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Em_in_FL
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Are there any other local parishes where you don’t know the priests who you can go to talk with anonymously?
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Justin_Mee
Guest
Regrettably, this does not describe me. However, what is the ultimate downside of this? Complete this sentence, “If I dedicate my entire life to the worship of God, I will…”
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Podo2005
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But… there is still nothing wrong with talking to a priest
Consider this quote from our Blessed Lord Himself
He who hears you hears me - Luke 10:16
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PaschalCatholic
Guest
Good, now is the time you must grow deeper and learn more to answer those doubts. Were you still in school and you were given homework that was challenging with questions you couldn’t yet answer would you rip the work up and throw it away? Not if you wanted to succeed, you would seek the answers and that may very well be your call now.
Check out Scott and Kim Hahn’s “Rome Sweet Home”
I can totally understand that. Often in times of trouble people shrink from what challenges them to keep pushing on.
Yes, you’re right, it would be easier to go back and you’re probably right that you had more friends, but if you’re seeking the God of love, you will be receiving far more joy than ever before. I don’t know if you’ve ever read C.S. Lewis’ “A Grief Observed”, but many of my friends have when going through troubles and you might find it helpful. Be prepared though, the beginning is deeply involved in talking about the frustrations of losing a loved one. So if you plan to read it, commit to making it all the way through so that you get the full message.
I can understand this too. In many ways we all feel a desire to just be a normal nobody. BUT, our call is to be a somebody and often times that can be frustrating, difficult, and exhausting. Pray about God’s will in your life and maybe consider seeing a spiritual director (a priest or holy person you trust to help “coach” you toward Heaven).
If we never have questions we never find answers and if we never find answers we never learn more. Trust me, many feel this way and this can often be a good thing. This is a challenge to your heart.So my question is: has anyone else felt this way? Or am I just a weirdo? Or is this a sign from God that I should switch religions?
A close friend of mine was telling me once about St. Catherine of Siena who is believed to have had conversations with God (she wrote about them). And once she asked God about similar things to these and about suffering in this world. He was very straightforward with her and said “People don’t love me” WOW “People only love what I can offer them, so to perfect their love I withdraw from them so that they may love me more”. If every time someone we loved did something wrong we stopped loving them, it wouldn’t be loving them at all. That’s not to say God is wrong, but we may perceive it that way because it’s not how we want things.
God bless,
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MtnDwellar
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Mistake…
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MtnDwellar
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Thanks for that. It made me laugh.I imagine them to be like the soup Nazi on “Seinfeld”. “No salvation for you, only for me! You go to Hell now!” And then attacks you with a rosary.
It seems to me that this forum brings out more of the “Ultra” in Catholics than they seem to have in real life. I suppose that is much easier to be eRighteous than actually righteous.
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ComputerGeek25
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Canon Law requires churches to make private confessions available to pentients. Have you ever asked your preist why they are not making this available?
Secondly, I can garuntee you that your sins aren’t that special or different than sins that anyone else commits. Your priest has heard it all before, and probably has heard stuff much worse than what you have ever done. While they may be embarassing, this is just a cop out that many people use. All you are required to do is confess sins once and it will be over before you know it.
Priests are also trained to not break the seal of the confessional. If you are so concerned about the embarassment by talking to a certain preist, why not go to a different church?
For example, I go to confession on a weekly basis, generally see the same 3 priests and generally confess the same sins over and over. Do I get embarassed this happens? Yes. But it’s still something Catholics are required to do (for are own good).
(I don’t mean to be harsh in this post - but the textual nature of this makes it sound that way).
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valient_Lucy
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Try going to confession wearing a Halloween mask. For more information, see The Bad Catholic’s Guide to Good Living. That’s mentioned in one of the footnotes.
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CountrySinger
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And I can speak in a thick Jersey accent. And wear a mumu to hide my figure.
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tweetymom
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CountrySinger
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looks for mumu and felt beret
My inspiration is the episode of “The Simpsons” where Homer gains a weight so he claim disability. He wears this flowered mumu and hat.
My inspiration is the episode of “The Simpsons” where Homer gains a weight so he claim disability. He wears this flowered mumu and hat.
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ComputerGeek25
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That episode was a classic. I think it was one of the 10 best, all time.
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CountrySinger
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“I don’t want to look like a weirdo, I’ll take the mumu.”
“For once, Dad’s fat butt prevented the release of toxic gas.”
And the tipping bird he uses to slack at his workstation.
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ComputerGeek25
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“To start, press any key.” Where’s the “Any” key?"
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CountrySinger
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Lol! Now this thread is now derailed, but I don’t care. I love the Simpsons.
“I tripled my productivity. Y Y Y”
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ComputerGeek25
Guest
Here is a book you might like:
amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0664224199/pageturners0c
It’s a pretty easy read, read it on the train up to Canada one year.
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centurionguard
Guest
As a devout Catholic who loves my Church despite all its troubles I feel it necessary to answer your title question in your thread:For the last month and a half. I’ve been having doubts, I mean serious doubts about my faith (like I have issues with most, if not all, of the Church’s beliefs). I’m just tired of defending it against other people, including my own family (I’m the only Catholic left after my mother died). It would be easier to give up and go back to my old life, I had a lot more friends, men, and fun. I guess I’m just tired, I’m tired of being the crusader, I just want to be a 28 year old woman, find a husband, and raise a family.
So my question is: has anyone else felt this way? Or am I just a weirdo? Or is this a sign from God that I should switch religions?
My answer:
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TexCatholic4JMJ
Guest
Are you sure they only do face-to-face? In our parish, they have both available. When you
walk in you can kneel in front of screened, veiled opening or go to the left and sit in front of
the priest. Even when they have extra priests to hear confessions, the setup is the same,
where you can choose. The priests are “stationed” around the church in full view, but far
away from each other to be able to not hear beyond their station.
As for being embarrassed by what you have to say, join the crowd. But remember that a
priest hears THOUSANDS of confessions a year, you would NOT stand out with your
confession, as unique as you are, your sins are probably pretty ordinary. (Unn, maybe
pretty is the wrong word
But if that stills bothers you, go to a different parish. And tell him you need help in staying
away from temptations. Some (alas not all) priests really have some great counseling
skills and can help you that way.
Think about why Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He could have just
told his apostles to just tell people to “go directly to Him”… He knew human nature
and knew that His apostles and the priests after (who represent Him) would give people
the assurance that their sins were forgiven. That’s huge. Just ask any phychiatrist or
counselor.
I knew (know) people who lived/live in Seattle. It’s not easy being a Catholic there, so
many influences, accepted practices, etc. that don’t nurture leading a faithful Christian
life, especially for singles.
Do try another parish, the extra effort might be well worth it.
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prolifewife
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Praying very hard for you. :console: I’m often very lonely in the church too, due to infertility and health problems that kind of make me “stand out” at times, but I would be even lonelier without the church. I think you would too. :hug3: I try going with the attitude that I’m going to visit with Jesus, not people. It helps to put things into perspective.
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lil_flower_luv
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I have already added you to my rosary intentions, prolifewife. God’s peace and blessings to you. :hug1:
All these hugs going on.
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