Battle

Prayers would be appreciated. Currently battling a bout of OCD/Depression. I am praying and offering up my suffering for you my fellow crown-bearers. God bless you. Let us go forward!

Sacrament of the Sick

For some reason people with mental illnesses rarely request the sacrament of the sick yet they can benefit deeply from this consoling sacrament.

The first grace of this sacrament is one of strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that go with the condition of serious illness or the frailty of old age. This grace is a gift of the Holy Spirit, who renews trust and faith in God and strengthens against the temptations of the evil one, the temptation to discouragement and anguish in the face of death. This assistance from the Lord by the power of his Spirit is meant to lead the sick person to healing of the soul, but also of the body if such is God's will. Furthermore, "if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."CCC 1520

I have received the sacrament twice. Both times at the beginning of real bad bouts of OCD/Depression. Both times I have received renewed strenght, hope and relief from my pain. When your spiritual father marks your hands and forehead with the blessed oil you feel the hand of Christ touching your hands and your forehead.

Your tears mix with the oil. Your heart with His Sacred Heart and somehow, through His grace, the Holy Spirit rushes into your heart and mind and you can rest.

So, if necessary, go to your priest and request the anointing. Christ created it having you in mind. He wants to bring rest and relief to you. In the Sacrament of the Sick He is there, ready to embrace you.

St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales suffered of a terrible depression/obsession while he was in college. Because of the theological discussions that he attended he became convinced and obsessed with the thought that he was condemned and going to hell. He ate and slept very little and lived in constant terror. His spiritual director was deeply concerned. Francis feared he was losing his mind.

Finally one day he dragged himself into a church and made an act of Trust. He told God that no matter what He had planned for Him he knew it was good because God loved Him. After that he prayed the Memorae which is an act of trust to Our Lady.

He trusted. And that opened the floodgates of Grace. In an instant he found himself free from that obsession.

We might not receive an immediate healing like Francis but we will surely immediately receive the Grace to carry our Crown of Thorns every time we choose to Trust God. Let us pray the Memorae, specially today in the feast of the Queenship of Mary!

Remember Oh Most Gracious, Virgin Mary! that never was it known that anyone who fled to Thy protection, implored thy help or sought Thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto Thee, Oh Virgin of Virgins, my Mother! To the do I come, before you I cry, sinful and sorrowful. Oh Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions but in Thy Mercy hear and answer me!Amen.

Catholic Therapists

So, I just found this website that offers a listing of Catholic Therapists for each area. Now, I am not endorsing them or anything but it looks like a good option when you are seeking for a therapist that will not dismiss your most loved beliefs. So check them out!

CatholicTherapists.com

Suffering Co-workers

God did not want me to suffer. He hates it when I suffer. But since this is a fallen world, pain is a fact. But he can and will redeem it and make it into Grace. So in a way I've received my vocation: to be a suffering member of the body of Christ. To live in Joy with, in and for Christ Crucified. I am fulfilling that call by my work as a Sick & Suffering Co-worker of the Missionaries of Charity.

The Sick & Suffering Co-workers are a group of people that offer their prayers and sufferings for the poorest of the poor and for the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa's sisters. Since many times they are unable to join in activities in the service of the poor they are spiritually linked to the Order. Thus they become life-giving partners in the service of the poor.

Mental illness is a hard Crown of Thorns to bear. Yet it can be such a fountain of life, light and love. Joining a prayer group, a group like the Sick & Suffering Coworkers or simply making the point to offer your sufferings in your daily prayers is such a source of life and meaning for our pain. There is Life, Love and Light even in the Cross! let us rejoice!

Dear Lord, I offer you all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings specially those relatedto my illness. I offer them for __________. I accept everything as coming from your Loving Hand. Let me walk through this Calvary with you so that I might rise with you in the Resurrection. Amen.

Painting by Mariano Cammisuli from Argentina

wanting to die?

One time I told my spiritual director I was afraid I had despaired since in a dark moment I had wanted to die. He looked at me, smiled and said "you didn't want to die, you just wanted the pain to stop."

If your heart is aching with that dark desire remember that suicide is not the solution. There are other ways to make the pain stop or to make it bearable. Therapy, medicine, a good long talk with a friend, prayer, etc. You have so much to do, so many people to love! There is hope! You will see the goodness of the Lord in this life!

USEful suffering

How to make your suffering USEful:

Union. unite yourself to the suffering Christ through prayer, unite yourself through those suffering like you or more than you and offer your sufferings for them.

Service. serve those who suffer in a similar way. This suffering if carried in a healthy way will bring you to be more open to the emotional needs of others. You will understand what it means to be confused, afraid or in the verge of despair, and you will be able to provide the same support that you have received. If you are not able to serve others through active ministry you can always pray for people offering your sufferings. That is also service!

Evangelization. If you suffer patiently, lovingly and hand in hand with Christ you will be a sign of the power of Christ over pain and suffering. People will see how you carry your crown of thorns with patience, love and prayer and be inspired. Maybe later on the Lord will call you to share it as a testimony of his Mercy.

Do not despair my Sister! Do not feel defeated my Brother! Your suffering, with Christ, has meaning and is useful! If you choose to walk this this dark Valley with Him your suffering will have great meaning, just like His!

weakness and success

"He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His Love than in your weakness." Mother Teresa

Lets never think that because of our illness we are useless in the service of God. To the contrary! the greater or weakness the greater the space for His Grace!

A Saint for the Depressed

Yesterday was the feast of St. Jane de Chantal . In the April 2008 issue of the St. Anthony Messenger there was an article titled "Jane de Chantal: A Saint for the Depressed." It made some wonderful points about how Jane de Chantal had a loving, successful life even in the midst of chronic depression.

The death of her husband, some her children and other family members, plus later on the trials of starting a new religious order were factors that kept the depression coming back. But she never gave into despair.

According to the articles there are some things that she did that kept her fighting against depression and helped her to be a Holy, successful, and life-filled person.

1. Trust in God. Jane placed above everything her love of God. She knew that God is a loving God and he would save her from pain or give her the strenght to bear it. She chose to trust Him. She expressed this through her life of intimate prayer and service to God.

2. Holy Friends. Jane knew she didn't have to walk that path alone. She had wonderful holy friends with which she could share her struggles. The main one was her spiritual director and friend St. Francis de Sales.

3. Service to Others. Service opens the heart to others, giving to others makes us realize that we have something to offer even if it is just a smile, a kind word, a simple gesture. Jane gave her life in service to others and in that she found meaning and relief. She was able to forget herself and serve others even when she was in profound pain.

May St. Jane de Chantal pray for us for the strenght to bear our crosses joyfully!

I Thirst

People that struggle with Anxiety disorders many times need to learn new ways to express their needs. Many of them have a hard time voicing their needs clearly and simply. It is easy to fall into a passive-aggressive way of communication. "You should know what I need" is not a good answer to "what do you need?"

Christ in the Cross, in pain, immobilized and vulnerable shows us how to clearly voice our needs. He expressed them simply and clearly. In his pain, he called "I thirst."

That was it. Simple and direct.

May we, like Christ, learn to express our needs clearly and simply.

discrimination

It was until I was diagnosed that I started understanding the pain of discrimination. References and jokes about being "crazy," "being medicated," specially in t.v. would hurt... badly.

Besides working for an end to discrimination, lets not allow this to embitter our hearts. Let us like the Saints before us, FORGIVE.

St. Antonio Maria Claret

His Experience: St. Anthony Maria Claret experienced the pain of unwanted intrusive thoughts similar to the intrusive thoughts experienced by people with OCD.

There was a moment in his youth when he was surprised by blasphemous thoughts against the Virgin Mary. He loved the Virgin and these thoughts were terribly disturbing, unwanted and uncalled for. He also experienced equally disturbing angry toughts towards his own mother whom he loved deeply and who was a great woman and mother.

His solution: Calmly he increased his love to the Virgin by more prayer and increased his love for his mother with more kindness and gentleness. All this trusting in God. After a while the intrusive thoughts were dispeled, but his main focus was not on getting the thoughts to disappear. His main concern was simply to love.

Message: Loving God and Loving others always brings healing.

Vive Jesus!

“Ah! I hope this headache will much profit your heart…now my daughter, it is that you may, more than ever, and by very good signs, prove to our sweet Savior that it is with all you affection that you have said and will say Vive Jesus! Vive Jesus! my child, and may He reign amid your pains.” – St. Francis de Sales

The Beginning

Hello people of the world!I am a young faithful mexican catholic twenty-something girl. Luv the Lord, the outdoors, sunny days, friends and family, volunteering, the Sound of Music, painting, writing and animals.

I also was recently diagnosed with OCD, depression and anxiety disorder...yeah... not cool...

I carried this "Crown of Thorns" for about 5 years in silence. Only recently have I found out that "it" had a name. And with that knowledge the long road of the dark unknown what-the-heck-is-wrong-with-me road finished and the lets-get-this-fixed journey began.

I've been very blessed. When I didn't even know what "this" was and I just simply thought I was completely messed up I had a Faithful Friend by my side.

Christ.

Christ, since my earliest childhood, has been my Sweet Companion. My Faithful Friend, my Heart. And when this thing fell over me he became my Guardian and my Guide.

Of course I asked for a miracle. I even went to pilgrimages asking for it...but He called me down a different path.The Ordinary Path.The Ordinary Path of Healing. The path of humility, of accepting brokenness, of finally breaking the silence and talking with a priest and then to a therapist, the courage to talk to my family and friends about it.

He indeed worked a Miracle. The miracle of giving me the courage of walking down this Path. It is a path of humility, of accepting brokenness, of accepting help. Of looking at this monster in the eye and laughing out loud at it. And since it is a continuous fight against despair it is, by its very nature a Path of Joy!

And because Christ has the power to Redeem everything, this will become a tool of Compassion and Service for others. I want to share with you writings of the Saints, notes and random things that have given me courage and that might help you also.

In my weakness I will be strong!And so, I invite you to share on this walk with Christ to redeem this terrible Crown of Thorns into the Crown of Glory!