Anybody else feel like they're on the road to hell?

[thestudentAD]

So, I’ve been praying the rosary and divine mercy chaplet, as well as taking meds for an anxiety disorder that I have. The disorder is religious/moral. That, and I had a pornography and masturbation addiction that I still struggle with because I wanted to be away from my mother who is bat guano crazy. I’ve been saying prayers, going to mass and confession. And no matter how hard I try to be a good cahtolic( I am lazy in the morning and a bit of a glutton, do exercise sometimes, though)… I feel nihilistic. I feel like I’m just one more soul on the road to hell and that life is more hellish. I feel that I’m going to go from one hell and into another some days.
Does anyone else feel that life is becoming hellish? I’ve had it up to my EYEBALLS with the whole (Traditionalism/Modernism/) Wars going on. Some times, I even feel tempted to leave the church because I don’t have enough zeal. That, and I fear being an overzealous, anti-scientific prick.

 

[Techno2000]

So, I’ve been praying the rosary and divine mercy chaplet, as well as taking meds for an anxiety disorder that I have. The disorder is religious/moral. That, and I had a pornography and masturbation addiction that I still struggle with because I wanted to be away from my mother who is bat guano crazy. I’ve been saying prayers, going to mass and confession. And no matter how hard I try to be a good cahtolic( I am lazy in the morning and a bit of a glutton, do exercise sometimes, though)… I feel nihilistic. I feel like I’m just one more soul on the road to hell and that life is more hellish. I feel that I’m going to go from one hell and into another some days.
Does anyone else feel that life is becoming hellish? I’ve had it up to my EYEBALLS with the whole (Traditionalism/Modernism/) Wars going on. Some times, I even feel tempted to leave the church because I don’t have enough zeal. That, and I fear being an overzealous, anti-scientific prick.

I think you are doing good, Jesus wants us struggle otherwise there would be no merit.

 

[bobcrawford]

So, I’ve been praying the rosary and divine mercy chaplet, as well as taking meds for an anxiety disorder that I have. The disorder is religious/moral. That, and I had a pornography and masturbation addiction that I still struggle with because I wanted to be away from my mother who is bat guano crazy. I’ve been saying prayers, going to mass and confession. And no matter how hard I try to be a good cahtolic( I am lazy in the morning and a bit of a glutton, do exercise sometimes, though)… I feel nihilistic. I feel like I’m just one more soul on the road to hell and that life is more hellish. I feel that I’m going to go from one hell and into another some days.
Does anyone else feel that life is becoming hellish? I’ve had it up to my EYEBALLS with the whole (Traditionalism/Modernism/) Wars going on. Some times, I even feel tempted to leave the church because I don’t have enough zeal. That, and I fear being an overzealous, anti-scientific prick.

I do think the way the Catholic Church lays everything out from a religious standpoint that about everything we do is a sin and you cannot go to Heaven with a sin on your soul so you are pretty much damned. First, I don’t see where Jesus ever said that death with an “unforgiven sin” as in need to go to confession, sends you to Hell. It says faith in Him will save you. I personally hate confession and so do most Catholics today so if you are not going to confession, then again, I guess you are going to Hell. From what I’ve seen in the world today, it’s pretty hard going through the day without sinning, and you cannot be in confession every day, so I can see why so many people think like you, and me, that it looks like Hell for us according to the Church.

 

[AKDee]

I’m a new Catholic and also struggle with this feeling that I will go to hell. Catholicism seems so…legalistic. So many things are mortal sins- things I didn’t even know were sins until I became a Catholic.

On the other hand, I appreciate that Catholicism does believe that it matters what you do. As a former protestant, one of my objections was that it seemed obvious to me by reading the Bible that salvation isn’t through faith alone but that in order to demonstrate faith one had to back it up by trying to follow our Lord’s commandments. “Faith without works is dead.” I saw a lot of protestants that didn’t seem to think it mattered what they did, they were saved regardless and I felt like something was wrong there.

I also appreciate that there are so many ways to get back into a state of Grace in the Church. As this is my first year as a Catholic, Divine Mercy Sunday amazed me, why, if you met all the conditions it would wipe you as clean of sin as baptism!

And perhaps it’s heretical, but my understanding of hell is that people choose to go there, God doesn’t choose to send people there. I think even if you were to die with a mortal sin on your soul, if you really wanted to be with God and not go to hell, I think there would be some provision for that, perhaps that final chance to tell God “I’m so sorry!” just before your heart beats its last. I read once that when we die, the one thing that will never be questioned is God’s justice. Whatever happens to us, we will agree that God was just in his dealings with us. I truly believe that.

 

[808Catholic]

So, I’ve been praying the rosary and divine mercy chaplet, as well as taking meds for an anxiety disorder that I have. The disorder is religious/moral. That, and I had a pornography and masturbation addiction that I still struggle with because I wanted to be away from my mother who is bat guano crazy. I’ve been saying prayers, going to mass and confession. And no matter how hard I try to be a good cahtolic( I am lazy in the morning and a bit of a glutton, do exercise sometimes, though)… I feel nihilistic. I feel like I’m just one more soul on the road to hell and that life is more hellish. I feel that I’m going to go from one hell and into another some days.
Does anyone else feel that life is becoming hellish? I’ve had it up to my EYEBALLS with the whole (Traditionalism/Modernism/) Wars going on. Some times, I even feel tempted to leave the church because I don’t have enough zeal. That, and I fear being an overzealous, anti-scientific prick.

It’s evident from your post you have a lot on your mind and turmoil in your soul. I once heard from a priest I was confessing to “there is one sin that is generally the root of all sins: pride.” He explained, overeating, obsession with porn, anger, laziness, etc are usually rooted in pride. We overeat because we don’t honor the temple that God created our body to be and we ignore that the Holy Spirit is with us at all times. We watch porn (and masturbate) because we marginalize others as just “things” to bring us earthly pleasure. We lash out at others because we believe they are inferior perhaps even lower on the IQ scale then we. We procrastinate because our time is worth more than anyone else’s. We make excuses for our sin as if God “owes” us forgiveness and salvation. If this sounds familiar, welcome to the rest of humanity! We are all sinners and most of use have committed more sins than we’d like to admit or remember.

While it’s true Jesus does love the sinner, it doesn’t mean He wants us to continue sinning. We have free will; we have the assistance of God’s grace through the Sacraments. We will fall again but we need to resolve to keep that fall from happening to the best of our ability and will. Sometimes avoiding sin is fairly “easy” depending on the sin. (I don’t know of anyone who feels compelled to murder someone!) But most times, we “fall” into sin because we forget to weigh our actions and thoughts: does it honor God? We commit the sin because we are spiritually lazy and apathetic.

If you feel like you’re on the road to hell, maybe it’s time to ask directions to heaven. The evil one won’t help you turn around and find your way home. God is always waiting patiently for us to ask Him for direction and assistance. Unburden yourself of your sins, humble yourself in front of of the Creator of the Universe (and you!), and seek His forgiveness and mercy.

BTW check out Matt Fradd’s site on the science of internet porn and the global obsession with it. There are other sites but Matt has a very creditable background being a self-professed ex-porn addict. What you’ll find is enlightening and you may find Matt is a modern day prophet helping others turn to God despite his past sinful life.

God Bless you!

 

[China123]

I think we all struggle with feelings like you have during our walk on Earth. Persevere . When I go to confession I tell the priest sometimes the same sins. I struggle with losing my temper and often take that to confession. Sometimes the thought comes into my head that the Lord is going to get tired of forgiving that…I keep confessing it. I can’t “beat it” so what is the point. That is the devil trying to get me from going to confession. I go anyway. My confessor always says “persevere always” God never tires of us asking for forgiveness. He knows we are flawed but I believe he wants us to always go back to him…always. His mercy is unending.

I will pray for you

 

[GEddie]

If you find yourself in Hell, Michigan, take courage – it freezes over every year!!!

Otherwise, “Spira, spera”. Breathe and hope. Our LORD won’t let you down.

ICXC NIKA

 

[technatrix]

I’m a new Catholic and also struggle with this feeling that I will go to hell. Catholicism seems so…legalistic. So many things are mortal sins- things I didn’t even know were sins until I became a Catholic.

On the other hand, I appreciate that Catholicism does believe that it matters what you do. As a former protestant, one of my objections was that it seemed obvious to me by reading the Bible that salvation isn’t through faith alone but that in order to demonstrate faith one had to back it up by trying to follow our Lord’s commandments. “Faith without works is dead.” I saw a lot of protestants that didn’t seem to think it mattered what they did, they were saved regardless and I felt like something was wrong there.

I also appreciate that there are so many ways to get back into a state of Grace in the Church. As this is my first year as a Catholic, Divine Mercy Sunday amazed me, why, if you met all the conditions it would wipe you as clean of sin as baptism!

And perhaps it’s heretical, but my understanding of hell is that people choose to go there, God doesn’t choose to send people there. I think even if you were to die with a mortal sin on your soul, if you really wanted to be with God and not go to hell, I think there would be some provision for that, perhaps that final chance to tell God “I’m so sorry!” just before your heart beats its last. I read once that when we die, the one thing that will never be questioned is God’s justice. Whatever happens to us, we will agree that God was just in his dealings with us. I truly believe that.

I ready through a book by Bishop Sheen recently and your comment reminded me of a story he told in the book about a man who had turned away from the church and was adamantly opposed to it for much of his life. When the man was dying in the hospital, a relative of his was so concerned for his soul that she tried to have priests visit him but the man refused to see them, so she begged Bishop Sheen to try as a last ditch effort. Sheen went to visit the man one evening and the man adamantly refused the opportunity to confess his sins. Before he left, Sheen told the man that in his last moments, just to consider saying “My Jesus, mercy”. The man died that night and the nurse later recounted to Sheen that the man had begun whispering “My Jesus, mercy” before he died. Sheen evidently believed that God would accept that contrition and be merciful.

So, I don’t know, I don’t have the right qualifications to have an opinion on it. But, if I were going to believe in God, I’d want to believe in the type of God that Sheen clearly did.

 

[AKDee]

So, I don’t know, I don’t have the right qualifications to have an opinion on it. But, if I were going to believe in God, I’d want to believe in the type of God that Sheen clearly did.

Thanks very much for sharing that story on Bishop Sheen.

Something that came to mind while reading the responses here is what my penance was at Confession this weekend. We had a visiting Priest and I was wondering what his penance for me would be. So after I confessed, he told me to say three Hail Mary’s and ask Mary to lead me to Heaven. I think that is applicable to the OP, also. In addition to doing it as my penance, I’ve begun just doing it every day.

 

[Techno2000]

if you really wanted to be with God and not go to hell, I think there would be some provision for that, perhaps that final chance to tell God “I’m so sorry!” just before your heart beats its last.

Excerpt :An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory

I can tell you about the different degrees of Purgatory because I have passed through them. In the great Purgatory there are several stages. In the lowest and most painful, like a temporary hell, are the sinners who have committed terrible crimes during life and whose death surprised them in that state. It was almost a miracle that they were saved, and often by the prayers of holy parents or other pious persons. Sometimes they did not even have time to confess their sins and the world thought them lost, but God, whose mercy is infinite, gave them at the moment of death the contrition necessary for their salvation on account of one or more good actions which they performed during life. For such souls, Purgatory is terrible. It is a real hell with this difference, that in hell they curse God, whereas we bless Him and thank Him for having saved us.
catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=6253

 

[Techno2000]

So, I’ve been praying the rosary and divine mercy chaplet, as well as taking meds for an anxiety disorder that I have. The disorder is religious/moral. That, and I had a pornography and masturbation addiction that I still struggle with because I wanted to be away from my mother who is bat guano crazy. I’ve been saying prayers, going to mass and confession. And no matter how hard I try to be a good cahtolic( I am lazy in the morning and a bit of a glutton, do exercise sometimes, though)… I feel nihilistic. I feel like I’m just one more soul on the road to hell and that life is more hellish. I feel that I’m going to go from one hell and into another some days.
Does anyone else feel that life is becoming hellish? I’ve had it up to my EYEBALLS with the whole (Traditionalism/Modernism/) Wars going on. Some times, I even feel tempted to leave the church because I don’t have enough zeal. That, and I fear being an overzealous, anti-scientific prick.

Prayer to the Shoulder Wound of Jesus

It is related in the annals of Clairvaux that St. Bernard asked Our Lord which was His greatest unrecorded suffering and Our Lord answered: “I had on My Shoulder, while I bore My Cross on the Way of Sorrows, a grievous Wound, which was more painful than the others and which is not recorded by men. Honor this Wound with thy devotion and I will grant thee whatsoever thou dost ask through Its virtue and merit. And in regard to all those who shall venerate this Wound, I will remit to them all their venial sins and will no longer remember their mortal sins.”

This revelation and promise of Our Dear Savior is another proof of His unlimited mercy. You are urged to say these prayers daily and to promulgate this prayer on a continuous basis, so that others may share in this blessing.

The Prayer
O Loving Jesus, meek Lamb of God, I a miserable sinner, salute and worship the most Sacred Wound of Thy Shoulder on which Thou didst bear Thy heavy Cross, which so tore Thy Flesh and laid bare Thy Bones as to inflict on Thee an anguish greater than any other Wound of Thy Most Blessed Body. I adore Thee, O Jesus most sorrowful; I praise and glorify Thee and give Thee thanks for this most sacred and painful Wound, beseeching Thee by that exceeding pain and by the crushing burden of Thy heavy Cross to be merciful to me, a sinner, to forgive me all my mortal and venial sins, and to lead me on towards Heaven along the Way of Thy Cross. Amen.

Imprimatur: Thomas D. Beven, Bishop of Springfield, Ma.

Pope Eugenius III, at the earnest request of St. Bernard, has granted three thousand years Indulgence to all who with a contrite heart, recite the Lord’s Prayer and Hail Mary 3 times, in honor of the Wound on the Shoulder of Our Blessed Redeemer.

brizek.com/prayer/pieta.htm#invholyw

 

[Pythagoras]

So, I’ve been praying the rosary and divine mercy chaplet, as well as taking meds for an anxiety disorder that I have. The disorder is religious/moral. That, and I had a pornography and masturbation addiction that I still struggle with because I wanted to be away from my mother who is bat guano crazy. I’ve been saying prayers, going to mass and confession. And no matter how hard I try to be a good cahtolic( I am lazy in the morning and a bit of a glutton, do exercise sometimes, though)… I feel nihilistic. I feel like I’m just one more soul on the road to hell and that life is more hellish. I feel that I’m going to go from one hell and into another some days.
Does anyone else feel that life is becoming hellish? I’ve had it up to my EYEBALLS with the whole (Traditionalism/Modernism/) Wars going on. Some times, I even feel tempted to leave the church because I don’t have enough zeal. That, and I fear being an overzealous, anti-scientific prick.

Well St. Monica prayed for St. Augustine for 10 years before St. Augustine finally repented of his sins especially lusts.

I too had the sins of porn/masturbation. It took me around 12 years to get rid of it. Thanks to the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary and our Lord Jesus. Yes the devil is still tempting me when I am offguard, that is why I pray 3 Hail Marys quickly. Mortify your eyes and your curiosity especially in what you see and read.

Prayer is not having an effect? Words of Jesus Christ to Sister Josefa Menendez

1.) Prayer generally obtains the sinner’s conversion, though sometimes at the last moment
2.) Prayer is never lost for it consoles Jesus for the offense

 

[thestudentAD]

I’m interested in reading military science fiction, war, as well as military history, space documentaries as well as action movies, war movies and movies that do honor to the Military.