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Your experience, I believe, is not (unfortunately) unique, Whit. I am glad you expressed that here. I try hard not to denigrate anyone else’s spiritual beliefs or practices, especially in 12 Step meetings, and I often wonder why people feel it is appropriate to say things they think are “smart” and “funny”, like “Oh, and I’m a recovering Catholic!” It’s childish and disrespectful, and if it were any other religious faith, I don’t think it would be tolerated. I love CIR because I can talk about the faith and things that are specifically Catholic without having to “edit” my share. I have had some real success in using the Rosary to combat sexual temptation and normally any “strategy” would be welcomed at an SLAA meeting, but I didn’t think it would be accepted – I was afraid people might think I was trying to suggest THEY should take up the Rosary! I really needed to say it out loud, though, because it WAS making a difference and I wanted to reinforce it for myself by sharing it out loud – but not for proselytizing. Perhaps that was my mistake and I should have just said it and if anyone took it as a suggestion I could have taken the time to set the record straight. It’s hard to know how to handle things like that, so I am glad for CIR. The other issue I have found in the secular rooms is profanity in the form of blasphemy that makes me uncomfortable. There are times when I understand the use of fairly mild profanity in sharing, but I don’t like the use of Holy Names being treated disrespectfully. That we do not have in CIR and it is a relief!
This saint has touched my spirit in a way I cannot adequately express. His perseverance in prayer and Mass and acceptance of the withholding of absolution and denial of Communion moves me to tears. When I started an in-person meeting at my parish, I decided to ask him to be our patron saint and I pray daily for his care of our group. A beautiful soul and great advocate!
I think food is a particularly difficult area to deal with as an addiction in the way many other substances and issues are handled in 12 Step recovery. Most addictive substances and behaviors can be addressed by committing to total abstinence. Although difficult and challenging, it is clear and “black and white” what needs to be done: a commitment to abstain, one day at a time. The same approach cannot be applied to food, so the moderation that is desired appears almost counterintuitive and anathema to the 12 Step approach. I am powerless over my “all or nothing” addictive attitude and personality, but it can serve me well when it comes to substances other than food – it has to be nothing! Food, of course, is not something that can be treated in the same fashion. I think my hope lies in listening to others who have successfully applied the Steps to food issues and follow their lead. I have met people in OA rooms who have been able to adjust their eating habits and found healthy ways to achieve some moderation. I also struggle with the “whack-a-mole” syndrome because I have multiple addictive issues that pop up once one area appears to be relatively “settled” for the moment. I suspect that the Beast changes forms when I have had a period of sobriety in one area or another.
This Sacrament can be applied to the recovering person, just as it can for an individual who may have any other serious illness – even when that illness is in “remission.” We will have a priest come to administer this Sacrament after our in-person meeting at least once a year, and anyone can request it, individually, at any other time. It is important to note that the Church MUST keep a record of the recipients of this Sacrament, but providing a first name and last initial should be sufficient to meet that requirement while protecting the anonymity of 12 Step participants. We held the Sacrament immediately following the regular meeting time so that those who chose to receive could stay and participate. It was a moving experience for the participants and the priest alike.
