How does one know if they have lost their Faith? I'm afraid I have lost mine and have been worrying about it the past few months. Hope I haven't lost it. I want to stay faithful to God, Jesus and Mary in these times.
Worth adding that two people of very strong Faith were removed from my life in the last 18 months and feel I don't have the same support in terms of spiritual direction. Suffering alot from scrupulosity over things in my past also. My aim in life is to be of use to God and help people whatever way He chooses for me. Perhaps it is common to experience these doubts when on the spiritual path as part of a dark night.
Sanctus, can't at least one of those individuals with strong Faith be reached by phone? It may not be as helpful as "in person" but at least any communication helps keep the friendship alive. Also, my younger daughter suffered from scrupulosity for about 5 years and eventually surmounted it. Never give up! Prayers! Safe in the Embrace of the Two Hearts!
There's a saying (I think it's true) that people who wonder (negatively) something about themselves aren't ... because those who are or do lack the means of wondering at all.
I have found my own faith journey very rocky at times. I believe its a sign of growth. You have lost people who were leading you and now you have to struggle on your own for a bit. It's like a toddler leaving the safety of mothers hand. Hang in there and persevere. Yo will get stronger. Keep saying the Divine Mercy invocation 'JESUS I TRUST IN YOU'
I believe that your desire to stay faithful in this storm of doubt shows you have certainly not lost your faith. I believe Jesus and Mary are very close and so is St Michael and of course your Guardian Angel. It is horrible that you lost two people who were strong spiritual helps. That causes great grief and uncertainty for sure--and this on top of the lockdown isolation. For some reason many serious remnant Catholics are being tested like this. I honestly don't know why...ihave a close friend who feels abandoned. I asked Our Lord why He allows this. I am afraid there was no "response." I will keep praying for you Sanctus in union with everyone here. Hold on.Do NOT let go of the Blessed Mother. She will keep you close to her Son. She will get you through this.
Praying for you as you have been a great encouragement to me an others in the past. I can't understand why I have been given such a strong faith, when most people I know have little or none. I'm sure your faith will be restored before long, God Bless.
If it's any consolation, I felt NO blessing or uplift at all during this morning's Mass. Sometimes we're up, sometimes we're down ... but we're still in The Boat with Jesus at the helm and Mary watching over!
Such great advice for you Sanctus. It was our lady and my consecration to her that got me through my dark night and intense pruning period of my life. If you have not done so already consecrate yourself to her and ask her to guide you through this period of your life. Saying yes to God is a daily decision I believe. Some days my fiat is weak and conditional so we need to persevere and be determined to give God our unconditional fiat. But it starts with the daily decision to live the will of God for your life as best you can. I found Fr Michael Gaitely's book Consoling the Heart of Jesus to be a game changer for my prayer life. It brought my relationship with Jesus to another level. That might be a good read for you. Regarding my past sins, every morning I ask our lady to intercede for me to keep the sins of my past, fears of my past, and old habits of my past completely behind me so they never haunt me again. That has helped me. I will pray for you Sanctus!
I was trying to pray and meditate tonight, especially on the Passion but all the time I did so I kept staring in my mind into an empty Fridge. Why an empty Fridge? I have just no idea, but there it was this empty fridge. Staring and staring at it wishing it would go away so I could think on the Garden of Gethsemane. After a while I turned to Jesus and told Him it was no good I would have to give up. This empty white fridge was driving me nuts. But then Jesus smiled and said. 'Trying is succeeding.. The fact that you try and keep on trying is as good as what you count as success !' This really cheered me up. Keep on trying. Try and you already succeed. It is the trying that counts. Empty white fridges are no fun. But if that is what God wants.... What we feel about ourselves, what we count as succeeding is often maybe not what God counts as success. In either case it is the trying that really counts. The Act of the loving Will.
Good answers above. Just the fact that you are concerned about losing your faith is a grace from God. Your searching and desire for God is in itself a powerful prayer. Just keep being faithful to your prayer habits daily, even if it feels empty, and you will come through this. The devil wants you to give up, and Jesus wants you to fight for Him, so don't give up! I think we all go through this maybe several times in our faith life. A couple great books if you haven't read them are St Teresa of Avila Way To Perfection, and Frank Sheed Theology for Beginners. Very inspiring!
“God values in you an inclination to aridity and suffering for love of Him more than all possible consolations, spiritual visions, and meditations.” — St. John of the Cross
