"My first Sunday accepting God's body and blood I balled my eyes out in church; the feeling of relief, love, and oneness overwhelmed me."
I was wondering how many others reading this thread have received the 'gift of tears'?
St. Ambrose says of the two conversions that, in the Church,
"there are water and tears: the water of Baptism and the tears of repentance."
God granted me that Grace, and I consider it the greatest gift of consolation that He could grant.
If anybody has received it and wants to know more about it, read St. Catherine of Siena 'The Dialoge' or St. John of the Cross 'Dark Night of the Soul'
There is a whole theology to it.
**"there are water and tears: the water of Baptism and the tears of repentance."**
The tears happened to me one evening after Confession. I just felt so close to God. All I could do was sit there and sob quietly for about 10 minutes before I could even begin to say my Penance.
I help to give healing weekends for the divorced, widowed and separated or anyone who has suffered a significant loss in their life. Tears are definitely a part of it, and we let them cry. But we also encourage them to put their thoughts and feelings down on paper.
Just like the Marriage Encounter weekend, presentations are given, there is a quiet reflection time and then we have a small group time. (Obviously no couples on these weekends.)
BTW, click on my name to read my profile and find the direct link to Beginning Experience.
I did at my wedding. Couldn't keep them back. My wife didn't though, which was a little embarrassing 8-)