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Anyone else struggling?

Hi All,
I am afraid this is going to make me very unpopular, but I am a lifelong Catholic, and I am finding it very hard to make it to church anymore or even pray. I've had a rough couple of years and my spiritual resources are at about zero. Anyone else having trouble not lapsing?

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Permalink Reply by Lindsay on November 18, 2007 at 8:13am: Hi Nina,

It's not unusual for people to feel spiritually tapped, especially when you're going through a rough time. Though, I personally find that when that's the case, if you stick it out and continue to go and to pray, it makes things easier. I know you said that you're finding trouble even to pray, but I would suggest that you set aside 5 or 10 minutes each day -- at night works best for me when it's about the serious stuff -- to just pray that the Holy Spirit rejuvenate your faith again and make you fall in love with it all again, and to keep doing this every night. My second suggestion, that you're free to take or leave, is to get a spiritual adviser. I know that may sound silly, but it is a marvelous thing. I'm in college, and we have campus ministers who are incredible, and one or two of them serve as my own personal spiritual advisers, so it's obviously easy for me to have one. A lot of people don't like the idea, but it's actually a really great thing. They're very understanding and helpful, and they are not judgmental at all. I don't know how easy it would be for you to get one if you'd like one, because I don't know what things are like where you are, but it can be extremely beneficial, even just knowing that you have someone else praying for you. I personally came into the Church on Easter Vigil 2006, so I'm not a cradle Catholic and can't relate with you there, but I think it's a really brave thing for you to acknowledge and share your struggle with us. I will definitely pray for you, and I know I'm perhaps not the best person for this, but should you want anyone to just talk to? I'm here. I'm always happy to be a resource or a help if I can be, or even just a shoulder for you to lean on and talk to. I pray that you find the strength and the help you need to make it through this rough time in your life, Nina. God bless you!

Yours,
L; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nina on December 1, 2007 at 6:55pm: Hi L,
Thanks for the encouragement. It turns out that just showing up for mass as a matter of obedience is enormously helpful. I used to wonder if doing so was hypocritical; now I see it's just doing what we are supposed to do. I am not breaking any records, but I am doing a bit better. I will be thinking of you and praying for you during Advent. :-)
Nina; ▶ Reply to This