Absolute frustration

[Cre8d4Youth]

So I've started RCIA. Truth is, I was hoping when I spoke with Father that I wouldn't have to go through the whole process due in part to my beliefs in what the Catholic Church teaches, and where I am in this ten year road. But alas, it was not to be, he wants me to go through the process so as to be a bigger part of the community. I guess teaching CCD, and being a youth leader for two years in this church alone didn't count! LOL

But here's the real problem. Everytime I get the inkling to do any remotely spiritual several things happen. I [b]know[/b] they are of Satan, but I still can't seem to get through them without soo much stress, and pain. Also, everytime in the past that I have ever pondered joining the Catholic church, some loudmouthed Catholic has said something that I allowed to harden my heart. And that usually ending in me running..yes [i]running[/i] the other way. One time was from a priest on Christmas day that told me I would never be in heaven with my wife and children unless I was a member of the Catholic church.

And its happening again. Things I read in here on occasion (I won't go into details really) hurt me. They attack my past. And even though I know they aren't even aimed in my direction I tend to take them personal. Stupid I know, but without my past I would not be who I am, nor where I am today.

So since I am not one to ask for "general" prayers I need something specific. First and foremost I need a spiritual revival. I had been receiving the Eucharist for the better part of two years (per the priest in my parish, and loooong months of prayer and discernent on both our parts) but now that I have entered RCIA, we both felt it best to abstain. As would a couple that's living together before marraige should abstain from sex during the prepatory time. (I did that too, and it was EASIER to go w/o sex than w/o the physical Presence!) Karen, my darling bride says she thinks I'm depressed again. I t hink it's deeper. I SOOOOO want to go back up and have the ultimate Communion with Him, but now I have to wait. I don't do "wait" well. I never have. (so close to tears here) Gah...anyway... And two, I would ask prayers that we (you, me, Karen, and my kids) would be able to withstand the attacks with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I guess that's about enough whining today.

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

ill pray for you. so what relegion were you before catholic?

i hope you know that receiving the eucharist when not a catholic is a grave sin.


Dominus Vobiscum,


Sam

[Lil Red]

does your town have perpetual adoration? go if it does! that is so important!

i was going through this awhile back and i got a booklet of spiritual warfare prayers. and prayed every single one in the book. i will post some for you if you like.

sam, i don't think you are helping the situation any.

[Lil Red]

start with the "Anima Christi"

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from the side of Christ, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within your wounds, hide me
Let me never be separated from you
From the evil one, protect me
At the hour of my death, call me
And bid me to come to you
That with your saints, I may praise you
Forever and ever. Amen.

[Cre8d4Youth]

[quote name='Extra ecclesiam nulla salus' date='Dec 9 2005, 02:39 PM']ill pray for you. so what relegion were you before catholic?

i hope you know that receiving the eucharist when not a catholic is a grave sin.

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Religion? I was Christian. Just like you are a Christian. Denomiation? That's another story, I was raised Methodist.

And I hope YOU know that Pope John Paul II wrote an entire encyclical on the subject of ecclesial communion, and within it's auspices it gave the go ahead on a [i]case by case[/i] basis for priests to allow, or not allow nonCatholics, provided they met certain criteria, to receive. And you pompous brat, the priest and I spent many many months in prayer about me even going through with it. It's not like it's some haphazard, "I did it cause I wanted to" thing. Father even said he felt (after discussing it with the Bishop even) that it would be ok for me to do so. But I withheld until I could make it to confession. After all my studies, I felt that they were so intimately intertwined, that even though I was allowed to go to communion, I could not until I took part in Reconciliation. Make sure to have all facts before you go telling me about my sin. You also wanna run by me, how anyone partaking in the sacrifice which [b][i]forgives sin[/i][/b], and is there with a proper heartset, could indeed be sinning? Go ahead, I've the time.


[quote name='Lil Red' date='Dec 9 2005, 03:28 PM']does your town have perpetual adoration? go if it does! that is so important!

i was going through this awhile back and i got a booklet of spiritual warfare prayers. and prayed every single one in the book. i will post some for you if you like.

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I don't believe it's perpetual, but I know it ends up in our church on certain Wednesdays. I don't know the ins and outs of it as of yet.

And thank you Lil Red. Any and all heartfelt prayers are appreciated.

Edited December 10, 2005 by Cre8d4Youth

[Cre8d4Youth]

Just because I didn't want you to hurt yourself trying to find it "extra"...


[quote]46. In my Encyclical Ut Unum Sint I expressed my own appreciation of these norms, which make it possible to provide for the salvation of souls with proper discernment: “It is a source of joy to note that Catholic ministers are able, in certain particular cases, to administer the sacraments of the Eucharist, Penance and Anointing of the Sick to Christians who are not in full communion with the Catholic Church but who greatly desire to receive these sacraments, freely request them and manifest the faith which the Catholic Church professes with regard to these sacraments. Conversely, in specific cases and in particular circumstances, Catholics too can request these same sacraments from ministers of Churches in which these sacraments are valid”.97

These conditions, from which no dispensation can be given, must be carefully respected, even though they deal with specific individual cases, because the denial of one or more truths of the faith regarding these sacraments and, among these, the truth regarding the need of the ministerial priesthood for their validity, renders the person asking improperly disposed to legitimately receiving them. And the opposite is also true: Catholics may not receive communion in those communities which lack a valid sacrament of Orders.98

[/quote]

There is more, but this snippit explains from where I got my crazy ideas.

[Brother Adam]

I just want to say that you are an inspiration as you are willing to go through all of these trials and sufferings for the sake of Christ. If Catholicism is anything, it is not easy.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Cre8d4Youth' date='Dec 9 2005, 03:32 PM']So I've started RCIA.  Truth is, I was hoping when I spoke with Father that I wouldn't have to go through the whole process due in part to my beliefs in what the Catholic Church teaches, and where I am in this ten year road.  But alas, it was not to be, he wants me to go through the process so as to be a bigger part of the community.  I guess teaching CCD, and being a youth leader for two years in this church alone didn't count! LOL

But here's the real problem.  Everytime I get the inkling to do any remotely spiritual several things happen.  I [b]know[/b] they are of Satan, but I still can't seem to get through them without soo much stress, and pain.  Also, everytime in the past that I have ever pondered joining the Catholic church, some loudmouthed Catholic has said something that I allowed to harden my heart.  And that usually ending in me running..yes [i]running[/i] the other way.  One time was from a priest on Christmas day that told me I would never be in heaven with my wife and children unless I was a member of the Catholic church.

And its happening again.  Things I read in here on occasion (I won't go into details really) hurt me.  They attack my past.  And even though I know they aren't even aimed in my direction I tend to take them personal.  Stupid I know, but without my past I would not be who I am, nor where I am today.

So since I am not one to ask for "general" prayers I need something specific.  First and foremost I need a spiritual revival.  I had been receiving the Eucharist for the better part of two years (per the priest in my parish, and loooong months of prayer and discernent on both our parts) but now that I have entered RCIA, we both felt it best to abstain.  As would a couple that's living together before marraige should abstain from sex during the prepatory time.  (I did that too, and it was EASIER to go w/o sex than w/o the physical Presence!)  Karen, my darling bride says she thinks I'm depressed again.  I t hink it's deeper.  I SOOOOO want to go back up and have the ultimate Communion with Him, but now I have to wait.  I don't do "wait" well.  I never have.  (so close to tears here) Gah...anyway... And two, I would ask prayers that we (you, me, Karen, and my kids) would be able to withstand the attacks with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I guess that's about enough whining today.
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Dearie you go ahead and whine all you want -that is what we are here for:)
If the debate board or open mic is causing pain -ignor them and don't read them for awhile. Don't be sidetracked on your journey.
Your pain and longing for the Eucharist indicate your already intimate relationship with God, what a blessing and now its temporary loss - what a trial!!
Your abstention will prepare your heart for a greater union in the future, and what is a few months compared to eternity?
God has destined you for GREAT things before the Lord.
We will pray for your strength.

[jezic]

I would recommend praying the rosary daily, especially if satan is bugging you a bit. Mary can turn things around in a hurry.

Remember the reality of the situation. I mean that satan can try to turn things around, make it seem like spiritual things are "hard" to do, or that praying isn't effective. Remember that the reality is it doesn't really matter how you "feel" about it as long as you do it and pour your heart into it as much as you are able. In God's eyes this is what matters the most.

I would agree that RCIA in your situation would be hard, and yet how great a blessing it is. Think of the immense graces that God has given you in longing for His Son. While the Eucharist is tops (don't get me wrong) remember that even outside of it, as much as one is able, you can be in spiritual union with Him.

God is pouring out his love for you. Remember that.

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

dude calm down. you don't have to get all defensive about it. lets be charitable and [i]ACT[/i] like catholics. shall we?

P.S hopefully the rule allowing Non-catholics to recieve the sacrements will be stopped, because it is causing problems, and many priest are allowing non-Catholics [i]who do not[/i] manifest Catholic to recieve communion because of it.

Edited December 10, 2005 by Extra ecclesiam nulla salus

[Cre8d4Youth]

[quote name='Extra ecclesiam nulla salus' date='Dec 10 2005, 09:38 AM']dude calm down. you don't have to get all defensive about it. lets be charitable and [i]ACT[/i] like catholics. shall we?

P.S hopefully the rule allowing Non-catholics to recieve the sacrements will be stopped, because it is causing problems, and many priest are  allowing non-Catholics [i]who do not[/i] manifest Catholic to recieve communion because of it.
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Calm down, that's funny. Did you not see the title of this thread? I am under constant attack these days, and while your snipe was amongst the lesser of them, it is still perceived as a poorly lobbed spiritual grenade. So yeah...food for thought.

And recind the rule allowing sacriments to nonCatholics? Yeah, shut the door on the small percentage because a handful of priests abuse it? News for you, the abuses were happening long before that encyclical came out. Seriously, take the time to read the whole letter. I does not open wide the door to the abuses. Indeed, it helps to close the gap that much more. Those few priests that do what they do would continue to do so w/o the rules and regulations recinded or added. People resist based on their own compuntions, not because a rule has been fastened to their heads.

But hey, why would we want to allow a nonCatholic to marry a good upstanding Catholic such as yourself? Unless you mean nonCatholics should not be allowed all sacriments but marraige. Is it just certain sacriments you feel we should bar those that manifest Catholic faith from? Or just a blanket barring, that unless you fall into line with Ecclesiam nulla salus' Catholic Box, you should not even step foot in a Catholic church?








carp, I was instructed to ignore you...I'm not doing so well...sorry.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Cre8d4Youth' date='Dec 9 2005, 10:47 PM']I don't believe it's perpetual, but I know it ends up in our church on certain Wednesdays.  I don't know the ins and outs of it as of yet.

And thank you Lil Red.  Any and all heartfelt prayers are appreciated.[right][snapback]819373[/snapback][/right][/quote]

check it out, for sure. just to sit in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is a huge grace! even if you can't pray, just go sit in the Sonshine!

i will keep you in my prayers during Adoration, and i will offer you up when i go to daily Mass (which i'm going to everyday in Advent : )

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

or we could go with the traditional understanding which was no sacrements allowed to non-Catholics. you have a very negative angry attitude.

[blovedwolfofgod]

i thought you werent hard-core traditionalist anymore...

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

im not at all an ultra-trad, but the idea that Non-Catholics have a free pass to recieve the sacraments alarms me.

[Lil Red]

EENS, did he say he had a free pass? no, i don't recall him saying that. and i would like to ask you if you've read everything Cre8d4Youth has written....his history and everything. maybe if you came to the table with more understanding, instead of just jumping on one statement, it would be really helpful.

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='Extra ecclesiam nulla salus' date='Dec 10 2005, 01:45 PM']or we could go with the traditional understanding which was no sacrements allowed to non-Catholics.    you have a very negative angry attitude.
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I tried PM'ing this to you, but as you dont' have permission to PM:

I certianly understand your concerns, and somewhat agree with your concerns, in the thread in the converts forum. However, I would ask you to take a more pastorally sensitive approach. The person is clearly distraught, and the last thing they need to be is made even more upset. Rational or not, what you are saying is making them upset. When we are on a forum hoping to see people come into full communion, it may be best not to make comments like "you have a very angry negative attitude". I know if someone made this comment to me when I was upset it would not cause me to self examine myself, but only put up more defenses and become even more angry.

[cmotherofpirl]

I'll be a bit more strong about it EENS
STOP

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

[font="Arial"][b]OK![/font][/b]


[quote]. And you pompous brat,[/quote]

i really just don't think i deserve to be called that by someone that doesn't even know me. i found it very offensvie and mean.

Edited December 11, 2005 by Extra ecclesiam nulla salus

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

Cre8d4Youth,

ive done some thinking and I just wanted to apologize. Sometimes i am act very arrogantly. I am glad that you are coming Home to the Catholic church I will pray for you.

God Bless,


Sam