Spiritual help

[Epistemes]

Does anyone know anything to make one’s spiritual life better?

I ran into a patch of dryness a month ago and I’m slowly losing my grip. I used to be very devout about praying the rosary daily, reading Scripture daily, and attending Mass regularly plus being involved very adamantly in my prayer life. All of that is gone. I don’t feel like doing any of it anymore. I no longer do these things out of love of doing them, at least, but out of habit and a sense of obligation.

Things got really bad this past weekend, when I was out of town in DC, when I sinned a lot in my heart, almost brining myself to commit old mortal sins I thought I was past, plus even considering not going to Sunday Mass.

I don’t know what’s happened to me. I used to be better than this and it’s so difficult for me to even care right now. Instead of worrying about my salvation, I sit around on the computer listening to blues music. I completed the consecration to Mary on May 13th, but I’ve lived far from the consecration since then.

 

[Ahimsa]

Does anyone know anything to make one’s spiritual life better?

I find that patience helps a whole lot. Also, not being so hard on yourself. Other people are going through what you’re going through, to one degree or another. You’ll soon come out on the other side.

 

[Michael_Howard]

Does anyone know anything to make one’s spiritual life better?

I ran into a patch of dryness a month ago and I’m slowly losing my grip. I used to be very devout about praying the rosary daily, reading Scripture daily, and attending Mass regularly plus being involved very adamantly in my prayer life. All of that is gone. I don’t feel like doing any of it anymore. I no longer do these things out of love of doing them, at least, but out of habit and a sense of obligation.

Things got really bad this past weekend, when I was out of town in DC, when I sinned a lot in my heart, almost brining myself to commit old mortal sins I thought I was past, plus even considering not going to Sunday Mass.

I don’t know what’s happened to me. I used to be better than this and it’s so difficult for me to even care right now. Instead of worrying about my salvation, I sit around on the computer listening to blues music. I completed the consecration to Mary on May 13th, but I’ve lived far from the consecration since then.

There’s no easy answer to this and no easy fix but…as one who felt like this for over a year I know it can be painful. I actually fell hard and became trapped in disgusting sins that almost destroyed me and my marriage, I made the wrong choice when I believe God was testing my fildelity to Him, I gave in.

Have you ever told God in the past you would do anything for Him, go anywhere for Him, have you asked Him to destroy self and ego, to help you become detached from the world? I think we often forget these committments we have made to God, but He does not, He remembers every single one and makes good on them when we least expect it.

Don’t give in whatever you do, know that God tests our love and fildelity to Him by these times of intense dryness, which is a type of mortification and suffering, do what you know is right anyway, no matter what you feel and please don’t give into sin, it seemed that I got a taste of hell by allowing mortal sin to ruin everything.

I know this sounds extreme, but it seems you are on the brink of making that choice, don’t go there. When God brings you out of this your joy will be unspeakable,* but only He knows the time.* Enter into the suffering and lonliness of Jesus in the garden, it’s where you are at.

Things had become so bad for me that I almost denied my God fully, and just when I was at the brink of ruin, he shined down on me unspeakable grace, if I had died I know I would be in hell forever right now, but God chose to pull me out of the slime and I hightailed it to confession. Please hear my words and consider them, I’m speaking from experience and not experience I’m proud of, it gives me shudders to think about.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

Does anyone know anything to make one’s spiritual life better?

I ran into a patch of dryness a month ago and I’m slowly losing my grip. I used to be very devout about praying the rosary daily, reading Scripture daily, and attending Mass regularly plus being involved very adamantly in my prayer life. All of that is gone. I don’t feel like doing any of it anymore. I no longer do these things out of love of doing them, at least, but out of habit and a sense of obligation.

Things got really bad this past weekend, when I was out of town in DC, when I sinned a lot in my heart, almost brining myself to commit old mortal sins I thought I was past, plus even considering not going to Sunday Mass.

I don’t know what’s happened to me. I used to be better than this and it’s so difficult for me to even care right now. Instead of worrying about my salvation, I sit around on the computer listening to blues music. I completed the consecration to Mary on May 13th, but I’ve lived far from the consecration since then.

Its just a dry patch mixed with some spiritual warfare. Happens to everyone. You just have to ride out the storm.

 

[baltobetsy]

I no longer do these things out of love of doing them, at least, but out of habit and a sense of obligation.

Well, there’s one definition of maturity. Keep it up. The feelings may or may not ever return, but your obligation remains. And you’re doing just fine. Just get to confession and move on.

And the next time you’re in DC, visit the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception!

Betsy

 

[DVina]

I higly recommend the book The Fulfillment of All Desire by Ralph Martin. It is a guide to the spiritual life based on the wisdom of our great spiritual doctors- Therese, Francis de Sales, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Catherine of Siena and Bernard of Clairvaux.

I just began reading the part about spiritual dryness, and he goes over what the causes may be- sometime it is caused by our lukewarmness, sometimes God withdraws those comforting feelings.

Anyway, you are in great company, it has been told that Blessed Mother Teresa suffered a great dryness for many years before her death. i don’t think ANYONE would challenge her sanctity.

Keep up your practices even if you receive no consolation. St. Therese mentioned that at these times she would just recite the Our Father very slowly and it was of some value to her.

Blessings to you!