What is faith?

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lil_john

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I am asking this because I am going through a crisis of faith. I go to Holy Mass, I receive Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Eucharist. I try and live a life worthy to offer to God our Father, but why am I so empty? I believe with my mind, but am I being a hypocrite?😦

I am a happy, joyous person. Not matter what happens, I will be down for a few moments, but will feel joyful inside.😦
 
No you are not a hypocrite. God bless you brother. Catholicism is a life of struggle NOT about being the ‘infallible’ Catholic, or the Holy child of Israel as my confirmation teacher says. You are just struggling. We ALL are. Just reflect on the words of
Padre Pio when he said "“Pray, hope, and don’t worry! Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer. Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart. You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips but with your heart. In fact, on certain occasions, you should speak to Him only with your heart.”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jWduGxiECYU/SroTFewjefI/AAAAAAAAA-k/mVf3SgNOsYc/s400/padre_pio_b.jpg

And while your at it, throw in some scripture:bible1:

“Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you.” Matt 11:28

“I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you.” John 14:18

try not to post ALL of you problems on this forum. Leave everything to Jesus. I assure you as you already know he knows your burdens and your trials. But remember in the end you will join the feast of Heaven with you sitting close to Jesus.

I think this small video will help you out–>youtube.com/watch?v=9Q5T9RYLiG4&feature=related

Pray to Mary. Mary is ALWAYS the best medicine there is you are looking for grace. Hang in there 👍
 
Words from our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego

Hear me and understand well, my son the least, that nothing should frighten or grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything.
 
lil_john said:
I am asking this because I am going through a crisis of faith. I go to Holy Mass, I receive Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Eucharist. I try and live a life worthy to offer to God our Father, but why am I so empty? I believe with my mind, but am I being a hypocrite?😦

I am a happy, joyous person. Not matter what happens, I will be down for a few moments, but will feel joyful inside.😦
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Take comfort friend. Saints have experienced it.
How, although this night brings darkness to the spirit, it does so in order to illumine it and give it light.
St John of the Cross
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ccel.org/ccel/john_cross/dark_night.html
 
Mark 9:
21
Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood.
22
It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23
Jesus said to him, “** ‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.”
24
Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”**

**“I do believe, help my unbelief!” ** - a prayer I say frequently, especially in ‘down’ times.

And…“Jesus I trust in You”

God bless,
Linda
 
Check out books by Father Benedict Groeschel. He has addressed this and related issues.

Mother Theresa experienced this “dryness” or “aridity” her whole life.

Saint John of the Cross wrote about the “dark night of the soul”. [He wrote in Spanish and the translations are all over the place, so if you can read the original.]

Read what these people have written or what has been written about them based on conversations.

Spiritual advisors and confessors have heard me and could only say, “Keep coming to Mass”. They would simply advise me to stay the course. Even St. Paul, in his last letters before he was executed, was upset because everything he preached was taken backwards. In the end, he could only write that he had “fought the good fight of faith”.

Even if it feels empty, just stay with it.

Say the daily Rosary; get to Mass daily; do some spiritual reading. I happen to like things written about Father Solanus Casey. And also books by Father Thomas Green (When the Well Runs Dry and Weeds Among the Wheat). And Father Thomas Dubay (he wrote one about St. Therese and St. John of the Cross … "Fire … " can’t remember the name. I found it in the books left behind by a priest /confessor.]

Hang in there.

[Use a little bit of humor here and there. Supposedly it was St. Therese of Lisieux who prayed, “Lord, the way you treat your friends, it’s no wonder you have so few of them.”]
 
lil_john said:
I am a happy, joyous person. Not matter what happens, I will be down for a few moments, but will feel joyful inside.😦
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Do you think you shouldn’t be this way? Jesus said He came so that our joy would be complete, did he not? And St Paul told us to rejoice always, and even said that he rejoiced in his sufferings.
 
Because you ain’t done cookin’ yet. Seriously. The emptiness you feel is the longing for the state of perfection that is heaven. You’re not there yet.

The key thing to remember is that GRACE is primarily what will get you there. Yes, we have to say YES to that Grace hundreds of times a day for the rest of our lives. Yes, we need to be forgiven and healed of the times we screw up and say ‘no.’ But despair has no place because in the end, all that matters is that you ask God to get you back up again 1 more time than you fall down.

This doesn’t mean that life will be one big happy-skippy Barney episode, mind you…
 
lil_john said:
I am asking this because I am going through a crisis of faith. I go to Holy Mass, I receive Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Eucharist. I try and live a life worthy to offer to God our Father, but why am I so empty? I believe with my mind, but am I being a hypocrite?😦

I am a happy, joyous person. Not matter what happens, I will be down for a few moments, but will feel joyful inside.😦
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If faith were easy, it wouldn’t be a virtue. 😉

.
 
I would recommend you learning about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. And all of God’s teachings.
(I’m not sure how much you know already).

The Bible will show you the many wonderful things that God has done throughout the years. He will show you what is the meaning of life and the reason we are here on this earth today. His Love for His People. His Son. His Holy Spirit…

I personally did not just read the Bible…I went out and rented many movies which are related, read Catholic Books, learned more about my CC.

My life has changed so much. I feel so much at Peace inside. I now understand what all the Sacraments, Eucharist, and Liturgy are all about. I like going to Church, visiting “My Father’s House”. I walk With Him every day. I try my best to be an obedient son.

I really hope you turn to the Bible.
Things this wonderful may take time, be patient.
It’s been about 1.5 years since I have been on my personal journey.
Hopefully you can start yours as well and fulfill that emptiness in your heart by filling it with the Love of Jesus Christ and the Faith and Love from the One we call “Our Father”.

God Bless,
Marcus.

Faith is a gift from the Father to all His obedient sons.

“When you have come to the edge Of all light that you know And are about to drop off into the darkness Of the unknown, Faith is knowing One of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on or You will be taught to fly”
Patrick Overton
 
lil_john said:
I am asking this because I am going through a crisis of faith. I go to Holy Mass, I receive Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Eucharist. I try and live a life worthy to offer to God our Father, but why am I so empty? I believe with my mind, but am I being a hypocrite?😦
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If so, then it is probably better to be a hypocrite. 🙂

Faith isn’t about your feelings; it’s about doing for God what you know to be right. That isn’t “hypocrisy” - it’s “perseverance in faith.”
 
Monte_RCMS said:
Check out books by Father Benedict Groeschel. He has addressed this and related issues.

Mother Theresa experienced this “dryness” or “aridity” her whole life.

Saint John of the Cross wrote about the “dark night of the soul”. [He wrote in Spanish and the translations are all over the place, so if you can read the original.]

Read what these people have written or what has been written about them based on conversations.

Spiritual advisors and confessors have heard me and could only say, “Keep coming to Mass”. They would simply advise me to stay the course. Even St. Paul, in his last letters before he was executed, was upset because everything he preached was taken backwards. In the end, he could only write that he had “fought the good fight of faith”.

Even if it feels empty, just stay with it.

Say the daily Rosary; get to Mass daily; do some spiritual reading. I happen to like things written about Father Solanus Casey. And also books by Father Thomas Green (When the Well Runs Dry and Weeds Among the Wheat). And Father Thomas Dubay (he wrote one about St. Therese and St. John of the Cross … "Fire … " can’t remember the name. I found it in the books left behind by a priest /confessor.]

Hang in there.

[Use a little bit of humor here and there. Supposedly it was St. Therese of Lisieux who prayed, “Lord, the way you treat your friends, it’s no wonder you have so few of them.”]
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I would share these views posted by Monte RCMS, lil john . I have a copy of St. John of the Cross’ *Dark Night of the Soul *here. I found that this particular work wasn’t so easy to grasp/read (at least for me [see my username :)] ) . There’s a fair amount of mysticism in it.

In the final analysis, faith untested is no faith at all.

What I really find interesting about the OP’s comments is how they reflect St. Peter’s own words about faith being tested. Have a look at them side by side :
lil_john said:
I am asking this because I am going through a crisis of faith. I go to Holy Mass, I receive Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Eucharist. I try and live a life worthy to offer to God our Father, but why am I so empty? I believe with my mind, but am I being a hypocrite?😦

I am a happy, joyous person. Not matter what happens, I will be down for a few moments, but will feel joyful inside.😦
Click to expand...
1 Peter:6-8

In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials,

so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,

So if Blessed Mother Theresa and Saint Peter went through it, we could say that you’re in good company lil john .

One thing I would add – There is never any trial without consolation. Just as the angels came and ministered to Jesus after he had fasted and been tempted in the desert [Mt. 4: 11; Mk. 1: 13]., so also, after these periods of spiritual dryness, aridity or going through the “desert” , we too may hope to be consoled. But we need to trust that God knows the most opportune time to console us.

The rosary is something very solid in times of trial …as Monte RCMS says and please do: “Stay with it.” …👍
 
To all who replied to my thread, thank you all. You have given me new hope and renewed vigour to tackle my challenges.

God bless you all.

Lil John
 
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