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Joined: Nov 2001
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Hi everyone,
Please pray for my marriage, which isn't going so well.
Also, please pray for my faith (or lack thereof). I'm doubting whether or not I should enter the Catholic Church. I'm afraid of making the wrong decision because I don't feel like I have enough faith in the Church to enter.
I wanted to try an Orthodox Church, but it interfered with me going with my husband to the Presbyterian Church (he didn't seem to mind the Roman Catholic Church as much because I could go on Saturday and still go with him to church on Sunday)
I don't feel like praying, and when I do I feel like nobody is listening. It's a very lonely feeling.
Thanks for any prayers,
Jenny
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Jenny, Just hang in there It will come alright. In God's good time you will understand what He wants you to do. Just don't rush things. Give your husband as much time as he needs to accept that you have to do what you have to do. This may not be this year or next, or in the forseeable future [ personal experience ] but in time he will accept that your spiritual life has taken a different turn from his. Meantime know that you are in our prayers [ I'm sure I can speak for everyone here]. Just keep trying to pray - the simplest prayers are often the best - " Lord Jesus Christ , Son of God , have mercy on me a Sinner "- what can be better than that. May Our Blessed Lady, Mary ever Virgin , Mother of us all and my beloved Mistress, keep you in Her most tender care and lead you to Her Son. Angela
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Dear Jenny, My priest told me that when I think there is little love in my marriage then it is time to make love . . . Now that I have the really helpful advice out of the way . . . Prayer is always the most potent when it is done when we don't feel like it. I go through periods like that regularly - my spiritual father told me to consider it a direct attack on me by the evil one. The monks of the desert adopted military language, as did St Paul, to describe our battle with the world, the flesh and the devil. The more you pray when you feel most unhappy, the least likely the evil one will bother you further - he won't want to be the cause of your praying more! It will just rub him the wrong way . . . Do you mind if I prescribe a Prayer Rule for you right now? No? O.K., at the turn of every hour, that is, every single waking hour, say three Psalms. You can say more if you like, and no more than 12. But three will do - say them out loud if you like or within your mind. Carry a little New Testament and Psalms with you. Also, each day read one of the five chapters of the Testament of Christ which is contained in chapters 13-17 in the Gospel of John. St Nicodemos calls it the "Heart of the Bible" and you will see for yourself the effect it will have on you. If you have a rosary, you can say 50 Jesus Prayers at the top of each hour, if you like. When war is declared against you, as it has been, the only thing left to do is fight back. With God on your side, who can be against you? Alex
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Dear Jenny:
I read your post and feel your pain. There are some things that seem unclear, however.
Were you or are you Presbyterian? Is that why you accompany your husband to his church?
Where were the two of you when you began your marriage in terms of faith community that you were in or attended?
Have you felt the Holy Spirit lead you to "try an Orthodox Church" or Catholic Church?
It seems that you are searching but are perhaps afraid of the search. I've been there. It's very difficult to be growing and searching in your faith journey with Christ and have your spouse and/or family not understand.
A short "Lord, show me the way You want me to go" is my constant prayer. The ride has been amazing, though not without lots of family misunderstanding and friction.
You'll remain in my prayers.
BOB
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Originally posted by Our Lady's slave of love: Jenny,
Just hang in there It [b]will come alright. In God's good time you will understand what He wants you to do. Just don't rush things. Give your husband as much time as he needs to accept that you have to do what you have to do. This may not be this year or next, or in the forseeable future [ personal experience ] but in time he will accept that your spiritual life has taken a different turn from his. Meantime know that you are in our prayers [ I'm sure I can speak for everyone here]. Just keep trying to pray - the simplest prayers are often the best - " Lord Jesus Christ , Son of God , have mercy on me a Sinner "- what can be better than that. May Our Blessed Lady, Mary ever Virgin , Mother of us all and my beloved Mistress, keep you in Her most tender care and lead you to Her Son. Angela[/b] Dear Angela, Thank you for your prayers and for your kind words; they were very encouraging. I had forgotten how you were in a similar situation with your husband. I will pray (the Jesus Prayer is always a good prayer), and have hope that eventually I'll know His will. God Bless you, Jenny
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 191
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Originally posted by Orthodox Catholic: Dear Jenny,
My priest told me that when I think there is little love in my marriage then it is time to make love . . .
Now that I have the really helpful advice out of the way . . .
Prayer is always the most potent when it is done when we don't feel like it.
I go through periods like that regularly - my spiritual father told me to consider it a direct attack on me by the evil one.
The monks of the desert adopted military language, as did St Paul, to describe our battle with the world, the flesh and the devil.
The more you pray when you feel most unhappy, the least likely the evil one will bother you further - he won't want to be the cause of your praying more! It will just rub him the wrong way . . .
Do you mind if I prescribe a Prayer Rule for you right now?
No?
O.K., at the turn of every hour, that is, every single waking hour, say three Psalms.
You can say more if you like, and no more than 12.
But three will do - say them out loud if you like or within your mind. Carry a little New Testament and Psalms with you.
Also, each day read one of the five chapters of the Testament of Christ which is contained in chapters 13-17 in the Gospel of John.
St Nicodemos calls it the "Heart of the Bible" and you will see for yourself the effect it will have on you.
If you have a rosary, you can say 50 Jesus Prayers at the top of each hour, if you like.
When war is declared against you, as it has been, the only thing left to do is fight back.
With God on your side, who can be against you?
AlexDear Alex, Thank you for your advice (I especially like your priest's advice on making love ). And thank you for your Prayer Rule prescription! I will do it. I think I do have a small New Testament with Psalms around. I'll look for it tonight. I do have a Rosary and I will pray the Jesus Prayer on it. God Bless you, Jenny
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 191
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OP
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 191 |
Originally posted by theophan: Dear Jenny:
I read your post and feel your pain. There are some things that seem unclear, however.
Were you or are you Presbyterian? Is that why you accompany your husband to his church?
Where were the two of you when you began your marriage in terms of faith community that you were in or attended?
Have you felt the Holy Spirit lead you to "try an Orthodox Church" or Catholic Church?
It seems that you are searching but are perhaps afraid of the search. I've been there. It's very difficult to be growing and searching in your faith journey with Christ and have your spouse and/or family not understand.
A short "Lord, show me the way You want me to go" is my constant prayer. The ride has been amazing, though not without lots of family misunderstanding and friction.
You'll remain in my prayers.
BOB Dear Bob, Thank you for your prayers. I have been Presbyterian since I've been a Christian (since I was 19...I'm 30 now). I met my husband at our Presbyterian church when I was 20 and we've been together ever since. We have been married 4 years this past August. We were married in the Presbyterian Church. I started looking into Orthodoxy and Catholicism a few years ago. I went through RCIA at a Roman Catholic parish last year, but didn't enter the Church. I still had some doubts, and my husband was very opposed. He has since softened a bit (he at least acknowledges that I'm seeking God's will) and as long as my going to Mass didn't interfere with me going to chuch with him on Sunday's, it wouldn't be too much of a problem. But I'm still having doubts. I talked to an Orthodox priest about a month ago and was going to go to Divine Liturgy, but It ended up causing friction because it was at the same time as the Presbyterian church service. The rest of my family doesn't even know because they're very anti-Catholic. I had been praying for a long time and had had faith that God would lead me in the right direction, but I'm more confused than ever. And lately it has seemed like God is not there at all. But, I will pray as Angela and Alex suggested. I have to believe that God is on my side. God Bless you, Jenny
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,696
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Dear Jenny,
The words don't come easy in the face of such pain and dissention arising from the desire to do God's Will.
I hope that you experience the One Who Loves you as He presents Himself to you even in those who disagree with you because they care for you. I pray that He makes your path clearer and gives you the strength to continue to care for the others in your life. May He lead them to know Him in and through your loving struggle.
It seems to me that you are quite aware of Him and hear Him calling in the desolation.
Know of our love for you and our support for you in prayer. May He lift you up from your worry and carry you to where He would have you be.
Steve
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