Read, Pray, Ask to Deepen Our Faith

Another late night phone call, going back and forth over what the Church teaches on this and that it ended where it usually did.

He asked me, “Well, why don’t you read up on it?”

It wasn’t a tearful encounter in the Mass, or a deeply moving talk, or a song that drew me back to the Church. For as highly emotional of a person I am, it was surprising to me that God drew me closer to Him through books and study. While I treasure in my heart those spiritual consolations of sweet tenderness with the Lord, they wouldn’t have happened without my head leading me there.

I read my way back to the Truth.

In my early twenties, I very seriously wrestled with big—and common—issues people have with Church teaching. Providentially, I had a good friend point me to a few texts on apologetics, and I devoured them. I craved the knowledge the Church had preserved and offered to the faithful. I read anything I could get my hands on.

Finally, I reached a point where I was able to see that yes, indeed, the Catholic Church was right about this one very big issue, and I could trust her to be right about other things as well. It wasn’t the last time I would struggle with the Church, but I have been able to return to the practice of reading, praying, and asking the Spirit to guide my eyes and mind and heart to the truth of Christ.

Jesus told His disciples that He came to fulfill the law, and in doing so illuminated the truth held in the Scriptures. He did it then, and thanks to the deposit of Faith, the Church still provides this for us today.

I would encourage you to take time to study our Faith and pray this simple prayer offered by the psalmist in today’s Responsorial Psalm:

“Open my eyes, that I may consider the wonders of your law.”

I read my way back to the Truth. // @jacquiskempClick to tweet

A wonderful book to have on hand with answer to almost all questions about Church dogma? This one.

Jacqueline Skemp is a daughter, sister, wife, and mother who endures living in Minnesota after leaving California for her one true love. She is a contributing author to our children's devotional prayer book called Rise Up. You can find out more about her here.