Slowly losing my faith.. how can I strengthen my faith?

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idontknow322

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I feel so lost and I don’t know what to do. I haven’t been to mass for a long time and I don’t really pray anymore. I think I’ve been falling into the sin of “sloth”. Ive been angry and feeling down for a while. how should I start returning to Jesus ?
 
idontknow322 wonders : "I feel so lost, and I don’t know what to do.
I haven’t been to mass for a long time, and
I don’t really pray anymore.
I think I’ve been falling into the sin of “sloth”.
I’ve been angry and feeling down for a while.
How should I start returning to Jesus ?

First, how long ago did you feel Together, and NOT Lost?
If it was 5 Months ago, that is MUCH Better than if you’ve been feeling this way for 5 years.
Because (obviously) if something is pretty new, it does NOT have the Power of a long-established HABIT.

Second, the Best way to get over your anxiety about not going to Mass … is to go to Mass one day.
Your Question is** : "How should I start returning to Jesus?**
I have a Secret for you . . . Jesus is there, right there in the Church. So, it will give you guys a chance to start seeing each other again.
Because, as AWFUL as you think it will be for you to go back for a Mass . . . it is even WORSE to feel that way for 5 years, and STILL don’t get to a Mass.
Go to one Mass, as an Experiment.
You are sure that it won’t Help you, and to PROVE that Theory, you go to Church.

As far as Praying, if you get your body into a Church for an Experimental Mass, you will (during that Mass) also get to say several Prayers.
Kill 2 Birds with one Stone, so to speak.

Third, as to** : I think I’ve been falling into the sin of “sloth”** . . . on what do you base this theory?
What do YOU consider a person has to do to prove that he is Slothful?
But, Truly, you may be getting yourself Depressed . . . and one of the Problems with Depression is that some people STOP doing a lot of the things that they WERE doing. Then, they look at this as Sloth.
Well, I consider it a side-benefit of suffering from Depression.
 
For starts - simply here and now pray - Jesus Good Shepherd -help your sheep.

I love you and believe in you and need to return fully to you - increase my Faith -help me -send your Holy Spirit - take me upon your shoulders. You are the Lord - renew me. I trust you - for you are the Good Shepherd.

Then Go visit your Priest -make an appointment.
“Believers, so Saint Augustine tells us, “strengthen themselves by believing”.” ~ Pope Benedict XVI

“Only through believing, then, does faith grow and become stronger; there is no other possibility for possessing certitude with regard to one’s life apart from self-abandonment, in a continuous crescendo, into the hands of a love that seems to grow constantly because it has its origin in God.” ~ Pope Benedict XVI PORTA FIDEI
When you are able -return via repentance and confession. As Jesus said -repent and believe the Gospel (Mark 1:14-15). In him is true life!

Pope Francis:“Be courageous, go to confession”

catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-be-courageous-go-to-confession/
 
"The great danger in today’s world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience. Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades. This is a very real danger for believers too. Many fall prey to it, and end up resentful, angry and listless. That is no way to live a dignified and fulfilled life; it is not God’s will for us, nor is it the life in the Spirit which has its source in the heart of the risen Christ.

I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since “no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord”.[1] The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms. Now is the time to say to Jesus: “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace”. How good it feels to come back to him whenever we are lost! Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy. Christ, who told us to forgive one another “seventy times seven” (Mt 18:22) has given us his example: he has forgiven us seventy times seven. Time and time again he bears us on his shoulders. No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by this boundless and unfailing love. With a tenderness which never disappoints, but is always capable of restoring our joy, he makes it possible for us to lift up our heads and to start anew. Let us not flee from the resurrection of Jesus, let us never give up, come what will. May nothing inspire more than his life, which impels us onwards!"

~ Pope Francis EVANGELII GAUDIUM vatican.va/phome_en.htm
 
“As you do, so shall you believe.”

Start going to mass.
Start praying.
Start meeting other faithful and interacting with them.
Stay away from negative people.

I hope this helps.
 
idontknow322 said:
I feel so lost and I don’t know what to do. I haven’t been to mass for a long time and I don’t really pray anymore. I think I’ve been falling into the sin of “sloth”. Ive been angry and feeling down for a while. how should I start returning to Jesus ?
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Spend some time with Jesus in an Adoration chapel.

Pray the Rosary.

Go to confession.
 
idontknow322 said:
I feel so lost and I don’t know what to do. I haven’t been to mass for a long time and I don’t really pray anymore. I think I’ve been falling into the sin of “sloth”. Ive been angry and feeling down for a while. how should I start returning to Jesus ?
Click to expand...
Praying to the Holy Spirit to give you guidance, direction, strength & fortitude to come througth this crisis of faith.
 
Bookcat said:
"The great danger in today’s world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience. Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades. This is a very real danger for believers too. Many fall prey to it, and end up resentful, angry and listless. That is no way to live a dignified and fulfilled life; it is not God’s will for us, nor is it the life in the Spirit which has its source in the heart of the risen Christ.

I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since “no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord”.[1] The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms. Now is the time to say to Jesus: “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace”. How good it feels to come back to him whenever we are lost! Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy. Christ, who told us to forgive one another “seventy times seven” (Mt 18:22) has given us his example: he has forgiven us seventy times seven. Time and time again he bears us on his shoulders. No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by this boundless and unfailing love. With a tenderness which never disappoints, but is always capable of restoring our joy, he makes it possible for us to lift up our heads and to start anew. Let us not flee from the resurrection of Jesus, let us never give up, come what will. May nothing inspire more than his life, which impels us onwards!"

~ Pope Francis EVANGELII GAUDIUM vatican.va/phome_en.htm
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^^^^^ Yes!

And,

Our culture has lost its sense of God’s tangible presence and activity in our world. We think that God is to be found in the beyond, on another level of reality, far removed from our everyday relationships. But if this were the case, if God could not act in the world, his love would not be truly powerful, truly real, and thus not even true, a love capable of delivering the bliss that it promises. It would make no difference at all whether we believed in him or not. Christians, on the contrary, profess their faith in God’s tangible and powerful love which really does act in history and determines its final destiny: a love that can be encountered, a love fully revealed in Christ’s passion, death and resurrection.

*Pope Francis – LUMEN FIDEI at that same site.
 
idontknow322 said:
how should I start returning to Jesus ?
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You started by posting. All good advice has been given. My advice is to pray to St Mary. For starters just keep saying the Hail Mary when you have a chance to. She knows about faith. She is first in faith. She can help you return to her Son. I will pray for you.
 
Do you remember how Jesus responded when His disciples asked Him how to strengthen their faith? He told them that even with tiny faith they could do great works–the Will of God. I encourage you to volunteer with Church groups, and you will see the Power of God, working through you, and your faith will grow.
 
It’s easy to feel like God isn’t there for you, too many distractions in our world that keep us from listening. that’s when you need to really ask him for help. Lay all your concerns, weaknesses and fears at his feet. (You can’t have faith without his help). Secondly, you should surround yourself with people who are Christian (positive people) and start listening to Christian music. Go on a retreat. the ACTS community is awesome.God is everywhere, he ready to have that relationship with you. read scripture and ask him to reveal himself to you. and of course Pray:)
bp
 
idontknow322 said:
I feel so lost and I don’t know what to do. I haven’t been to mass for a long time and I don’t really pray anymore. I think I’ve been falling into the sin of “sloth”. Ive been angry and feeling down for a while. how should I start returning to Jesus ?
Click to expand...
I can only tell you what I would do if I were in your place.

I would go to your mother in heaven, Mary. Jesus gave us his life on the cross. But he gave us also something very precious to him, and that was his own mother to be our own mother as well. He knew first hand how well she cared for him and so one of his last thoughts in this life was to give us Mary’s care that he experienced. How marvelous and great he is.

A mother doesn’t care what kind of a mess we get ourselves into, she is always there to encourage us and to find a way. A mother’s love dosen’t stop it just shows itself all the more when her son/daughter is some sort of trouble. They believe in us, they love us, even if we break their heart. Jesus knew this and so he wanted us to have this kind of love to support us.

Your have that love available to you right now if you pour out your heart to her. Tell her what is going on and ask her to help you.

I believe my whole life has had a strong faith precisely because of Mary. Sometimes it has been a very strong devotion to her and at other times a very quiet one. But she is always there and I can say without a doubt she has always been there for me when I was in need.

Sometimes a person doesn’t really use Mary, they just assume she will be there for them. But I have found over the years that she comes running when I tell her what is wrong and keep in touch with her and explain things. She really is the Mother of mercy and the Mother of love and extremely understanding. I just have to keep talking to her.

The one devotion I really have in her is the miraculous medal. What she promised that she would do for those wearing her medal was to give them GREAT and ABUNDANT graces. And I invoke her using that medal for my needs. She told us thru St. Catherine of Laboure that we must ASK for graces. Because if we don’t ask for graces they are not given. And that we must have strong trust that she will give them to us when she is asked. Wear it, ask, and have trust, then you will get them. And she will bear you up.

“Mother dearest, Mother fairest, Help of all who call on thee.” Hymn

May Mary instill her love of Jesus in your heart.
 
My dear friend in Christ,
Remember that you are loved God. This weekend is a wonderful time to go back to mass. Listen to the passion and pray for the Lord to guide you.
I am praying for you my friend.
 
Recommend yourself to the Blessed Virgin Mary and pray your rosary faithfully every day to her. Pray to know the truth, for the grace of conversion and for the forgiveness of all your sins … along with your other intentions. Wear the Brown and Green Scapulars devoutly. Read a good book about devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus or about the Blessed Virgin Mary and have a strong devotion to them. God bless you.
 
Find an adoration chapel and start going there on a regular basis.
 
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