Returning Catholic looking for advice on becoming deeper with my spirituality

[RunnerDoug1987]

Hi, I have attended Catholic school for close to 13 years. Never practice much out of school once off to College lost touch with the Catholic Faith. After involvement in the mental health field seeing and being part of the power prayer can have brought me back. I want to become more involved with the Church and curious on what the next steps are. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Vouthon]

Dear brother Doug

A warm welcome to CAF.

Personally, I would study more deeply into the great wealth of mystical literature which the Catholic tradition boasts.

There are roughly speaking (and this is a gross simplification of a complex phenomenon) a number of primary branches of Catholic mysticism, both Eastern and Western, which can be grouped by as:

1. B]Egyptian-Syrian Mysticism

(The Desert Fathers & Mothers, Abba Evagrius Ponticus, The Pseudo-Macarian homilies, Pseudo-Dionysius)

1. **The Greek Fathers of the Church **(St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Clement of Alexandria, St. Gregory Nazianzus, St. John Climacus, St Isaac the Syrian, St. Maximus the Confessor etc.)
2. The Latin Fathers of Church (Origen, St. Augustine, St. John Cassian, St. Gregory the Great etc.)
3. **The English Mystics **(Walter Hilton, Julian of Norwich, Richard Rolle, Margery Kempe, the Cloud of Unknowing, Benet of Canfield, Augustine Baker, the Metaphysical poets, Thomas Traherne)
4. **The Rhineland Mystics **(Meister Eckhart, Johannes Tauler, Henry Suso, Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa, Jackob Boehme, Angelus Silesius etc.)
5. **The Flemish Mystics ** (Hadewijch of Brabant, St. Beatrice of Nazareth, Blessed Jan Van Ruusbroec, Jan van Leeuwan etc.)
6. **The German Women Mystics **(St. Hildegard of Bingen, Mechthild of Magdeburg, St. Mechthild of Hackeborn, St Gertrude of Helfta etc.)
7. **The Italian Mystics **(Guigo II, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare of Assisi, St. Bonaventure, Jacapone da Todi, Angela of Foligno, St. Catherine of Sienna, St. Catherine of Genoa etc.)
8. **The French Mystics **(Bernard of Clairvaux, William of Saint Thierry, Hugh and Richard of Saint Victor, Aelred of Rievaulx, Marguerite Porete, Francis de Sales, Elizabeth of the Trinity etc.)
9. **The Spanish Mystics **(Ramon Llull, Francisco de Osuna, Luis de Leon, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross etc.)
10. Hesychasm (Eastern Catholic mysticism)-
    Byzantine (St. Symeon the New Theologian, St. Gregory Palamas, the Mt. Athos Monks, the Philokalia etc.)
    Russian (The Way of a Pilgrim, St. Seraphim of Sarov, Sergius Bulgakov etc.)*

There are many, many more however that is a brief, sweeping outline.

 

[georget]

I would pray often, everyday, for others, especially those who are stuggling with faith issues.
I would also spend as much time alone in adoration as possible, and yes read good books.
God bless you on your journey

 

[wanabesaint]

the Cathechism are also a good read, for they sort out what the Church stands for.
The beatitudes are a forgotten direct message directly from Jesus that says how to live, but is not given its due to what it deeply and richly calls us to…

Thomas A Kempis, following of Christ in the form of an old book is an essential, to get to the heart of denial of ones self, putting God first.

 

[LisaA]

Mass! If you can attend more than once a week even better. There are many internet or booklet forms of the daily readings and I find this helps me focus. It’s amazing how often the Daily Readings are right on point with something I’m dealing with at home or work. Websites like Emmaus Journey and LectorPrep also give you additional insight to the readins.

Most Parishes have opportunities to share your journey with other fellow travellers. Right now there might be a Lenten Mission or Lenten study group. Our Parish is doing “Living the Eucharist” where we are in small groups discussing the upcoming readings and practicing Lectio Divina (a way of reading and meditating on Scripture). I have taken several prayer and Lectio Divina workshops but this and our Lenten Mission has been really effective for my spiritual journey than this series.

I have a Spiritual Director that I see monthly. You may find once you get started a guide on this journey will be a real blessing.

Welcome back Home!
Lisa

 

[JRKH]

Hi, I have attended Catholic school for close to 13 years. Never practice much out of school once off to College lost touch with the Catholic Faith. After involvement in the mental health field seeing and being part of the power prayer can have brought me back. I want to become more involved with the Church and curious on what the next steps are. Any advice is appreciated.

Well without knowing a lot about where you are at currently…it is kind of hard to give a great deal of advice. So please forgive us if we are a bit off the mark on some things.

If you have been away from the practice of the faith - you need so go to confession before receiving communion. If you are daunted by this prospect, don’t worry - many of us have been there (I returned after 35 years). Just go in and tell Father what you have told us. Confess any sins that you can think of and move forward from there. Your confessor will guide you.

Learn the mass. This might seem odd but many people simply do not know enough about the mass. It is why they get “bored”…or “don’t get anything out of it”.

As someone else mentioned, reading the Catechism is a great way to get a good grounding in the faith.

Given what has drawn you back to faith, prayer and healing and “mental health”, I second Vouthon’s suggestion that you look into the mystics of the Church. If his list is too daunting…I suggest that you take a look at the book in my signature (I make nothing off of it). When I started looking into the mystical tradition, I found myself quickly overwhelmed and found this book to be a tremendous help in “distilling” the matters in an easy to read way.

Developing a good prayer life is essential. There are many ways that this can be done and many good devotions available so take your time and see what works best for you.

Finally - Not sure how you are connected with mental health, but there are many in the Church who can benefit from mental health professionals who understand and can apply spiritual principles to the treatment of many disorders.
In addition there is a vocation called “spiritual direction” that might dovetail nicely with your mental health experience.

The Church is so rich and full…a Mansion of many rooms and each room containing a banquet table of nourishing foods. None of us can embrace it all, but each can be filled.

Hope this helps a little…and Welcome to CAF…A great place to interact and learn.

Peace
James

 

[kkollwitz]

Faith and Reason- let them both grow in step with each other.

 

[fred_conty]

The three things that are tradional with the church are prayer, alms giving, and fasting.
These are the things that saints are made of.

PRAYER
JRKH gave good advice on appreciating the Holy Mass. Jesus himself, who better to help you.
He is there. This is the most powerful prayer we know of. Jesus himself.

Read the four gospels leisurely and quietly. Underline what strikes you. Then stop and think. Then start a conversation with Jesus from your heart.

If you haven’t been saying the rosary, start with one decade (10 hail marys) a day.
Then increase this to 2 decades the next week. And so on until 5 decades a day are reached.

Each morning say the morning offering.

Finally, get a scapular or medal. I like the brown, green, and the miraculous medal because they were given as gifts by our blessed mother as a pledge of her help.

ALMS GIVING
This includes all forms of giving to others.
Just do something good for someone else to please Jesus.

FASTING
This would include derivetives such as mortification, like giving up your favorite drink on certain days, or half days. Or going against what you would like to do to do what God wants.

Best wishes.

 

[Lisa1967]

Hi, I have attended Catholic school for close to 13 years. Never practice much out of school once off to College lost touch with the Catholic Faith. After involvement in the mental health field seeing and being part of the power prayer can have brought me back. I want to become more involved with the Church and curious on what the next steps are. Any advice is appreciated.

Welcome! I came back after emailing a nearby parish and got a wonderful email from a deacon inviting me to meet with me and his wife. I did and made my confession to a priest, and I was back.

Call your local parish and I’m sure they will welcome you back with open arms.

Check out CatholicsComeHome.org

Read Scott Hahn and Jeff Cavins, and get into a good program of Bible study.

Try Eucharistic Adoration.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Do not leave out contemplative prayer – it seems to be the best kept secret the Church has, although the CCC in “Expressions of Prayer 2700-2724” has more to say about contemplative prayer than in vocal and meditative combined. Also in 2708 it says prayer “should” progress to that which can bring actual unity, and contemplative prayer can.

Others have mentioned mysticism and Lectio Divina, which is one format for contemplative prayer. Get into these riches and you will be in awe of what the Church has to offer spiritually that you’ve been missing.

Alan