Sustaining faith in transition

[faithtrekker]

Hi there. I’m not sure if this is where my post belongs, but I’m looking for ideas to help me sustain my faith. The last 8 years (of my 30 as an Evangelical) were spent weighing the pros & cons of becoming a Catholic. I finally came into the Church this past Easter. I didn’t make my decision lightly. Because of my work schedule however, I’ve not had any contact with anyone from the parish I was confirmed at (except my sponsor) since this summer. I’ve gone to Mass & confession at random Churches in the meantime, but even that has become sporadic the last couple months. I love my Catholic faith, but I’m just not sure how to maintain it! I feel like I’m slipping back into my old (Protestant) ways…

I read the Bible, subscribe to Magnificat & occasionally pray the Rosary & the Divine Mercy. I’ve read the Catechism, perused the lives of the saints as well as some of the Church Fathers & Papal writings. This Advent, I’m attempting to teach myself the Divine Office. I also listen to Catholic Answers & Mass everyday during my 2 hour commute, but I know its not enough. I’ve not actually attended Mass for some time because I’m so busy/ tired from my recent transitions. You see, I’ve relocated to a new city, which means I’m on the hunt for an entirely new place to call home.

I don’t know any Catholics in my everyday life & when I do come across them, I can’t seem to find many who believe what the Church actually teaches. I’m personally drawn to the more ancient rhythms of the Church (not the scary “holier than the Pope” kind, but something in the middle)… Contemplative/monastic expressions are of particular interest. I know my first order of business is reconciliation, but beyond that… Maybe the answers are obvious & I can’t see them. I’m just afraid of ending up being another “Protestant in Catholic clothing”. Any thoughts?

 

[SeekingHisMercy]

Hey Faithtrekker,

Thanks for sharing your conversion. I, like you, am a convert and know what you’re going through to some extent. One of the key things for me was to find community with other Catholics who were serious about their faith and to get involved in my local parish. Be patient with yourself–moving to a new place is a big transition in and of itself. If you can find a priest that you find helpful in confession, you might want to mention that you’re trying to grow in your faith and looking for community & growth. The priest might be able to guide you toward others with similar interests. You might also mention that you’re trying to learn to pray the Office (which is a great source of growth!) and ask for help/guidance.

I’ve found that confession to a priest on a regular basis has served as a great foundation for getting into spiritual direction because the priest was able to get to know my particular areas of struggle and I was able to see the fruit of putting his advice into action. A good relationship developed and he guided me toward reading/devotions that were appropriate for me and eventually helped me in discerning where God was leading me. Hoping this helps. Hang in there and have a blessed Advent and Christmas!

SHM

 

[JRKH]

This is when the “disciplines” of the Church really help. Commit to attending mass on Sunday. Also - depending on your work Schedule try to pick up a mass during the week if you can.
If you are drawn toward the more contemplative…Have you considered the EF? Is there an EF mass in your area? How about a retreat? Are there any religious houses in your area that offer retreats? The book in my signature is a great book for anyone drawn to the contemplative, mystical traditions of the Church.

What about volunteer work either with a local parish or Catholic charity?

Just some thoughts…

Peace
James

 

[ilySHJ]

They say moving takes two years.
…Two years for your brain to map your new hometown.
… two years to be allergy-free. (guess a new town would have new allergens)

I’ve moved often, and have had the best luck with churches that offered an early morning – working man’s – Mass on weekdays. Establishing a routine can be quite difficult. It sounds as though you’re clinging to the Faith. God won’t let go of you. Persevere, and it will all fall in place.

Hope you enjoy LotH!

 

[Julia_Mae]

… Maybe the answers are obvious & I can’t see them. I’m just afraid of ending up being another “Protestant in Catholic clothing”. Any thoughts?

So, are you not living in a relatively permanent situation so you don’t belong to a Parish? Go to masstimes.org and search in whatever zip code you are in. Find Masses and 24 hour adoration chapels. Go to whatever Mass you find: daily Masses often happen at a variety of hours. They are usually about a half hour and you can fit them into crazy schedules. If you feel the need of reconciliation and it’s not the scheduled time, call the parish office and ask if the priest can spare 5 minutes for you before Mass because it’s been a while as you have been travelling or whatever.

When you get settled, don’t just go to Mass. Join something. The choir, a Scripture study, a prayer group, something that will start introducing you to people in your new Parish.

BTW, make sure you check out the websites of the parishes you find on Masstimes. Many will have regularly scheduled Rosaries or Divine Mercy or other devotions. You just have to get organized, find opportunities and get into a church as often as possible.

Many Catholic churches are open during the day. If you drive by one, you can always go in for a few minutes with the Lord.

If

 

[faithtrekker]

Hi all, thanks for your thoughts so far.

I actually used to attend daily Mass at noon (on my way to work) & it was definitely the highlight of my day. I also got to spend 30 minutes in adoration afterwards. But now I have to leave for work at noon & I usually don’t get home til after 2am, which makes getting up before 9am quite the feat! I also went from a metro area with countless parishes to a more rural environment with just 3.

One of the churches in my new area is 10 minutes down the road (but offers only a communion service during the week) & the others are 30 minutes away in either direction. Both of these offer Mass in the early a.m., but are completely out of my way. Only one of those offers perpetual adoration & the other offers the Rosary after Mass. There is also no EF Mass in the area. The closest I got was a Novus Ordo in Latin on Saturday nights where I used to live (which was wonderful).

Anyway. I understand community is key… I made contact with someone to inquire about ministry opportunities at the closest parish before I even moved, but I never heard back beyond their initial greeting. This kind of put me off, honestly, but I know they’re human… I’ve attended 2 of the 3 churches here at various times in the past & truth be told, I actually prefer one of the ones 30 minutes away because they seem to take things a little more seriously (they’re the one with perpetual adoration). Its just a bit of a haul & gas if I want to be involved there on a regular basis, not to mention its in the next town over.

As for looking into retreats & religious houses, I would love to (because I actually know of some around here), but I wouldn’t know where to begin. I would be too nervous (anxiety) to know what to say & funds aren’t so disposable this time of year… maybe I’m just making excuses. I wish I could just walk in somewhere & say “I need a mentor!” because I think that’s essentially what I’m looking for.

Maybe I do just need to be patient & make the effort to see what works- but I’m admittedly not a very patient person… And maybe a priest can help me work through things, or maybe he’ll just tell me what the priest who confirmed me did- that the Catechism is too difficult for the average joe to comprehend & that everyone will end up in heaven anyway… That purgatory & indulgences were old ideas that are passing away & all I have to do is go to Mass (at some point during the week, not necessarily even Sunday), go to confession at least once a year & maybe volunteer here & there in order to be a good Catholic. I know that’s not what the Church teaches & I’m not interested in doing the bare minimum just to fulfill obligations. I am a Christian- a Catholic Christian at that & that happens to mean something to me. I have not met many who share my sentiments beyond the warm fuzzies & its kind of unnerving.

JRKH, I will look into the book listed in your signature.
Thank you & thanks all for reading.

 

[JRKH]

Wow - It does sound like you are in a tricky spot right now…But hopefully things will work out before too long.

Two small bits to offer here…One is - try talking to another priest. The one you mention above is obviously heterodox in his views and hopefully the priest at your nearest parish is more orthodox. Anyway - given your difficult work schedule and such even an orthodox priest might give you a dispensation on the Sunday obligation. As Jesus said, " The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

That said, a line in your post struck me a bit troubling. You said, “Both of these offer Mass in the early a.m., but are completely out of my way.”
I ask you to consider this carefully in the light of Love. Do you Love Jesus and the Father above all else? Is that Love you feel worth the extra time in order to get to mass?
Of course Jesus Loves you too and would not want you to risk your life and the lives of others by driving too tired - not getting enough rest - risking your health etc…So please don’t think I’m being judgmental. I am simply offering an observation for your consideration.

The second point I wanted to make was about just walking up and asking for a mentor…You know it may be just that easy at one of the religious houses. Perhaps easier there than with a parish priest. I don’t know how it is in your neck of the woods, but around here we have priests covering multiple rural parishes…These poor fellows are tremendously busy. But if you were to contact a religious house, I bet they could direct you.

And I fully understand the nervousness that you speak of. I have the same troubles…though I am slowly overcoming it (very slowly)… But honestly the anxiety is 10 times worse than the actual doing…

Lastly - I’m glad you will look into the book. Let me know what you think of it.

Peace
James

 

[Julia_Mae]

Hi all, thanks for your thoughts so far.

I actually used to attend daily Mass at noon (on my way to work) & it was definitely the highlight of my day. I also got to spend 30 minutes in adoration afterwards. But now I have to leave for work at noon & I usually don’t get home til after 2am, which makes getting up before 9am quite the feat! I also went from a metro area with countless parishes to a more rural environment with just 3.

One of the churches in my new area is 10 minutes down the road (but offers only a communion service during the week).

That’s great, you can receive the Body and Blood of Christ!

 

[Julia_Mae]

… That purgatory & indulgences were old ideas that are passing away …

I wanted to take this separately. They are NOT “old ideas that are passing away.” Sounds like he comes from that generation of priests and religious who came out in the 60s who think Jesus didn’t multiply the loaves and fishes and that “God doesn’t reach into reality and change natural law.” (No miracles for youse!)

I want you, and everyone, to read this: vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-vi_apc_19670101_indulgentiarum-doctrina_en.html

Indulgences are a practice of profound theological truth, of the deepest kind of spirituality. Not everyone has to understand how profound it is to simply have faith and do them, but this is how the universe works: the Church Triumphant and the Church Militant in partnership exchanging spiritual goods.

Prayer is a real thing - not just some random thoughts, and you create something in prayer, a kind of Divine energy maybe we can call it, that God uses and transforms into the miracles of our and other’s lives. It’s like when you pray or sacrifice with spiritual intent, you make a sort of spiritual money that can be spent in Heaven to heal the sick, feed the hungry and clothe the naked and most of all, convert sinners.

You were called to the Church, as I was, because someone prayed for us. And they didn’t even know us. But that’s how money works, isn’t it? We donate some to a charity and someone we don’t know gets food or shelter or medicine. It’s a reflection of the way things work between us and God.

Purgatory is not an idea passing away but it is an idea that is being more fully understood. Rather than thinking of Purgatory/Heaven as two discrete “places,” we are coming to understand from our mystics that there are “levels,” or that the afterlife is a progression of the soul toward God. The more we are separated form Him, the more painful it is for us. These states of being in separation are just as real as our present state of being in separation and our souls’ here are also in a state of progressing toward God (or, not, unfortunately).

Keep progressing.

 

[faithtrekker]

JKRH, Yeah, after I heard my former priest say those things (while I was in RCIA no less), I kind of just put my head down & waited for Easter Vigil to arrive. The priests in this area do seem more orthodox… the parishioners are a little older as well, which might have something to do with it.

As for daily Mass, attempting to attend either that are “out of my way” would mean losing 3 hours of sleep each morning. Since I currently still work in the area from which I came, I’ve been toying with the option of just leaving earlier to catch the noon Mass I had been attending previously. It’d still be a sacrifice of time, but at least I would get close to a full night’s sleep. While I really feel like I need to get to know people in this area, maybe this would be a good alternative till I’m able to find work closer to home.

As for contacting someone at a religious house and asking for a mentor, I have looked into some places & many have (what I consider ) questionable practices that seem to espouse a more “universal” spirituality, if you know what I mean. There are still a few more places I can try, but it doesn’t exactly look promising.

Regarding the book, I was excited to have actually found it at my local library! I get it next weekend. I’m open to any other reading suggestions as well…

Julia Mae, thanks for the link. I will read it soon. In RCIA, we had little teaching on purgatory & none whatsoever on indulgences… Sometimes I wonder what else I wasn’t taught! I’m so thankful the Church puts Her teachings out there so anyone can have access to them…

I like the way you described prayer- I’ve never heard it put that way before.

As for purgatory, I’ve also come to understand it as more of a level set up (based primarily on Jesus’ promise to the good thief & how He told Mary upon His resurrection that He hadn’t actually been to heaven yet)… That makes sense to me. Anyway, I will indeed keep progressing. Thanks for the encouragement.