Hi All-
I was raised a Catholic, married one and raised my kids the same. Although I don't agree with everything, I feel that I can at least keep in contact with my HP
thru going to church.
For several months now, I haven't gone to church. See, I distribute communionm & I felt too hypocritical; full of pain pills and giving out the "Body of Christ."
Well, I went today, and even tho I have the pills in my system (I'm tapering) it was VERY helpful. For those of you who are familiar, juszt before communion, you say "Lord I know I am not worthy to receive You, but just say the word and I shall be healed."
WOW. A useful prayer for all addicts regardless of religion.
Mom, I'm a cradle Catholic also and we should never underestimate the power of the Eucharist and its ability to heal and calm us. I can remember some time back when I was battling depression some days the only consolation that I received was making a chapel visit to the tabernacle and simply letting myself be, in peace, in the divine presence. Sometimes praying and sometimes just sitting -- in silence. Sometimes making a visit late at night or in the middle of the night -- somtimes every night.
One of my favorite prayers dates way back to the first centuries. It's one of the simplest of prayers, yet does so much to restore some sense of humility: "Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." It's very useful to meditate on the prayer --- saying it over and over, mulling it and its implications in the mind until is sinks into the soul and the heart. Very, very uplifting and consoling for many who use it.
Please stay willing to make Mass, go to communion and participate in the sacraments -- they are there to sustain us and to help us grow in grace. I like to say, where else in the world does a person have the opportunity to make an inventory of our failings, verbalize them anonymously, express the sorrow of our hearts and walk away with the knowledge that those failings are forgiven ? Where else ?
Foregiveness -- it is so powerful. The knowledge of forgiveness -- healing.
One of my favorite prayers dates way back to the first centuries. It's one of the simplest of prayers, yet does so much to restore some sense of humility: "Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." It's very useful to meditate on the prayer --- saying it over and over, mulling it and its implications in the mind until is sinks into the soul and the heart. Very, very uplifting and consoling for many who use it.
Please stay willing to make Mass, go to communion and participate in the sacraments -- they are there to sustain us and to help us grow in grace. I like to say, where else in the world does a person have the opportunity to make an inventory of our failings, verbalize them anonymously, express the sorrow of our hearts and walk away with the knowledge that those failings are forgiven ? Where else ?
Foregiveness -- it is so powerful. The knowledge of forgiveness -- healing.
Hi, Mom
I am born and raised Catholic. I very rarely miss Mass....only when really, really sick. It sustains me in this crazy world! When things started kicking up with all these problems with my son, it was the ONLY place I could find some peace. I love to sing, but wasn't even able to do that with the radio during those first 3 days he was in prison. When I went to church though, I could...I wanted to...I felt the weight being lifted from my shoulders. Needless to say, I wanted to stay there. My sister had witnessed a homily about the graces that come from praying as a family before the Blessed Sacrament, so she arranged for our extended family to get together to say the rosary for my son (on his 3rd day of detox in prison). I got a LOT of peace from that too. I actually didn't cry the whole next day like I had the previous 3.
My husband isn't Catholic but he attends church every week with the kids (who have also been raised Catholic) and me. My son is the only one who isn't attending regularly...hasn't been for quite some time.
One of my favorite prayers: The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.
One of my favorite religious songs (there are many): You Are Mine
Here are a few of the lyrics:
I will come to you in the silence,
I will lift you from all your fear,
You will hear my voice, I claim you as my choice.
Be still and know I am near.
I am hope for all the despairing,
Healing for the ones who dwell in shame,
In the shadows of the night, I will be your light.
Come and rest in me.
Do not be afraid, I am with you.
I have called you EACH by name.
Come and follow me, I will bring you home (or hope),
I love you and you are mine!
Aren't the lyrics beautiful? See why it's one of my favorites?
God bless!
Love,
Susan :)
I am born and raised Catholic. I very rarely miss Mass....only when really, really sick. It sustains me in this crazy world! When things started kicking up with all these problems with my son, it was the ONLY place I could find some peace. I love to sing, but wasn't even able to do that with the radio during those first 3 days he was in prison. When I went to church though, I could...I wanted to...I felt the weight being lifted from my shoulders. Needless to say, I wanted to stay there. My sister had witnessed a homily about the graces that come from praying as a family before the Blessed Sacrament, so she arranged for our extended family to get together to say the rosary for my son (on his 3rd day of detox in prison). I got a LOT of peace from that too. I actually didn't cry the whole next day like I had the previous 3.
My husband isn't Catholic but he attends church every week with the kids (who have also been raised Catholic) and me. My son is the only one who isn't attending regularly...hasn't been for quite some time.
One of my favorite prayers: The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.
One of my favorite religious songs (there are many): You Are Mine
Here are a few of the lyrics:
I will come to you in the silence,
I will lift you from all your fear,
You will hear my voice, I claim you as my choice.
Be still and know I am near.
I am hope for all the despairing,
Healing for the ones who dwell in shame,
In the shadows of the night, I will be your light.
Come and rest in me.
Do not be afraid, I am with you.
I have called you EACH by name.
Come and follow me, I will bring you home (or hope),
I love you and you are mine!
Aren't the lyrics beautiful? See why it's one of my favorites?
God bless!
Love,
Susan :)
Thanks Susan, that was awesome!
Glad you liked it! :)
Hi,
I was brought up catholic and i went to an all girls convent!!!! So I have to say that due to it being forced down my throat all my life, i've gone completely the other way and i dont really have any faith in a higher power, certainly not the 'man made' god that apears in this religion. I dont mean to upset anyone, this is just My opinion!!
love
Gabbi
I was brought up catholic and i went to an all girls convent!!!! So I have to say that due to it being forced down my throat all my life, i've gone completely the other way and i dont really have any faith in a higher power, certainly not the 'man made' god that apears in this religion. I dont mean to upset anyone, this is just My opinion!!
love
Gabbi
Morning All,
I was to raised Catholic......I understand exactly where you are coming from Gabbi.........I remember kneeling in church for long periods of time because the nuns thought we always had to have something to repent about....I think they were just alittle overzealous.....
Growing and having children gave me a better understanding of where religion comes into my life.......
We are all human, can't expect any of us to be perfect........I think that God knows we make mistakes.....
Marina wrote something about being treated as you treat others.........Thats how I bring religion and god into my life....I remember that no one is perfect and that we can't judge others until we take a good look at ourselves......
The HP thing, that Addictmom talks about can be different things to different people. I trust that god is watching over me and my family, any I pray everyday....But my HP....that I also have to give it all up to is not always God.....somethings I don't give it up.....I turn those situations into something good and use that to sustain me through the day.....We all have things good and bad that we live with each day....how we act and react to everything makes us who we are....Whether we believe in god or not.......
Enjoy the day all of you, my you find blessings in all the little things......
Tina
I was to raised Catholic......I understand exactly where you are coming from Gabbi.........I remember kneeling in church for long periods of time because the nuns thought we always had to have something to repent about....I think they were just alittle overzealous.....
Growing and having children gave me a better understanding of where religion comes into my life.......
We are all human, can't expect any of us to be perfect........I think that God knows we make mistakes.....
Marina wrote something about being treated as you treat others.........Thats how I bring religion and god into my life....I remember that no one is perfect and that we can't judge others until we take a good look at ourselves......
The HP thing, that Addictmom talks about can be different things to different people. I trust that god is watching over me and my family, any I pray everyday....But my HP....that I also have to give it all up to is not always God.....somethings I don't give it up.....I turn those situations into something good and use that to sustain me through the day.....We all have things good and bad that we live with each day....how we act and react to everything makes us who we are....Whether we believe in god or not.......
Enjoy the day all of you, my you find blessings in all the little things......
Tina
I guess I may make some mad but I was raised Catholic & to me that religion is not really forgiven.Its like we are suppose to all have some sin & I don't know it just seems kinda judgemental??????mj
Does the word "guilt" have any special meaning to you all? I spent most of my life feeling guilty for everything, and I do know where it had it roots.
Mary, a recovering catholic who has found spirituality and the higher power in my life.
Mary, a recovering catholic who has found spirituality and the higher power in my life.
Yup guilty was a friend of mine until I realized that I don't EVER try to hurt anyone on purpose.That religion just seems way harsh....mj
Oh Guilt.........What a really nasty feeling. But I think we all have it no matter who we are..........Some of us...like me feel guilt even when we did nothing wrong.....like guilty for not being able to help someone.........Think that takes us into control......which is a whole other topic!
Hey, Misty, I remember you asking on another post about "control" and those sort of issues. I ran across this and thought of you. Maybe it will help answer a question or 2 for you.
How is detachment a control issue?
Detachment is a control issue because:
It is a way of de-powering the external "locus of control'' issues in your life and a way to strengthen your internal "locus of control.''
If you are not able to detach emotionally or physically from a person, place, or thing, then you are either profoundly under its control or it is under your control.
The ability to "keep distance'' emotionally or physically requires self-control and the inability to do so is a sign that you are "out of control.''
If you are not able to detach from another person, place, or thing, you might be powerless over this behavior which is beyond your personal control.
You might be mesmerized, brainwashed, or psychically in a trance when you are in the presence of someone from whom you cannot detach.
You might feel intimidated or coerced to stay deeply attached with someone for fear of great harm to yourself or that person if you don't remain so deeply involved.
You might be an addicted "caretaker,'' "fixer,'' or ``rescuer'' who cannot "let go'' of a person, place or thing you believe cannot care for itself.
You might be so manipulated by another's con, "helplessness,'' overdependency, or "hooks'' that you cannot leave them to solve their own problems.
If you do not detach from people, places, or things, you could be so busy trying to "control'' them that you completely divert your attention from yourself and your own needs.
By being "selfless'' and "centered'' on other people, you are really a controller trying to "fix'' them to meet the image of your "ideal'' for them.
Although you will still have feelings for those persons, places, and things from which you have become detached, you will have given them the "freedom'' to become what they will be on their own merit, power, control, and responsibility.
It allows every person, place, or thing with which you become involved to feel the sense of personal responsibility to become a unique, independent, and autonomous being with no fear of retribution or rebuke if they don't please you by what they become.
Here the link for the rest of it: http://www.coping.org/control/detach.htm
Take what you need and leave the rest.
# ## # ## # ## # ## # ## #
Regarding many of the comments on this thread, and I really didn't mean to get preachy or anything by my prior post, I will say this about the Catholics --
(1) if your only recollection of the church is from your view of faith and religion through a child's eye and understanding and with a child's mind, you owe it to yourselves (not to anyone else) to take another look thru adult eyes and with some life experience now behind you, and
(2) there's nothing in this world, and I mean nothing, more freeing and liberating than a good personal examination of conscience and a thorough confession (now called reconciliation). Where else in this world can a person collect all their internal garbage and shortcomings and dump it all anonymously and walk away with a totally liberated feeling, without paying a penny ? Afterwards, it's like you're walking on air.
How is detachment a control issue?
Detachment is a control issue because:
It is a way of de-powering the external "locus of control'' issues in your life and a way to strengthen your internal "locus of control.''
If you are not able to detach emotionally or physically from a person, place, or thing, then you are either profoundly under its control or it is under your control.
The ability to "keep distance'' emotionally or physically requires self-control and the inability to do so is a sign that you are "out of control.''
If you are not able to detach from another person, place, or thing, you might be powerless over this behavior which is beyond your personal control.
You might be mesmerized, brainwashed, or psychically in a trance when you are in the presence of someone from whom you cannot detach.
You might feel intimidated or coerced to stay deeply attached with someone for fear of great harm to yourself or that person if you don't remain so deeply involved.
You might be an addicted "caretaker,'' "fixer,'' or ``rescuer'' who cannot "let go'' of a person, place or thing you believe cannot care for itself.
You might be so manipulated by another's con, "helplessness,'' overdependency, or "hooks'' that you cannot leave them to solve their own problems.
If you do not detach from people, places, or things, you could be so busy trying to "control'' them that you completely divert your attention from yourself and your own needs.
By being "selfless'' and "centered'' on other people, you are really a controller trying to "fix'' them to meet the image of your "ideal'' for them.
Although you will still have feelings for those persons, places, and things from which you have become detached, you will have given them the "freedom'' to become what they will be on their own merit, power, control, and responsibility.
It allows every person, place, or thing with which you become involved to feel the sense of personal responsibility to become a unique, independent, and autonomous being with no fear of retribution or rebuke if they don't please you by what they become.
Here the link for the rest of it: http://www.coping.org/control/detach.htm
Take what you need and leave the rest.
# ## # ## # ## # ## # ## #
Regarding many of the comments on this thread, and I really didn't mean to get preachy or anything by my prior post, I will say this about the Catholics --
(1) if your only recollection of the church is from your view of faith and religion through a child's eye and understanding and with a child's mind, you owe it to yourselves (not to anyone else) to take another look thru adult eyes and with some life experience now behind you, and
(2) there's nothing in this world, and I mean nothing, more freeing and liberating than a good personal examination of conscience and a thorough confession (now called reconciliation). Where else in this world can a person collect all their internal garbage and shortcomings and dump it all anonymously and walk away with a totally liberated feeling, without paying a penny ? Afterwards, it's like you're walking on air.
Thanks Bob,
I got the control part going good.....I am stepped back just observing and I love it. It is nice to watch him do for himself and make good choices. It is also nice when he tells me things and I haven't asked, helps to build back that trust. It was funny, someone posted of guilt...and I thought about it and it took me right to control. Which no one has.....Might just be my twisted way of thinking, but thats where I got.
Hope you are well.......
Take care,
Tina
I got the control part going good.....I am stepped back just observing and I love it. It is nice to watch him do for himself and make good choices. It is also nice when he tells me things and I haven't asked, helps to build back that trust. It was funny, someone posted of guilt...and I thought about it and it took me right to control. Which no one has.....Might just be my twisted way of thinking, but thats where I got.
Hope you are well.......
Take care,
Tina
