Struggling with my spiritual life

[TheLittleLady]

Realizing the Rosary is a private devotion and is not mandated/required is a very far cry from “aversion to the Ave Maria”.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

I quite love the Rosary. I once heard that an aversion to the Ave Maria was a sign of damnation but you know…

This is so funny I can’t stop laughing.

The rosary is NOT the Hail Mary. Not by a long shot. The Hail Mary can be prayed just as fervently outside as in–maybe more so when the focus is on the word and not repetition.

Even if I don’t get to the Chaplet–which by the way has the Hail Mary in it-- I pray 3 Hail Mary’s before bed for Faith, Hope and Charity…often reflecting on each of those virtues as I pray.

Whenever I pass the less-than-moral town porn shops I pray the Hail Mary. If I hear an ambulance, I pray the Hail Mary and Glory Be. When I’m buzzing around with the kids some days I probably pray more Hail Mary’s than in a Rosary.

I am not “adverse” to the Rosary. I am neutral to it because it does nothing for my spiritual life. What I am adverse to is people saying it is mandatory. When that was said to me, I believed it and even with some wonderful, amazing experiences–like that of Quiet Waters ministry–when I was helping out at a retreat near Steubenville–just didn’t make praying it healthy for my spiritual life.

I don’t want anyone else to go through that–to consider leaving the faith because you can’t measure up to “bare minimum” that doesn’t exist.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I really hate it when people automatically decide that a form of prayer that didn’t work for them “can wait” or post about it in a dismissive manner. The fact is, we don’t know for sure what will work for the OP. The Rosary is a fine option. If you prefer reading scripture or doing the Jesus prayer, fine, but some of the posts in this thread sound to me like rosary - bashing, which is not pleasant to read.

 

[Greenfields]

This happened to me recently. My priest told me a little prayer that helps when you’re feeling this way:
Jesus I love you
Jesus come to me
Jesus stay with me
Jesus I need you

He told me to repeat this through out the day as well as read a little bit of the Bible, even just a little part if you can on your lunch break, or if you’re waiting at an appt (download the Bible app), and make a place in your home/room where you meet and talk to God everyday.

This helped me a lot… hope this helps!

Along these lines…when I’m anxious and find it hard to pray,I fall back on saying short simple prayer through out the day.Often they are children’s prayers that come so naturally.Or just little exclamations of love to redirect my thoughts and keep me in touch with Jesus.
God bless.

 

[Limoncello4021]

You know, I never expect to get “enjoyment” out of prayer or spiritual practices. Many times I do; sometimes I don’t. Rather, I think of prayer as my daily work, opus dei–the work of God. It is not always easy, but something I have committed myself to do and I do it, no matter what feelings I get from it.

 

[oldgraymare2]

Well i recently moved to this province, I’m a student.
Its the closet church from where i live like 10mins max walking. I’ve attended the cathedral but somethings it difficult getting transportation.
Before i attended morning mass but then i found the evening masses were better for me.
Currently I’m not using any resources a few weeks o maybe months back i was reading from James, i was randomly reading scriptures which i felt i could relate to and before that i think i read from job o psalm.
What’s frustrating me, too many things for starters.
The two main things is my fear towards any and everything (literally) and my spiritual life.

Hi shondy,

What I do is simply just talk to God and tell Him about whatever is on my mind. He already knows us and knows about our concerns, but I still tell Him anyway.

I think that all that anyone of us can do, is just do our best and be the best that we can be.

I struggle with distractions. I always have. I can start one thing, and then I’ll start something else, and then I’ll be all over the place and have all of these different projects going, and it seems like I don’t get anything done. I do, eventually.

I get this way in my spiritual life, too. I get distracted.

So, it does get frustrating for me. I find it easier for me to pray from the heart most of the time, although I also pray from written prayers.

Do what works for you. We are to go to weekly Mass on Saturday for the Vigil, or on Sunday.

Once you are able to do that, see what else you can do.

Do you find that you like the silence of sitting in church quietly before the Lord in the Tabernacle before Mass starts, or spending time in Adoration in a church or chapel?

I also like to pray different types of Novenas and Chaplets, too, and I also like to read about the lives of the saints. I will also pray the Rosary, too.

These are some other things that Catholics also like to do.

 

[Eddie18]

Great point. Saying the Rosary requires some work - sometimes it’s incredibly difficult due to distractions, or if I’m tired, or not feeling well etc. But I have heard that it is those rosaries that we labor through are more beneficial. Heaven is not handed to us - we have to expect some work and difficulties to earn it.

 

[OsculeturMeOsculo]

I didn’t say that they there were guilty of it nor did I intend to.