Trouble on the Road to RCIA

[quiet52]

It’s nice to hear from you Peterson04. I’m glad you have begun to make prayer part of your routine. Any relationship worth maintaining requires some work and prioritizing and you’ve begun doing that with God!

And your wife is a blessing, to be supportive! And you are a blessing to her, no doubt in many ways, but don’t minimize the effect your spiritual journey will have on her! and the effect that you have or will have on the anonymous seekers who read this forum. You’re right, re: what you wrote about it not being easy to live a holy life. But the efforts are always worth it, especially knowing the ultimate benefit, and God helps us. Christ wants each of us to be new again, continually, and helps us through the Church’s sacraments and through His Word, and of course we need prayer, other people, and the free graces He gives us.

I have these images in my mind of what early Christianity was like. I can imagine these individuals so touched and moved by Jesus that they start new lives, and live in these communities dedicated to his teachings and Church, and I very much want that.** It’s just an ongoing effort to not slip back into my old way of life in which I am submerged in sin. I wish there was an easier way to transition as it were from the old life to the new, but perhaps that difficulty is necessary.** The majority of my friends are atheists, many of whom are alcoholics or habitual recreational drug users. My entire family is protestant with some rather ignorant and longstanding anti-Catholic bias. Yet here I am, waking up every day and praying and wanting to go to mass. I’m preparing for the bumpy road ahead, but I won’t lie, it is a bit intimidating. Still though, my heart tells me I’m doing the right thing, so I take comfort in that.

My parish offers five Sunday Masses – 5 p.m. Saturday, three Sunday morning Masses, and 5 p.m. Sunday. Most of the neighboring parishes offer similar schedules. For practicing Catholics, Sunday worship is an obligation, so the Church does what she can to make this obligation easier for us to uphold.

 

[yogosans14]

Do what I did, Call them up!they will help you out and even get you a sponsor

Im only 17 so if I can do it you can to

 

[CarolNoel]

Thank you for your update Peterson. I keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Winston_Smith]

Peterson, I’ve read this posts and all replies so far with great interest. For different reasons, I also experienced mixed feelings, fear and apprehension about talking to a priest and walking in to a church. (My reasons are, Jehovah’s Witness background, threat of shunning, hurting my loved ones, etc). I appear to be stuck on a very slow moving glacier but I think I will get there eventually. But to get the point I want to share: After much internal debate, I began by sending an email, using an alias, to a local priest, having found it on the church’s web site. I felt silly to be so indirect, and didn’t really expect a response (would he think I was a nut?). After a few weeks (understandably a very busy person), he responded with such kindness and understanding. We conversed a few times via short emails. I began to realize this helped me take myself through the process of working up courage. (Sending a “please help me” email to a priest was a HUGE step for me which required overcoming deeply held feelings.) Eventually we made an appointment for me to meet him at the church. I can’t explain the mixture of fear, dread, joy, hope, anxiety as I drove there… for a moment I worried I would faint while driving. But… once I walked in and had a conversation… again words fail me. It was one of the most important things I’ve ever done. Such a sense of reassurance, patience, strength. I wonder how many people are there like us… For many different reasons, finding ourselves in these similar circumstances. Good to know we are not really alone, although it feels that way. Praying for you (admitting it feels somewhat strange to say that, having so far to go on this journey myself).

 

[Peterson04]

Peterson, I’ve read this posts and all replies so far with great interest. For different reasons, I also experienced mixed feelings, fear and apprehension about talking to a priest and walking in to a church. (My reasons are, Jehovah’s Witness background, threat of shunning, hurting my loved ones, etc). I appear to be stuck on a very slow moving glacier but I think I will get there eventually. But to get the point I want to share: After much internal debate, I began by sending an email, using an alias, to a local priest, having found it on the church’s web site. I felt silly to be so indirect, and didn’t really expect a response (would he think I was a nut?). After a few weeks (understandably a very busy person), he responded with such kindness and understanding. We conversed a few times via short emails. I began to realize this helped me take myself through the process of working up courage. (Sending a “please help me” email to a priest was a HUGE step for me which required overcoming deeply held feelings.) Eventually we made an appointment for me to meet him at the church. I can’t explain the mixture of fear, dread, joy, hope, anxiety as I drove there… for a moment I worried I would faint while driving. But… once I walked in and had a conversation… again words fail me. It was one of the most important things I’ve ever done. Such a sense of reassurance, patience, strength. I wonder how many people are there like us… For many different reasons, finding ourselves in these similar circumstances. Good to know we are not really alone, although it feels that way. Praying for you (admitting it feels somewhat strange to say that, having so far to go on this journey myself).

Winston, thank you for your post. I can certainly relate to you on many of your points. I’ll see about finding a priest from one of the two local Catholic churches near me to engage via email. The first timeI had sent an email to their general inbox (I couldn’t find an address that would go directly to their priest) and it was given a very formal reply of “Come in whenever you like”. I’m fairly certain it was a staff person who answered it, but I wasn’t put off by it. Quite a few folks on these forums have reached out to me privately and have been immensely supportive and helpful. Coming here, even if only to seek advice, was most definitely not a waste of my time. I’ll pray for you as well, as I’m getting more used to it and I know we could all use it.

 

[pablope]

I’d like to thank all of you for not only providing good advice, but for your kindness as well. It wasn’t easy reaching out for help but the responses have been overwhelmingly positive and helpful. I’ve started praying in the mornings now, mostly asking for guidance. As some of you had suggested I start with the Lord’s Prayer, then say the Saint Michael Prayer, and then spend a moment reflecting before saying a more personal prayer asking for help essentially “coming home”. My days, I believe, are much brighter for beginning starting them in this way.

Here is a short prayer I would like to offer you, easy to memorize, to include in your prayer routine (so far)…

The Anima Christi:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ’s side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever
Amen

Read more: ewtn.com/devotionals/prayers/anima2.htm#ixzz2UndSB83A

My wife has been very supportive. She’s not as interested in it as I am, but she concedes that she does feel like I’m doing the hard work here and she will follow my lead and support me the whole way.

 

[YellowDaffodil]

I’m really shy on forums and don’t normally post, but I thought I’d share about my hesitation going to Mass the first time. It was last October. I was really nervous and almost didn’t go, but I pushed myself. A friend also pushed me, knowing I really wanted to go but struggled to have the courage. When I got there, I’m sure I was shaking horribly out of nervousness. I found someone who looked like a greeter and told him I had never been to a Catholic church before and was wondering if I could just sit in and watch and not participate. He was so nice and accepting and said I definitely could. He gave me all the materials I’d need to follow along. And all I did was sit and watch and follow along. It was more comfortable that way. And, no one seemed to mind that I was just sitting there. Before Mass started I thought, “What am I doing here? I don’t belong here!” But once it started and I heard the music, there was a peace that came over me. So much so that I came back, and not just on Sunday, but I made sure to go on all the special days, too, even when I was out of town. Over time I participated more. The hesitation did eventually creep back for me, and I took a break for a few months, until my son begged to go back. He won’t let me miss a Sunday now, and I’m glad because I’m always so glad I went.

It was very nice for me to just watch the first couple of times. If you aren’t comfortable jumping right it, it’s ok. I don’t know if that helps you at all with getting the courage to go.