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Hegesippus

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As a young man (just graduated high school) I try very hard to live by all Church teachings. Almost all my friends around where I live (small rural town) all fornicate with each other. It is like Pagan Rome all over again. In my conscince I clearly know it is wrong, but I feel so alienated and lonely, not to mention not too many Catholics out here and if they are not faithful ones. Well what I am getting at is that if I live by Mother Church’s teachings how come I seem not as happy as the other kids. BTW I will be attending a Catholic University in a big city and I don’t believe it is going to get any better
 
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Hegesippus:
As a young man (just graduated high school) I try very hard to live by all Church teachings. Almost all my friends around where I live (small rural town) all fornicate with each other. It is like Pagan Rome all over again. In my conscince I clearly know it is wrong, but I feel so alienated and lonely, not to mention not too many Catholics out here and if they are not faithful ones. Well what I am getting at is that if I live by Mother Church’s teachings how come I seem not as happy as the other kids. BTW I will be attending a Catholic University in a big city and I don’t believe it is going to get any better
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Sounds identical to my high school experience. Don’t loose hope. Remeber the words of the late and great John Paul II, “Be not afraid”. At my high school, even the teachers challenged me in my faith telling me that “you worship Mary, you just don’t know it”.

This is*** an opportunity*** for you, a time of purification and strengthening for you. Rise up to the challenge. Be a wittness to others. Be a Chrisitan soldier in the battle for souls!

As far as the Catholic University you plan on attending. It will be what you make of it. If you want to party, fornicate, binge drink, I am sure you will have plenty of opportunities for it. If you want to be true to your faith, it may be tough, depending on the school but I am sure you can find other young people strong in their faith.

Pray for faith, wisdom, strength. God will not forsake you. He will give you what you need to win the battle against sin, temptation and Satan (see my signature).

Spend many hours before the Blessed Sacrament in humble adoration, meditation and prayer. If you want to grow in virtue and be a warrior for Christ, there is no better way to draw your strength. Pray the rosary as well and develop a deep love and devotion for Our Lady. She lead the frightened apostles and leads us.

God bless you brother! I will be praying for you. I have lived what you are living and have allready gone through college. It will NOT be easy, but God will provide you with what you need. Cling to Him and our Lady!

Praise be to Jesus Christ
~Now and forever!
 
Hi,

I’m sorry that you’re feeling the challenge of being a true follower of Christ. I know what you mean, and can’t offer you any simple answer that will assure you of a life in the rose garden, but then, Christ never promised it would be easy. But he did say “Be not afraid” The Father is with you as you are with Christ.

You mentioned that you will be going to a Catholic University in a big city. Did you look into attending Stubenville? Everything I’ve heard has led me to believe this is singularly the best place to attend if you want a group of faith-filled fellow students and professors. I don’t know much, if anything, about the cost, or how difficult it is to transfer, but if you’re feeling like a fish out of water because you desire a group of Catholic Faithful friends, you may want to look into it.

CARose
 
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Hegesippus:
As a young man (just graduated high school) I try very hard to live by all Church teachings. Almost all my friends around where I live (small rural town) all fornicate with each other. It is like Pagan Rome all over again. In my conscince I clearly know it is wrong, but I feel so alienated and lonely, not to mention not too many Catholics out here and if they are not faithful ones. Well what I am getting at is that if I live by Mother Church’s teachings how come I seem not as happy as the other kids. BTW I will be attending a Catholic University in a big city and I don’t believe it is going to get any better
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It is wrong for you to say that you are alienated and lonely. Maybe Jesus has a reason for you not to partake in those sinfull acts that your friends are doing. If you remain Faithfull and it seems like you are then you are not alone by any means. Just because your friends are having sex does not mean they are happy. There might be something hurting them inside and this is the way they want to deal with it. All the sex in the world will not make anyone happy.
 
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Hegesippus:
As a young man (just graduated high school) I try very hard to live by all Church teachings. Almost all my friends around where I live (small rural town) all fornicate with each other. It is like Pagan Rome all over again. In my conscince I clearly know it is wrong, but I feel so alienated and lonely, not to mention not too many Catholics out here and if they are not faithful ones. Well what I am getting at is that if I live by Mother Church’s teachings how come I seem not as happy as the other kids. BTW I will be attending a Catholic University in a big city and I don’t believe it is going to get any better
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Blessings to you Hegesippus! I am so much in awe of young people who see the light and cling to Christ at an early age. By staying faithful to the Church’s teachings you are preserving yourself for the fullness of the plan which God has had for you since the dawn of time. Think of it, nothing you might choose for yourself could possibly make you as happy as that which God has chosen for you. By following the Church’s teachings, you have a sure and certain guide to bring you to that plan. Sin will never lead you to God, only away from Him.

Practically speaking, you might want to look up books by Mary Beth Bonacci and Jason Everet, both of whom teach on chastity and Theology of the Body. They answer questions in a way that would make it easier to explain your choices to your peers, if you ever have the opportunity.

As far as being alienated and lonely, what you might not see is the pain and suffering that those very actions of your peers you described inevitably lead to. Sure your friends might act like its all a lark and they are the life of the party, but its you usually a denial. They have to “buy into” the line that this is fun, because if they faced up to the real consequences they would be racked with grief for what they have forfeited. I know, because I’ve been there.

Ultimately, finding yourself in God’s plan for you will be a reward far beyond the pain of today, not to mention your eternal rewards. Think of todays suffering as akin to the training an athelete might do. He might have to sacrifice the parties and the booze and the random sex and junk food, to keep his body in peak condition for his sport. Those sacrifices mean a better chance to run the race well. If he can sacrifice those things merely for a game, then we can do the same for our eternal life.
 
I would like to thank you all for your most charitable posts and I’ll pray that I persevere in the faith and please pray for me

God Bless
 
May Our Lord bless you and may Mary fill you with her love of Jesus. Thank you for your goodness. You will be blessed abundantly for following Him. Remember that we have **all **the gifts Jesus gave the saints. We have the means to become saints. The sacraments, Holy Mass, all the prayers. Living a chaste life gives you a peace that only the Good Lord can give. It is its own reward. Lucky the woman who you chose to be your bride. I place you in Mary’s Immaculate Heart. Thank you for sharing your concern.
 
Well what I am getting at is that if I live by Mother Church’s teachings how come I seem not as happy as the other kids.
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oh, I’ve had THAT thought before!
BTW I will be attending a Catholic University in a big city and I don’t believe it is going to get any better
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me too!

here’s some Scripture for you that helped me out!
My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for temptation.
Set your heart right and be steadfast, and do not be hasty in time of calamity.
Cleave to him and do not depart, that you may be honored at the end of your life.
Accept whatever is brought upon you, and in changes that humble you be patient.
For gold is tested in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.
Trust in him, and he will help you; make your ways straight, and hope in him.
You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and turn not aside, lest you fall.
You who fear the Lord, trust in him, and your reward will not fail;
you who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for everlasting joy and mercy.
Consider the ancient generations and see: who ever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame? Or who ever persevered in the fear of the Lord and was forsaken? Or who ever called upon him and was overlooked?
For the Lord is compassionate and merciful; he forgives sins and saves in time of affliction.
sirach 2: 1-11
 
howdy from texas!

you are not alone. i think that is probably the best thing i can tell you. so many youth get peer presured into situations like yours. it doesnt have to be that way!
one of my favorite bible verses that really helps me get through tough times is 1 corinthians 10:13…“no trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out so that you may be able to bear it.”

also i just wanted to tell you that i, like you, am a high school graduate and i will be attending Franciscan University of Steubenville, in ohio this fall.
it is good to hear that more and more teens are finding a good Catholic college!

with God’s blessings
 
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