Almost ready to give up

[Deus_tecum]

I am almost at the point of giving up on Catholicism. I have concluded it is basically impossible to get into heaven. And I don’t think God wants me to live this way. Everything, it seems, is a mortal sin. I just learned about the sin of scandal, which to my understanding basically means that all of my sins are mortal because they set a bad example, which causes another to sin. My life is miserable. I can’t even talk without worrying if whatever I was going to say is inappropriate. If it even had a hint of a sexual undertone I can’t say it. I can’t kiss my boyfriend without worrying it might incite him to lust and therefore put both our souls in danger. Almost all music is sinful. I don’t want to live anymore and deal with this. If I was told tomorrow that I had six months to live I would be so happy because this torture would be over soon. You don’t have to worry about sin after you die. If I’m going to go to hell anyway even after trying so hard, what is the point? Heck, this post is probably scandal! I just don’t see a way to be happy, but I can’t believe God would put me on this earth just to be miserable.

Think about who would want you to think the thoughts in your post. They are all spiritually negative thoughts designed to make you think God is too distant, too unloving, too strict to care about you. Who could be the author. They are lies of satan designed to pry you away from God. What earthly father who truly loves his daughter would make rules so strict that she was doomed to fail and then take away her inheritance for the failure so she must live in the streets? How much more than an earthly father does your Father in Heaven care for you.

 

[dedo]

God calls us to holiness and perfection – not to love the world and be lukewarm. Perfection may be unattainable, but God still commands us be perfect as His heavenly Father is perfect – that means we must try our best to be perfect, even if we shall never attain to this perfection. If you love pleasing the world more than pleasing God you will end up in hell, my friend. You don’t have to be stuffy around people, you can be meek, humble, chaste, sincere, charitable, humorous and live a good Christian life – and people like people with these qualities. You are just a pilgrim on this earth and heaven is your home; do not live like this earth is your home and final destination – heaven is. If you deny Jesus in this life and do not follow after Him, taking up your cross daily, then He will deny you. He did tell us clearly and plainly that if we deny Him, then He will deny us. Try hard to persevere in faith and in a state of grace! God bless you.

The one group that Jesus directly threatened with hell, was the Pharisees. What did the Pharisees do? They terrorized people with religion and set themselves up as the judges.

One of the devil’s greatest weapons is to try to induce despair in people and get them to give up on seeking God. The Pharisees aid the devil in this. They act like a linebacker who tackles pilgrims trying to get to God.

We are supposed to be like a tight end, and pave the way for people to get to God by encouraging people to keep seeking God and to trust in His ability to save us.

In my opinion, we fall into the trap of acting like a Pharisee when we focus on judging as opposed to loving. This is especially true when we set ourselves up as the “authority” instead of telling people to seek God from sources far far far superior to almost everyone here such as the local priest, the Bible, and the Catechism.

In two places where the entire Bible is condensed into two lines, judging anyone is not mentioned: Matt 22: 36-40. James 1:27.

In Matthew, Jesus says to love God, neighbor, and self. In James, James says to visit the widow and the fatherless, and stay unspotted from the world. If we want to be sure to be on the right path, we should be loving God, neighbor, and self. We should stay unspotted from the world by our example, not by our judgement, in my opinion.

 

[erine]

The Saints rely on grace, not their own power at all. God isn’t a Pharisee and Jesus said love covers a multitude of sins. Ask and you shall receive; if you are worried just pray every day that you become a saint, that you have the grave of a happy death and go straight to heaven. If you pray this in Jesus’ name He will bring you to your purpose here. It will be hard but it’s better to suffer and know things are well with your soul. Just ask!

 

[erine]

*grace of a happy death

 

[ohms]

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

His Yoke is easy and his burden is light.

Yoke up with the King and let the Pharisees burden somebody else.

Never forget, that on your own you can do NOTHING…He meant it!!

Grace.

 

[Michael57]

I am almost at the point of giving up on Catholicism.

Don’t give up. God loves you.

I have concluded it is basically impossible to get into heaven.

Jesus says “I am the Way”.

And I don’t think God wants me to live this way.

He doesn’t want you to live in despair. He wants you to use the gifts He has for you and the talents you have. He wants you to be a bright light to all people, full of joy and love and a joy to be near.

Everything, it seems, is a mortal sin.

That’s simply not true. Sounds like a slight exaggeration, you do know better don’t you?

I just learned about the sin of scandal, which to my understanding basically means that all of my sins are mortal because they set a bad example, which causes another to sin.

You are not in control of what other people think, do, or how they behave. You are in charge of only you.

My life is miserable.

It may seem so at times, but when was the last time you saw something beautiful? The smile of a child playing? A glorious sunrise or sunset? Your favorite relative? What are the blessings that you can be thankful for in your life? I bet if you wrote them on a sheet of paper, that you’d soon run out of paper.

I can’t even talk without worrying if whatever I was going to say is inappropriate.

You shouldn’t worry about what others think about what you say, just be yourself, and try to do your best. If you make a mistake, you can always apologize. Trust others to understand and forgive

If it even had a hint of a sexual undertone I can’t say it.

That’s alright. If you don’t feel like saying something, then don’t say it. Be yourself.

I can’t kiss my boyfriend without worrying it might incite him to lust and therefore put both our souls in danger.

Well, have you asked him about it? I hope you’re both mature enough to know how to not get too carried away.

Almost all music is sinful.

That may well be, but there is plenty of music that is not offensive. Instrumental music has no lyrics at all, for instance. Then there’s Christian music. No one forces you to listen to offensive music, do they?

I don’t want to live anymore and deal with this.

I think that’s an exaggeration born out of frustration. Right?

If I was told tomorrow that I had six months to live I would be so happy because this torture would be over soon.

No one knows how much time we have on earth, we each have a day appointed for us to depart this life. The point is to be happy with the time spent here** today**, and reflect God’s light to others in your life today. Today is all we ever have, for there’s no promise for tomorrow. And the past is already gone. Focusing on either one too much takes our eyes off of what is important today.

You don’t have to worry about sin after you die.

That’s true. We will have our good works tested with fire to see what is left over, some will have great riches. I hope you will be very rich in Heaven.

If I’m going to go to hell anyway even after trying so hard, what is the point?

Who says you’re going to hell? Sounds like something is trying to get you to just give up. That is despair. The best cure for despair is to help someone that has a need. It doesn’t have to be money, visit someone lonely, help someone with a chore they cannot do.

Heck, this post is probably scandal!

No, it isn’t. You’re alright.

I just don’t see a way to be happy, but I can’t believe God would put me on this earth just to be miserable.

Live your life. God wants you to be happy and know real joy. One way to be happy is to help others. Be the light in their life.

Don’t worry so much.

Your feelings will change. If they persist for an unusually long time, perhaps it would be best to talk to your priest or someone that is a healthcare professional.

St Augustine wrote: God loves each of us as if there were only on of us (in the universe) to love.

I think he was right about that.

That means that God loves you, like there was only you to love in all of His Creation. ever and always. He wants you to know Him and know His Love for you, so that His love can shine through you. He loves you so much that He gave His only begotten Son for your salvation.

You are a blessing and you can have a wonderful life. Get out and show your light to those less fortunate than you.

 

[crenfro]

Hello!

Very glad you posted here.

This is all my opinion so please take or leave whatever or isn’t useful in the following:

How long have you been a Catholic? Do you do much spiritual reading? Have you discussed this terrible discouragement with a priest and/or spiritual director? Do you read scripture regularly? Have you discussed this with God - in prayer? Have you asked the Blessed Virgin Mary for help? Have you gone to Adoration? Have you been going to Mass every Sunday? Do you go to Confession regularly and frequently?

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I get discouraged very easily. It’s terrible. Sometimes I think it’s the bad one tempting me.

Running (actually I usually drive ) to Adoration helps me as do the sacraments. Praying the Rosary and/or the Divine Mercy Chaplet helps too. Praying “Jesus I trust in You” always helps.

And nothing is impossible with God.

Will say a prayer for you → and please pray for me.

I am almost at the point of giving up on Catholicism. I have concluded it is basically impossible to get into heaven. And I don’t think God wants me to live this way. Everything, it seems, is a mortal sin. I just learned about the sin of scandal, which to my understanding

 

[ohms]

I just watched this video by Fr. Cantalamessa and wanted to share it with you as I feel it would bless you.

youtube.com/watch?v=YKdAoZU7q5I

 

[ohms]

youtube.com/watch?v=kFOu5E7Xo3I

 

[dedo]

I just watched this video by Fr. Cantalamessa and wanted to share it with you as I feel it would bless you.

youtube.com/watch?v=YKdAoZU7q5I

There is another video on this site that was a help to me:

youtube.com/watch?v=xXlWjnznwys

It is about a book by Timothy Gallagher, an expert on St. Ignatius. I just ordered a few of Gallagher’s books and DVDs as he discusses specific exercises Ignatius gives to help us with things like discernment, and dealing with periods of spiritual dryness that we all go through.

Also, the advice to be cautious about spending too much time on religious forums is sound.

Another book I am reading now called: “The Slight Edge” by Olson puts a lot of things in perspective. Olson gives a primarily secular philosophy for moving forward by regularly taking small steps toward self-improvement and our goals.

Olson warns that 95% of people don’t do this and many of these people will try and pull us down. So I would say to connect with people at a local church that are working on things that you find interesting and can lift you up, and to get most of your advice that you use from real experts such as your local priest, or scholars like Gallagher.

CAF can be a source for finding some good experts. Just be cautious about people who set themselves up as religious experts, especially if they pull you down. They are just part of the 95%.

Good luck.