how much I would appreciate some good recommendations.

Thanks in advance. I’m looking forward to participating in the forum and hopefully finding some much-needed inspiration!

 

[littlestsouls]

Hi Caitlin,

Sorry to hear about your trials. Many of the saints were no stranger to depression. St. Jane de Chantal, for example, suffered from chronic depression, as did her spiritual director, St. Francis de Sales at one stage; his depression was remedied by an act of faith in the intercession of Our Lady. I have said a prayer for you. Maybe you would like to ask these saints for their prayers?

As far as books go, there are so many books that will strengthen your faith. Here are two gems that I am confident will inspire you with faith and joy (I have included a little review for each book):

• **‘Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence’ ** by St. Claude and Fr. Jean Baptiste- powerfully demonstrates the fact that everything God wills or permits is for our greater good. Shows that God is merciful, trustworthy and more than willing to grant us both spiritual and temporal goods, which we can be sure to attain if we seek first God’s kingdom.
• ’Words of Love’ by Bartholomew Gottemoller- contains the most tender and consoling *words of Our Lord *given to three 20th century “victim souls.” The book is divided into 34 chapters (e.g. Abandonment, Faith, Confidence, Joy, love- God’s Love For Us, Providence, Suffering etc.). To give you an idea of how amazing this book is, I will share one quote from 5 different chapters:
  Ch 1 (Abandonment in General)- “Do you think that anything happens without My permission? I dispose all things for the good of each and every soul.”
  Ch 7 (Faith) - “In the same way, Faith depends on your will. He who wishes to believe, receives Faith. No one can make in his stead the act of will that will introduce Faith into his soul. Then Faith grows, it is stronger than your will; it takes possession of the soul, which can no longer do without it. Without Faith you wander like sheep without a shepherd.”
  Ch 10 (Heaven)- “The trials of your life on earth are such a small thing in comparison with that which they obtain for you in eternity.”
  Ch 15 (Love- God’s Love For Us)- “Ah, if souls only understood how ardently I desire to communicate Myself to them! But how few do understand… and how deeply this wounds My Heart.”
  Ch 32 (Suffering)- “I loved suffering, I the Man of Sorrows; I chose it because it makes reparation for sins when it is offered with love…. when suffering is joined to love, the proofs of love given through suffering are a true reparation offered to God. It is giving God something that He does not have in His Heaven. Therefore, I chose suffering so that all My creatures, even the most miserable, like yourself, might have something precious to offer to God.”

God bless!

 

[Auntie_A]

Read stories of the saints. Many of them dealt with doubt or were doubters themselves. It seems clear to me that your faith and spirituality is moving through the change from a simple childhood set of beliefs to a more mature adult experience-based belief.

I’m sorry for the dysfunctional stuff you’ve gone through though; many of us have lived through similar childhoods and have watched our loved ones tumble down. Their foundations may not have been strong to begin with.

Our job is to make sure in OUR adult years that we build solid foundations around us BEFORE we have children. I have found enough good Catholics, and other God-loving people who have helped me supplement what my family could not provide.

 

[Caitlin_Noreen]

Thank you so much for those suggestions (and your summaries )! I’m a few pages into the first and I’m already feeling some relief! It’s so easy to question everything when you get swamped with adversity- and there’s nothing I’d like more than to believe again that it all happens for a reason! I sometimes wonder how anyone makes it all the way through life without that…

 

[Caitlin_Noreen]

Great advice Auntie A- I’ve often thought the same thing, that I would not have kids until I got my own head sorted out. I am looking forward to getting involved in the church again, and hopefully being able develop an adult faith despite (and maybe even because of) these trials.

 

[littlestsouls]

Great advice Auntie A- I’ve often thought the same thing, that I would not have kids until I got my own head sorted out. I am looking forward to getting involved in the church again, and hopefully being able develop an adult faith despite (and maybe even because of) these trials.

Wise words.

ps. Thanks for the thanks

 

[Robert_Sock]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post in the forum. I was raised as a Catholic and had a very deep faith during most of my years as a child and young adult (partly out of necessity, as I grew up in a pretty dysfunctional home). Unfortunately, a lot of terrible things happened in my early 20s (parents’ divorce, and an extremely abusive relationship of my own, among other things) and I found I couldn’t believe anymore. I’ve been going through a pretty severe depression over the past couple of years, and I’m kind of at the end of my rope. I know that if I could regain the faith that gave me strength for so many years, I’d have the motivation I need. But somehow I just can’t seem to believe it like I did, after everything I’ve experienced. Does anyone have books, articles, or any other resources they would recommend for someone in my position? Words can’t express how much I would appreciate some good recommendations.

Thanks in advance. I’m looking forward to participating in the forum and hopefully finding some much-needed inspiration!

Making an effort is good but the type of faith you’re after comes from within, and is a free gift from God.

 

[Caitlin_Noreen]

Making an effort is good but the type of faith you’re after comes from within, and is a free gift from God.

Understood. It felt that way in the past, but seems to be eluding me over the past couple of years. Just trying to get my head back in the right place in the meantime.

 

[Bookcat]

Catechism 157…To be sure, revealed truths can seem obscure to human reason and experience, but “the certainty that the divine light gives is greater than that which the light of natural reason gives.” “Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt.”

 

[Bookcat]

Hi everyone,

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_ben-xvi_motu-proprio_20111011_porta-fidei_en.html

(and more to come in the upcoming “Year of Faith”)

Let us all pray for an increase in Faith! To come to know more and more deeply the joy of being disciples of Christ (even in the midst of the various difficulties and sufferings in life —such is not meant here to in any way make light of the deep suffering one can meet in life–indeed our wounded Lord knows suffering well and is the Good Shepherd who picks up his sheep -taking it on his shoulders in love…)-- in him is* true life*!