What more can I/should I do?

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valxtrarie

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I’ve been a Catholic for over a year now and in that 1 year I’ve received many different teachings/opinions/etc from different Catholics - from the traditionalists to the modernists to the “it’s between you and God” mindset that I am a rather confused.

In the last couple of months (since Christmas), a good friend has been guiding me in my faith formation; always leading me back to the church that I feel that I have grown in leaps and bounds.

I pray the rosary (in Latin too), try to attend as many daily Mass as my schedule permits, develop a personal relationship with Jesus, go for frequent confessions, sponsoring a friend into RCIA, read books and research online, reflections & prayers etc…

Yet, I feel that I have not done enough. What more can I do? Any suggestions?

Thanks!
 
You seem to be doing very well so far. Try spending some quiet time with God, preferably in front of the tabernacle, ask what He wants for you, and then listen carefully for the answer. It may come while you are listening, or later in a certain opportunity, or the suggestion of a friend… you’ll know.

Betsy
 
multiplying prayers and devotions does not necessarily mean spiritual growth. nor is there such a thing as “doing enough”. Jesus did it all, our task is to cooperate with His grace. If you have a drive to do more, then service is the answer. Find somebody who needs help and go to it. discern your vocation, that is the manner in which Christ wants you to live out your commitment to him, and do it. take up your cross, the duties of each day, and follow him.
 
baltobetsy said:
You seem to be doing very well so far. Try spending some quiet time with God, preferably in front of the tabernacle, ask what He wants for you, and then listen carefully for the answer. It may come while you are listening, or later in a certain opportunity, or the suggestion of a friend… you’ll know.

Betsy
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puzzleannie said:
multiplying prayers and devotions does not necessarily mean spiritual growth. nor is there such a thing as “doing enough”. Jesus did it all, our task is to cooperate with His grace. If you have a drive to do more, then service is the answer. Find somebody who needs help and go to it. discern your vocation, that is the manner in which Christ wants you to live out your commitment to him, and do it. take up your cross, the duties of each day, and follow him.
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Thanks for your suggestions. I have spent some quiet time with God, (in front of the tabernacle as suggested) and prayed for a direction. While I don’t seem to be seeing where I should go (in terms of service and vocation), I’m getting a great feeling of peace.

Puzzleannie, you’re right in saying that multiple prayers and devotions does not necessarily mean spiritual growth. I just didn’t know what else I can do…

Thanks for the suggestions!
 
I have some suggestions that might help, but before I get to them I want to say that faith is a journey, and it lasts your entire life. You will still be learning about God on the day you die; there is so much to know that no one person can learn it all. So there isn’t a need to hurry up and get it done. Choose something and work on it. Let time pass. Then choose something else and work on that. Again, let time pass.

If you try to do it all, you’ll set yourself up for failure and despair. Although I’m among the first to encourage converts to get to know their faith, I also encourage taking the long view.

That being said, here are some suggestions that might help. Most of them are things I did at various times in my life to help my faith journey, but there’s no particular order to the list, and reasonable people might well disagree with me about some or all of them.
  • Go on a retreat (talk to a priest, some friends, people in Church, etc. to choose a good one).
  • Read the Bible, one chapter a day (start with the Gospels, then the rest of the New Testament, then the Old Testament).
  • Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Then go back and study it, paragraph by paragraph, to see why the Church teaches what it teaches.
  • Read some of the works of the Early Chuch Fathers – the Didache, Justin Martyr’s writings, Clement’s writings (both Clements), etc.
  • Join your local parish’s service organizations: every Catholic parish has contacts (usually parish members, but not always) who can help you with serving others – serving food at a soup kitchen or food pantry, bringing clothes to the homeless, helping with language courses for new immigrants, visiting the sick and homebound (even if you don’t bring them Communion, they still appreciate a visit), visiting prisoners, helping out at a nursing home, etc. The list of possibilities is practically endless. Find a cause that calls to you, help out on a few service projects, and join if the fit is right for you.
  • Take some Bible study courses, or pick up some Bible study books. There are plenty out there. Just be sure to get some Catholic ones, or you might be led astray.
  • Establish a prayer habit – perhaps the Lord’s Prayer every morning, or the rosary every night, or what have you. Don’t forget the listening part of prayer; spend some time in silent communion with God.
  • Read an apologetics book (e.g., Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack on “Romanism” by “Bible Christians” by Karl Keating). In my experience, a lot of doctrines are more easily understood when viewed in light of the attacks that are made on them by non-Catholics. Seeing what something is not can help you better understand what it is.
  • Sponsor someone in RCIA (I recommend waiting a few years for this one, until you’re more firmly established in the Faith – no offense, but there’s a LOT to learn – but that’s largely a question of taste. And how willing you are to say “I don’t know; let’s go find out”).
  • Take theology classes from a local Catholic college; perhaps even work on a master’s degree in theology. Or work on getting a certificate in catechesis from your diocese.
  • Practice what you learn in Church. Make peace with an estranged relative or friend. Forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it. Reform your driving habits and let others cut in front of you. Recognize the good in your enemies. Be Jesus to someone who needs Him.
  • And, of course, don’t forget going to Mass. Bounce around for a while, between parishes and among the various Masses offered even at one parish. Try the Ordinary Form and the Extraordinary Form. Try Masses with formal, somber music; try Masses with informal, “folk” music; try Masses that have no music at all. Get a feel for what Masses are offered in your area, and find what feels comfortable for you. Then, every now and then, step outside that comfort zone and attend a different kind of Mass.
  • Above all, explore what God wants from you. Are there talents you’re letting go to waste? Are there ministries in the Church that call to you? Are there people who need you in particular, as opposed to just anyone? Are there needs in your parish that can be served by you? Watch for what signs God might be sending you, and see whether you can follow them.
That’s all for now. I’m sure others here will have additional suggestions. Again, the point isn’t to do everything; it’s to do some of it well. If all you ever do is a tenth of the suggestions you get, either here at CAF or out ITRW, that may well be a fantastic accomplishment; but if you somehow manage to do everything, that probably won’t be enough. God is infinite; getting to know Him is wonderful indeed, but it’s never finished.
 
valxtrarie said:
I’ve been a Catholic for over a year now and in that 1 year I’ve received many different teachings/opinions/etc from different Catholics - from the traditionalists to the modernists to the “it’s between you and God” mindset that I am a rather confused.

In the last couple of months (since Christmas), a good friend has been guiding me in my faith formation; always leading me back to the church that I feel that I have grown in leaps and bounds.

I pray the rosary (in Latin too), try to attend as many daily Mass as my schedule permits, develop a personal relationship with Jesus, go for frequent confessions, sponsoring a friend into RCIA, read books and research online, reflections & prayers etc…

Yet, I feel that I have not done enough. What more can I do? Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Maybe it’s time to become involved in one of your parish’s ministeries?
 
There is a place in Missouri where I went on retreat a couple of times. I thought I still had information on them, but I can’t seem to find it. They have a convent in St. Louis, and then two “solitudes.” The one I went to was between Joplin and Springfield, on highway T. If you go there, it’s a real retreat. You have your own little “hermitage” that’s basically a little building that looks like a small moble home except it only has a bedroom and bathroom. It’s out in a wooded area and has a few trails to walk on.

The nuns were more than helpful. One, who “led” my retreat got with me once a day for about an hour. She made suggestions on what to read and other stuff. Oh, and you eat alone. You can go to their prayer times if you want (morning, noon and evening). And they go to daily Mass. I keep wanting to call it “Queen of heaven solitude.” I was there twice and got alot out of it. Especially the first time I was there. The second time got off to a bad start, so it didn’t go so well.

It’s really beautifu there. Out in the country, where you might see some wild life. The first time I saw some fox cubs. The second time, a rabbit from time to time, turtles a few times, and some deer. I was’t paying attention until I heard a noise, and looked to see them running away from me.

I’d like to encourage you looking in on that one. I just wish I could find my information bit. It had the address and everything on it. Big time bummer. But see if you can look it up.
 
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