Worried that I am not

[Catholic361]

I’m worried that I won’t be able to get back to the way I felt when I first became catholic. I try and pray but feel empty and I am gross in our Father’s eyes and I don’t know how to get back to feeling the joy I had when I first became catholic I have been given some things to help me through this but I don’t know if it will ever go away. I had these times when I felt like this when I was a protestant but not this bad. Is there anything else I can do besides pray read the bible and catechism and recite the rosary?

 

[Neithan]

Feelings are fickle and slippery things. Don’t make emotions the goal of your spiritual life, since that can lead to all sorts of psychologically damaging behaviour or superstition. Find a good confessor and after you go to confession take some quiet time to pray: just think about nothing but how in that moment you are completely cleansed of any sin, and are made as pure as a newly baptized soul in the Father’s eyes, because of the sacrifice of the Son. Be at peace.

I once heard a good analogy: God gives us a lot of happy feelings when we first join the church, because we are like babies and need comfort. Then, as we grow in the faith, we find joy gradually, by building a life of virtue. It still strikes us with surprising power at times, greater than we remember it, as if to remind us of the glory that awaits us.

 

[OnlyULord]

I would also recommend The Divine Mercy Chaplet if you are not already praying it. Part of it directly asks for increased mercy to avoid despair and despondency.

 

[po18guy]

Sorry to hear this. If you love someone, do you remain away from them, or do you draw near? Do you speak directly to them, or have messages relayed by others? Do you imagine how beautiful they are, or go and see them with your own eyes?

Adoration.

Go and spend time with Christ. Tell Him your doubts, your emptiness. Then be as patient with Him as He has been with you. And when you are convicted by the Holy Spirit that He is there, you will be changed.