Want to go all in my faith

[dfwcath]

A couple of items I would like some advice on. I would like to go “All in” on my faith so to speak, and by that I mean give my life over 100% to Christ. I would say I am more like 50/50 – in the back of my mind thinking there’s always a little later to get really serious.
I grew up (Roman) Catholic in the sense that we went to mass every Sunday but my parents taught the birth control and the “m” word were ok and normal. Now they were against abortion though. Wasn’t really taught much in the prayer life or anything outside of the church.
I fell out of the church for 10 years and went to protestant churches – but wasn’t happy there either. I am in mid-40’s, married, etc
Now that I am back I for past year I am having these issues:

1. Re-occurring (sexual) sin & temptation – started saying the rosary everyday during this Lent which has helped – but I need help getting to the next step – I have to go to confession every week for mortal/grave sins.
2. Wife is protestant who went thru RCIA and is “nominally” catholic. She goes with me and participates at our local parish, but she shares communion occassionall at her parent’s protestant church. How do I approach that with her? She’s very skepticalof the RC church as it is – I have preferred to just say nothing (unless I was asked) and try to show thru my deeds how coming back to RC church has changed me… and it has for the better.
3. I love Eastern Catholic spirituality and much of RC as well (or at least what I hear of) but I see very little of it up here in the north part of Dallas. Any way to combine the Eastern and western devotions?

 

[thirddec]

And he that received the seed upon stony ground, is he that heareth the word, and immediately receiveth it with joy.
Yet hath he not root in himself, but is only for a time: and when there ariseth tribulation and persecution because of the word, he is presently scandalized

I will not say this is the case but you need to be carefull that your faith in Christ is not just rooted in your devotions but also in your life. You seem very like myself and I feel it is important at this time to keep your feet very firmly rooted in the day to day activities ; in your day to day meetings and dealings with people. So when you talk about 50:50 do not under estimate the value of being a good christian witness in your life and work. Remember the deeper you begin to develope your life with Christ the more satan will tempt you so pray always for Humility and Wisdom in all things.

 

[JRKH]

A couple of items I would like some advice on. I would like to go “All in” on my faith so to speak, and by that I mean give my life over 100% to Christ. I would say I am more like 50/50 – in the back of my mind thinking there’s always a little later to get really serious.
I grew up (Roman) Catholic in the sense that we went to mass every Sunday but my parents taught the birth control and the “m” word were ok and normal. Now they were against abortion though. Wasn’t really taught much in the prayer life or anything outside of the church.
I fell out of the church for 10 years and went to protestant churches – but wasn’t happy there either. I am in mid-40’s, married, etc
Now that I am back I for past year I am having these issues:

Welcome Home. I too am a “revert” after being away for about35 years.
I applaud your desire to go “all in” as you say. There is so much richness and depth to our faith that one can never absorb it all.
For this reason, I have chosen the path of “KIS” (Keep it simple) and go from there. I build my faith on the two great commandments of Love (Mt 22:36-40) and seek to understand the teachings of the faith in the light of these.
Now - to your questinos…

1. Re-occurring (sexual) sin & temptation – started saying the rosary everyday during this Lent which has helped – but I need help getting to the next step – I have to go to confession every week for mortal/grave sins.

Confession is a great tool. Do continue to use it.
It sounds as though you are already making progress and this is good. Rarely do we overcome engrained, habitual, sin all at once. So don’t get too down on yourself for slipping up.
One thing that helped me to overcome personal, sexual in, was a mental image. When I was tempted, especially at night, I prayed, “Father, take me to the foot of the cross”. I then saw in my minds eye the foot of the cross, hard, black, driven into the ground, with blood and sweat running down and dripping from the nailed feet that I could see and muddying the ground around the foot of that cross. It became so real to me that sometimes I could even discern the smells and the heat of that day.
This very powerful image of what Christ suffered for me gave me great courage to resist falling into sin.

1. Wife is protestant who went thru RCIA and is “nominally” catholic. She goes with me and participates at our local parish, but she shares communion occassionall at her parent’s protestant church. How do I approach that with her? She’s very skepticalof the RC church as it is – I have preferred to just say nothing (unless I was asked) and try to show thru my deeds how coming back to RC church has changed me… and it has for the better.

I think you are wise to preach by action rather than apologetics. Intellectual discussion can come later. Make your faith very real and simple and joyful in your life.
As for her recieving communion at the Protestant Church, you can let her know that this is not a good idea, but since she is, at present, only “nominally Catholic” I would not press the matter. Continue to live and learn your faith. (This is a great place for learning) and share what you learn with your dear wife. If she raises questions and concerns, bring them here too for good sound Catholic answers. I’m sure that she will be drawn more toward the faith over time.

1. I love Eastern Catholic spirituality and much of RC as well (or at least what I hear of) but I see very little of it up here in the north part of Dallas. Any way to combine the Eastern and western devotions?

I’m not so good on this. Though I must say that I am drawn toward the more mystical aspects of faith and found a great resource in the book that I recommend below in my signature.
As far as combining “devotions”, My take is that devotions are a matter of personal preference, so there should be no problem.

Do you have any particular ones in mind?

Peace
James

 

[dfwcath]

And he that received the seed upon stony ground, is he that heareth the word, and immediately receiveth it with joy.
Yet hath he not root in himself, but is only for a time: and when there ariseth tribulation and persecution because of the word, he is presently scandalized

I will not say this is the case but you need to be carefull that your faith in Christ is not just rooted in your devotions but also in your life. You seem very like myself and I feel it is important at this time to keep your feet very firmly rooted in the day to day activities ; in your day to day meetings and dealings with people. So when you talk about 50:50 do not under estimate the value of being a good christian witness in your life and work. Remember the deeper you begin to develope your life with Christ the more satan will tempt you so pray always for Humility and Wisdom in all things.

Thank you for the reminder. I do need to be more Christ-like in day to day activities especially at work.

 

[dfwcath]

Welcome Home. I too am a “revert” after being away for about35 years.
I applaud your desire to go “all in” as you say. There is so much richness and depth to our faith that one can never absorb it all.
For this reason, I have chosen the path of “KIS” (Keep it simple) and go from there. I build my faith on the two great commandments of Love (Mt 22:36-40) and seek to understand the teachings of the faith in the light of these.
Now - to your questinos…

Confession is a great tool. Do continue to use it.
It sounds as though you are already making progress and this is good. Rarely do we overcome engrained, habitual, sin all at once. So don’t get too down on yourself for slipping up.
One thing that helped me to overcome personal, sexual in, was a mental image. When I was tempted, especially at night, I prayed, “Father, take me to the foot of the cross”. I then saw in my minds eye the foot of the cross, hard, black, driven into the ground, with blood and sweat running down and dripping from the nailed feet that I could see and muddying the ground around the foot of that cross. It became so real to me that sometimes I could even discern the smells and the heat of that day.
This very powerful image of what Christ suffered for me gave me great courage to resist falling into sin.

I think you are wise to preach by action rather than apologetics. Intellectual discussion can come later. Make your faith very real and simple and joyful in your life.
As for her recieving communion at the Protestant Church, you can let her know that this is not a good idea, but since she is, at present, only “nominally Catholic” I would not press the matter. Continue to live and learn your faith. (This is a great place for learning) and share what you learn with your dear wife. If she raises questions and concerns, bring them here too for good sound Catholic answers. I’m sure that she will be drawn more toward the faith over time.

I’m not so good on this. Though I must say that I am drawn toward the more mystical aspects of faith and found a great resource in the book that I recommend below in my signature.
As far as combining “devotions”, My take is that devotions are a matter of personal preference, so there should be no problem.

Do you have any particular ones in mind?

Peace
James

James,
Thank you. This was a big encouragement. My favorite books to read are mainly early church fathers and apologetics with regards to the early church. I am interested in some good spirituality books and will get the “Fulfillment of all Desires” for my next book. Thanks for the recommendation.