What are the proper steps for those experiencing a lack of faith?

[moll221]

Hi,

I have been raised Catholic with wonderful Catholic parents
who have taught me a lot. I went through doubts as a teen
and I felt that I could never express them to my parents. When I would refuse to go to Mass on some Sundays, they told me they were worried for my soul and would wonder out loud what they did wrong. I found myself going to Mass only to make them happy.

In my late 20s I have had faith off and on. I would go to weekly Mass, get involved in service projects in the Church, try to live out my faith, but would expereince doubts and develop many questions. My faith is now all but completely gone. I went to confession before this happened but with a growing lack of faith in God, I felt that I was not being sincere asking for His forgiveness.

It isn’t that I don’t care deeply about this subject, I think about it everyday. I have been researching the question of God’s existence for some time, checking out and reading books at the library from Catholic apologists and others making the case for faith, listening to theism/atheism debates, and asking God (who I am not sure is there) to help me. Now, I attend Mass on Sundays and don’t receive Communion or participate (except for thinking/praying privately)… but leave sad and more confused…not sharing the faith of those around me or able to fully participate like I used to. I want to believe and I only seek out materials arguing in favor of God but just can’t and be sincere at this point. I would also like to hide these feelings from my family who I will be visiting for awhile. I feel telling them would only hurt them and they may blame themselves.

Should I continue going to Mass? What steps are good ones to take for Catholics who have the desire to believe but are really struggling with their faith? Also, I would greatly appreciate suggestions on good reading material related to this subject.

Thank-you.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

First of all, just because you have doubts does not mean that you don’t believe. Our Lord appeared to St. Catherine of Siena many times, yet there were other times when she was plagued with doubts and just held on to the faith with sheer will power. If one wills to believe, one believes. I expect that you do believe. Listening to or reading debates between atheists and believers isn’t going to do it for you. It’s not just a matter of finding the right argument. It’s a matter of meeting a Person.

As a favor to me and to yourself, spend a half hour before His presence in the tabernacle for a month. It’s ok if you miss a day or two. But try to make it every day. Tell the Lord that you want to believe in Him and all that the Church teaches about Him. And then just sit. Let Him do the work. I will send you some material to reflect on later. At the end of the month, let me know where you are regarding all this.

I would ask all those who read this to join me in praying for this brother of ours.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.