A question about people trying to make big changes

[sidetrack]

I guess there are people out there who once t hey realize how bad there way of life and/or attitude has been decide to make drastic changes and try to be better people.They also might think that with the changes they have made it will also be be there way of atoning for the long time(for example possibly years) that they have been living a bad way of life and/or attitude.For instance if a person realizes how bratty they have been for a significant portion of there life would it be natural and/or okay of them to think that all the things that they do for the rest of there life will be there way of atoning for all the vice that they did before they changed?.

 

[Robert_Sock]

Religion without striving for virtue is next to worthless. It sounds like you are discovering this. The greater this struggle the more eventual pleasure.

 

[James224]

I guess there are people out there who once t hey realize how bad there way of life and/or attitude has been decide to make drastic changes and try to be better people.They also might think that with the changes they have made it will also be be there way of atoning for the long time(for example possibly years) that they have been living a bad way of life and/or attitude.For instance if a person realizes how bratty they have been for a significant portion of there life would it be natural and/or okay of them to think that all the things that they do for the rest of there life will be there way of atoning for all the vice that they did before they changed?.

Absolutely! It’s called Penance.

 

[Trishie]

St Augustine didn’t respond to God’s graces until later in life.
St Francis of Assisi’s early life was very secular.
Venerable Matthew Talbot was drunk for most of fifteen years before he began to live a holy, Sacramental, and prayerful life…Yes, so great Saints were not always living holy lives in their earlier years.
Saint Paul arrested Christians and stood by approving of the murder of the first Christian martyr St Stephen. He changed his name from Saul to Paul and became on of the great evangelists, and write of part of the New Testament!
If they can change, so with God’s grace also, can you.
God grant you all the perseverance and graces you need each day, and the grace to try and try again where necessary!

A first step, with God’s grace, would be Confession. Don’t be fearful. The priest would be delighted to have you come, and he has already heard all kinds of sin.

Jesus said, I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:7

Jesus repeated: ** In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."** Luke 15:10