Rosary Novena - Life Gets Worse

[Tis_Bearself]

Thank you Tis Bearself for your prayers. I am also sorry to hear about the troubles you went through when you first started praying. It does seem like the more you pray the more you receive troubles. When does Satan stop the attacks? Does he give up on you and soon the troubles disappear?

I would hope he goes away eventually. I’m still having minor annoyances like small illnesses - the latest is I got poison ivy while visiting an old family graveyard in connection with a relative’s funeral last weekend. All week I’ve been tired and itchy and not wanting to pray or do much of anything. I put some Lourdes water on it last night and prayed to Mary because I was just so tired of the itching and it seems to have helped.

St. Teresa of Avila said that throwing holy water at devils seemed to make them disappear the most permanently. I’m not trying to foster superstition or DIY exorcisms, and I’m not one to sit around thinking about “supernatural” things all the time, but I also have a great respect for St. Teresa so…maybe I need to throw a little of that around.

 

[anon90438963]

I don’t know your situation; perhaps you’ve stated it elsewhere. If I were you I would definitely combine praying with a concrete plan for action. Set a plan, pray about it, and then do it, unless you clearly have a sense you should NOT do it. Don’t expect a clear affirmation from heaven that your plan is the “correct” one; people rarely get this. Just step out in faith and God will lead you.
What is preventing you from looking for and securing a job? Or, going to school for an advanced degree to move toward a career? It seems to me that you need to get out of the house or have some other positive occupation. Prayer is good, but so is work. If for some reason you cannot move ahead in plans for your life, at least get a spiritual advisor or counselor who can start to work with you toward a goal.

 

[Nap66]

My family is also horrified by my rediscovery of my religious faith and my daily prayer life. My attempts to get some to come to mass with me or at least discuss matters of faith with me have been met with hostility and dismissal. I am on my own in this.

A lot of people do not like when a friend or family member becomes religious, because it can reflect badly on them, in their minds. Everyone knows they are sinners and do not like when someone rises above that or becomes “holier than thou”.

Sorry to hear about that Operations66. Seems people don’t like it when you “change.” I’m going to church this morning by myself. I look around and see couples in church who go together and wonder “gee, how did you find someone who wants to go to church with you?” Seems like an impossibility, at least it is in my life. But in the end we all face God alone.

Still it would be nice to talk to people in your life about your faith without being ridiculed. I keep to myself now and don’t talk to my family about anything other than pop culture. They are happier that way. I talk to people here on the forum about God and faith. People don’t think I’m nuts here (or maybe they do!).

 

[Nap66]

I don’t know your situation; perhaps you’ve stated it elsewhere. If I were you I would definitely combine praying with a concrete plan for action. Set a plan, pray about it, and then do it, unless you clearly have a sense you should NOT do it.

This.

In the last two years I did everything you recommended: new job, new life in a new state, trying to escape my past and BAM! God threw a curveball and everything came crashing down all at once. God told me he was going to do this and I dismissed it. I didn’t care, I was doing it all on my own, nobody can stop me! Then events happened that were totally out of my control and God told me to go home and WAIT. And that is what I am doing. I fought it at first (still am obviously), thinking I better do something or my life is over. But whatever I do now on my own will result in disaster, I am assured of that.

What is preventing you from looking for and securing a job? Or, going to school for an advanced degree to move toward a career? It seems to me that you need to get out of the house or have some other positive occupation. Prayer is good, but so is work. If for some reason you cannot move ahead in plans for your life, at least get a spiritual advisor or counselor who can start to work with you toward a goal.

I have more than enough advanced degrees - 3 of them. I am back home here for a reason and a career move is not it at the moment. It’s time to wait for me. I know it in my heart. I am finding things to occupy my time (reading this forum, praying, running) etc. I just joined a gym. The job thing will come in time, just not now, I know that with every fiber of my being.

That’s why I’m praying the Novena for purpose. What does God want me to do? Will he tell me? Who knows. Faith says yes he will, in his time. Or maybe my purpose is to wait.

 

[GLam8833]

When you are praying you are ministering to God!!
Do it out of Love for Mary, the perfect One, who
sacrificed her whole Life for the Gospel, even to
the point of having to face humiliation in the death
of her Son as a common criminal, you at her son/
daughter and she WILL honor you for your devotion,
and show you the fruit of her womb, Jesus, the
King of kings, the Head of all heaven and earth!!

 

[Nap66]

Day 15 of my 54 day Rosary Novena. Any changes? Well, I started my novena with three petitions, one being that I find someone to love, a Christian man. I’ve dropped that petition because I realized that I don’t need a person in my life, just God at this point. Have I gotten closer to God? Some days I feel it, some I don’t, probably like most people. I know Mary is acting on my final two petitions - peace and purpose, but it is going to take a long, long, time.

More than anything I wish I knew what God’s purpose was for my life. I know generally everyone’s purpose is to show glory to God in everything they do in their lives. But specifically, how does he want me to do that? I just can’t imagine staying in my house and praying everyday is it. But maybe it is.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

If you go out and walk around and pray, maybe walk to a church or something, you may see or be inspired by something God puts in your path on the way…

 

[Nap66]

Day 18 of the Rosary Novena. I’ve been praying for peace and purpose in my life and wondering whether the Novena actually works. Then I went to my mother’s house and was looking for the Bible that I know she had somewhere. I couldn’t find it but my eye was drawn to a book of hymns. I thought “I don’t want that book, I want the Bible.” After looking some more I was brought back to that book of hymns. For some reason I took down that book and opened it right to a page which had two pamphlets stuck in it:

1. A pamplet titled “I am the Lady of the Rosary” which outlined how to say the rosary and the promises of the rosary.
   2.A pamphlet about the Lady of Fatima.

Weird. Why were these stuffed in the hymns book and not the Bible I was looking for? I believe Mary sent this sign to me to continue praying the Rosary even if I do not see any physical manifestation of my petitions. Sometimes is hard to see the little things when you so desperately want the bigs things to be answered.

 

[Nap66]

Well, I am getting to the end of the petition phase of the 54-day Rosary Novena. I have not received answers to my two petitions as of yet. I feel that something is in the works, at least I hope. I do enjoy praying the Rosary and look forward to it every morning on my walk. It does give me some peace in my day.

Has my life gotten worse as I continue to pray? I think it has held steady in the last few weeks. I hope that is a sign that someday my life will turn around and Satan/demons can stop harassing me. I asked as one of my petitions that God show me my purpose here. What it is that he wants me to do to be a witness to him in my life. Right now the answer is still to wait on him. He told me that my character needs to change before I am ready for my purpose.

Through the Rosary, I am learning patience though, something I have never had in my life. Maybe that is one of the character changes I need.

 

[Nap66]

Well, I just reread my first post when I first started my 54-day Rosary Novena. A little more than a month ago and life is actually getting better. I never would have thought that.

During my time saying the Novena (I am not finished yet), I’ve actually gone through so many character changes for the better. I am more peaceful and patient and I rely on God to steer my life. Whatever will be, will be. As a result, small changes in my life situation are happening as well.

I have finally found a church (one of the things God told me to do specifically) and lo and behold it is the Church of the Immaculate Conception. I believe Mary steered me to that church as it is 30 minutes away from house but close to the gym that I joined a few weeks before. I basically stumbled across it. There is a beautiful outside chapel dedicated to Mary and I spend much time there. I feel so much better going back to church (though the mass words certainly have changed in 30 years!). I have also maybe, possibly found a parttime job, which is all I want at this moment. If it is God’s will it will happen.

As for my 54-day Rosary Novena, I asked Mary yesterday to show me that she is working on my intentions (peace and purpose). Well, when I returned from church, immediately a sign came to me and I knew that she was working on my purpose intention. First I had to fulfill God’s request to go back to Church, and this was the first time that I had taken communion in more than 30 years. I believe God and Mary were pleased and showed me so.

The Rosary Novena works, just not in the way we think it should.