I just don't feel connected to God lately. I've fallen into mortal sin, a lot of unfortunate things have happened to me and to others, and I just have no idea what I want out of life.

How can I feel more connected? I've been going to Mass every Sunday, Adoration every week, pray every day.

WHAT MORE?

I'm so confused.

Thanks guys for the help.

Pax Christi,
Rachel

Rachel,

I've had the same problems that you've had, even the mortal sin part.
I'm going to describe my prayer life, and then I'll try to give you a few suggestions.

This is how my prayer life works: I attend Mass whenever possible. I go to confession and spiritual direction, twice a month (if I fall into mortal sin- God help me- I go as soon as possible. I recall the presence of God frequently, and I pray the Rosary daily. Because I am discerning my vocation (which I believe is to the priesthood and the religious life) I meditate using the Teresian form of mental prayer, and I also pray the Divine Office. While I do make a weekly holy hour, I find that daily visits to the Blessed Sacrament are better, because of my schedule, etc.

What I would suggest is: weekly Mass and weekly adoration. Pray during the morning and evening- before school, before you go to sleep, etc. Pray the Rosary every day, and examine your conscience before you go to bed as well. I would also recommend, keeping yourself in the presence of God by remembering Him during the day- by aspirations, loving thoughts, etc. Read a short Scripture passage, and/or another spiritual book daily.

But don't force yourself to pray. God doesn't want you to suffer, and He doesn't command you spend hours in prayer. He doesn't mind the time, so much as the effort. If you've been experiencing aridity in prayer, and bad stuff's been happening lately God might be testing your fidelity, your love for Him, and your dedication to prayer. It is possible that
you could also be beginning the dark night of the soul which has been described and written on by Saint John of the Cross- if you wish I could refer you to a good and holy priest about this.

I hope this helps, Rachel, if you want to speak more, reply or send me an e-mail.

Your friend,
Brendan

Maybe it has become to habitual-you may have just got into the habit of going to Mass and Adoration. It happens to most of us once in our life. Go back to basics and think more about your own personal relationship with God. Don't get too stuck into a routine of prayer-of course, pray as often as you can, but don't say the same prayers all the time because it can just end up like receiting a poem that needs to be learned for class. Talk to God, and listen. Listening is the most important part of prayer, and the part that is most often forgotten. Tell God your troubles and worries and ask Him for help and although it may not be apparent immediately, God will answer your prayers in His own time and His own way. Don't give up on Him-try and look at your prayer life and make it more fulfilling, spend your time at Mass and Adoration wisely and just keep trying to be the best person you can be. Saints aren't always the ones who know the most about Theology or Apologetics, but those who have great faith in God and who strive to be like Him every day, in good times and in bad. Remember, Saints were sinners too but they never gave up on themselves or God, so just keep praying and trust that God will help you through these difficult times.

Brendan,

This is great advice. Would you mind telling us a little bit about the Teresian form of mental prayer? I have been practicing the presence of God, but I would love helps in this.

Totus tuus,
Lauren

Saint Teresa was the Spanish Carmelite who reformed the order, and wrote very much on prayer. She wrote three major works, her Autobiography, the Way of Perfection, and the Interior Castle. The Way of Perfection and the Interior Castle are two of the greatest works on prayer ever written. Because of her teachings, she was declared the first woman doctor of the Church. There are three books on her method of mental prayer which I highly recommend: The Little Catechism of Prayer and Divine Intimacy, by Father Gabriel of Saint Mary Magdalen, O.C.D. and Conversation with Christ, by Father Peter Thomas Rohrbach, O.C.D. Meditiation is but one of the parts that make up teresian mental prayer. Contemplation is advanced mental prayer, but it's a gift given by God. This is the outline of teresian mental prayer: 1) Placing yourself in the presence of God. 2) If neccessary, reading a book or looking at a devotional picture. 3) Meditating on the subject. 4) The colloquy or prayer. But mental prayer, is not an end in itself. The really essential part is the colloquy. The aim of mental prayer is union with God. If anyone wishes, I could send them more on this, including one of the three books, or a more detailed guide, or another work on teresian prayer, and spirituality. Practicing the presence of God, is not only discussed by St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila) the reformers of Carmel, but by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, whose famous work: The Practice of the Presence of God has sold millions of copies. I would recommend this book. I also have a short paper on this, which I can send as an e-mail. It consists of recollection, always remembering God's presence, usually by aspirations and ejaculations, loving thoughts and remembrances of Our Lord, etc. Teresian prayer and spirituality is very interesting, and a great aid for sanctification, of ourselves, and our day. Hope this helps.

im having this problem too i haven't been to confession in about three months. i used to pray the rosary daily, and i would pray every day. I don't do any of those things anymore. im loosing my relationship with christ. It gets worse every day. I don't even act very "christian" anymore. I just can't bring myself to go to confession or to pray.

Pax Christi,

sam

Rachel, I am having the same porblems right now. I havent been myself since graduation and I have been thinking about a religious vocaiton throughout my 4 yrs of HS!!!!!! Now since I dont have HS ne more, i feel lost, confused and not sure of naything. I even had the community picked out and verything and even requested to enter. But lately I have been skipping churhc just to sleep in, or to save on gas, and now I am tlaking to a guy who i met on the interent and met him for the first time today and now I'm gunna see him again tommorrow and meet his 3 yr old son!!!!!!!! So confused sums it up, if you dont know what God wants of you, go to religliouslife.com and go to test your call. It is a test that yopu take and it will tell you if your are right for the religious life or not!!!!!!!!!! I'm going to be taking that test for the 3 or 4 th time!!!!!!!!!!!


God bless,
sixitna

Sam, Sixtina, Rachel:

Remember that God loves you. I like what Fr. Corapi says: "God's name is mercy."

Confession is needed. Sam you need to suck it up, swallow your pride and go! I don't care if your traditional, I'm more traditional than you and I go every week or every two weeks! Sixtina, I wouldn't recommend seeing a man with a 3 year old but that's just me... I'd suggest that you consecrate yourself to Our Lady, place all your concerns in Her Immaculate Heart, go to confession- if neccessary give me your local church's number, and I'll call the priest to make the confession arrangement, and get in touch with different communities again.

Jesus and His Mother love you!

If I were to give more simple suggestions, for Sam and Sixtina: pray- pray using your own words, or short prayers like: Jesus I trust in You, Jesus I love You, Mary help me, COME HOLY SPIRIT, give me the grace to go to confession, to amend my life, grant me prudence and trust help me to be better, help me to appreciate Our Lord's Sufferings more, etc. Listen to Our Lord's words in the Gospel, apply them to your life, follow them simply and sincerely.

I will pray for all of you, and I know a retired priest, he will offer Mass on September 3rd for Rachel, Sam, and Sixtina. Sam I know you'll love this because it'll be a Tridentine Mass and on the feast of St. Pius X.

Love and Prayers in Christ,
Brendan

urrgh multiple add button pressing.

Wow Brendan Thanks a lot. your advice was very meaningful! I do need to go to confession (which i will try to do), My prayer life is suffering but hopefully i can build it back up. Thanks for the Mass and the Prayers.

God Bless,

sam

if you have more problems let me know. sorry to be harsh-sounding. but Jesus did too on occasion. glad to help.

your friend in Christ
brendan

Oh no problem i needed to hear it.

God Bless,

Sam

It's just at first, when I started going to Mass and Adoration, it was new and i felt all into it....

now it's a habit.

Meh.

well it's a good habit...

but be prudent.

What does prudent mean?

careful and sensible

What do you mean by "be prudent"? Do you mean that she shouldn't go very often, or what? (Sorry, I'm just a little confused by this statement).

maybe he means be careful not to be too habitual

maybe

maybe he didn't actually know what prudent meant either and used it in the wrong context

lol
lets discuss what the word could mean in this context.

Ive never been to Adoration.

my family doesn't encourage it.

awww, why?

This is a good way to think of things:


The wind is known to do many things. It moves sailboats, creates waves in the ocean, powers windmills, creates electricity, and blows gently on our faces as we lie on the beach on a warm summer day. Wind also blows our hat off when we are out for a walk, messes up our hair, and blows the snow to cause a blizzard. In fact, wind is even mentioned in the Bible. On Pentecost, a great wind came up and tongues of fire landed on everyone's head. Everyone was touched by the Holy Spirit. John the disciple also talks of wind being like the Spirit. We know not where it blows or in what direction it will take us, but we trust that we are being guided in good ways that are pleasing to God and ourselves.
Filled with the Spirit on this special day, we will soon see how the wind will lift our kites and how they will float freely in the air. The wind, like the hand of God and the Spirit of Pentecost, can also lift us. When we are in God's hands, we are truly free just like a kite in the wind. And, like a kite, we are always connected to God who holds the string to our hearts. Sometimes, God likes to let go of the string just for a moment so that we are free to choose whatever direction we want to go in life. But God is always there to save us if we should go astray or get tangled up in life's problems.

Not advice as such but one of those little sippets that can sometimes lift our spirits

cuz they think im a radical conservative fanatic catholic

I'm sorry EENS

I love going to adoration...

Yeah, I don't think he could have meant for you not to make a habit of it.

lol

I spent most of today with the guiy who has the 3 yr old son. we talked alot, we watched movies, we had lunch, and I got to meet his son who is such a flirt!!!!!!!!!! This guy is very differnt compared to most I meet. He doesnt want to pressure me inot sex which is what we tlaked about most of the night!!!!!!! He doesnt want a relationship that is focused around sex!!!!!!!!!! But I was kinda unhappy a a point because just ebing with him, there was sometrhing missing!!!!!!!!! I think that thing that was missing is the religious life and my discernment to that life!!!!!!!!!! I miss the Sisters of Nazareth and i really do want to enter with them and I think thats where my happiness is!!!!!!!! So confused!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

prayers

I am so utterly confused as well.

me too

I meant don't force yourself to spend prolonged periods in Adoration, or prayer. Our Lord could be willing that you only adore or pray so much, believe it or not. Sixtina... o boy. Rachel, Sam, Sixtina: the Mass was offered today for all of you. Sorry I wasn't on so much yesterday, I've been kinda busy. Well talk to you guys later.

In Jesus and Mary,
Brendan

Sixtina -- a little advice:

If you are discerning a religious vocation, it's best to stay away from the dating scene as it may cloud your decisions....

Just a thought.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, I am quite confused about the nature of your relationship to this man....



I guess so.....I went through, and am going through this at the moment. There is a guy that I really like, but through liking him, I've come to be much surer of my (cloistered) vocation...! He is lovely (although agnostic, lol)

HOWEVER, I did get some advice to ignore my feelings and so on, but thats not the way to go about it. Having feelings for a guy is perfectly natural! As soon as I came to undersdtand this, and I actually talked about him with a friend....My feelings didn't disappear, but they are easier to deal with. I like him....but I love Jesus, and He is calling me (of all people!) to be His spouse....!!!!!!

I would say just really think and pray about it....but don't ignore the feelings, as they sound normal (except for the age difference...!?) Didn't you have a similar thing happen, Rachel?

And who knows......maybe your vocation will end being marriage!!!

Then just be good friends with this man. You dont want to be unhappy, and certianly God doesnt want you to be unhappy. I would suggest you keep praying, give it a couple of weeks.

considering this man's background i wouldn't even recommend being friends. i'd sever all ties with him, and give the situation to the Heart of Jesus.

i went to high mass today....

hooooray!

so did i!

btw- we're the latin mass team from AMS.

har har this should be fun.

I know! it shall be

I didn't say supress your feelings and bottle them up, did I? No, I meant it's best not to get involved romantically. Be friends, spend time together, but just don't have romantic ties....like dating, boyfriend/girlfriend, that kind of stuff. It can cloud your judgment on a lot of things, especially a religious vocation.

Believe me, I know from experience how difficult it makes things.

htanks everyone on your comments about my "relationship" with this older guy. I havent talked to him since monday!!!!!! I did have 25 dollars in minutes on my cell but since he wouldnt stop texting me over stupid things, my minutes are out and I have to wait unitl tomorrow to add more minutes.....grrr!!!!!!1 But he asked me what I was thinking the other night, I todl him there was something missing but I didnt know what. But i did know what was missing but I didnt want to tell him. He kept texting me to see if we are going to stay friends or start a serious relationship. He knows I am going on retreat this weekend and I would let him know later!!!! But i want o be friends with him becuase I I feel and know that my vocation is to be a Sister, Christ's Spouse!!!!!!!!!! But what community??? i dont know!!!!!!!!!!! I hope the Sisters of Nazareth!!!!!!!!!! But i cant talk to them unitl after the 17th!!!!!!!!!! So when i get done with the retreat, i will tell him that i want to be friends and nothing else. I desire something that he cant give me, only Christ can!!!!!!!!!!

Good for you, Sixtina



Have fun on your retreat!!

I know!!!! I'm so proud of myself!!!!!!! Sister Rosaria is safe and soudn and of course asleep!!!!!!!!!! tomorrow, we are going to say morning prayer together, go to mass, and then do some running around before the big retreat. I foud out the we ar eboth group leaders for the retreat and that makes me sooo happy!!!!!!!!!!! this retreat is gunna be awesome but sadly our beloved Bishop wont be there, grr!!!!!!!!