Anyone who isn't "holy" here?

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Lea101

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I use that term loosely, because I don’t want a long title.

Anyway, is there anyone who doesn’t pray the rosary, read Catholic books/theology, learn about the saints, do long prayers or whatever?

I honestly just make up my own prayers and go for Mass. I know technically we aren’t forced to do devotions and etc but I feel like I’m doing something wrong here. I just genuinely don’t care about Catholicism enough to do all of those things. The topics I care about-sexuality /theology of the Body usually bring me much annoyance and confusion because I don’t necessarily agree with some stuff (obviously not that God cares, and I don’t expect the church to change) so I don’t even read up about stuff like that anymore.

Do you honestly feel like I’m doing something wrong here? Is that a weird question? I see many people here who are so fired up and I just don’t get it. I don’t feel anything nor do I expect to. :confused:
 
I assume you go to Confession once in a while … if so, do you see where your most common sins are and are you making progress to become a better person?
 
Odd question; We are all ‘holy’ in the sense that we(most)have been baptized, but there after we could all do 'better. While I would not point my finger and say you are wrong in your perceptions of non-obligatory private devotions, I think you would get a lot more grace and blessings if you did chose some daily devotions(s) and make them your own. While going to mass gets you a ‘free pass’ in couch, why not try to get a first class seat? All it will cost is a little time, thought and effort. Praying for you. Peace
 
Anything that helps to clear your mind will benefit and help you to connect with God…like saying an aspiration of thanks for the day while washing your face in the morning.

A good devoution is the Rosary. There are online commentary that will guide you through the prayers with rythm so that you don’t dwell on a bead or think too much.

God bless.
 
Me. I’m not holy. I have my favorite devotions, but even though I feel powerfully drawn to them, on a good day they only leave me not-unhappy. Sometimes I even have a particular reaction that forces me to stop my devotional practices entirely. So - yeah, definitely not holy. Like you, I wonder if I’m doing something wrong.

If you do decide you want to feel something (I can’t promise it will feel good)… the shortest route would be to turn back and and press into those topics that annoy and confuse you. Try looking at them seriously, in good faith, and from the point of view that you are wrong. I expect the fire will heat up pretty quickly.

If you choose to go that route, I pray it will be a quick journey, and as painless as possible.
 
Nah, don’t be so hard on yourself or compare yourself to others.

Regarding devotions: devotions are meant to help you get closer in your relationship with God. They don’t click for everyone. Other things- such as vocal prayer as you do- work great for this time in your life and for what you need.

Some concepts may be difficult to understand such as Theology of the Body. Give yourself some credit. You have been trying to understand and it typically doesn’t happen overnight. Pray for the grace to receive the gift of understanding.

Find what helps you to grow in your faith and relationship with God and go with it. This may change over time which is normal.
 
I don’t do devotions so I can be “holy”. I do them because this is how I was taught by my mother, I enjoy having the connection to both my mother and Jesus/ Mary/ saints in heaven, and I think/ hope it is pleasing to God when I do them. If I went around considering myself all holy holy for doing them, then I would be totally defeating the purpose of the prayers.

I think this forum is a bit self-selecting in that it draws a lot of people who enjoy devotions, saints, and long prayers, and are generally excited about Catholicism, but don’t have a lot of other places to talk about it, especially with people who are also interested and doing the devotions.

I don’t think there’s any requirement that you do devotions or read up on saints, but I’m a little troubled when you say you “don’t care about Catholicism” enough to do something more, rather than just saying “devotions aren’t to my personal taste”. I would hope you would find something that you can do that’s Catholic and that you care about, whether it’s some kind of teaching or social justice work or a different form of prayer or penance. I guess I would also wonder why, if you “don’t care” about Catholicism, you’re even here.
 
Lea101 said:
I use that term loosely, because I don’t want a long title.

Anyway, is there anyone who doesn’t pray the rosary, read Catholic books/theology, learn about the saints, do long prayers or whatever?

I honestly just make up my own prayers and go for Mass. I know technically we aren’t forced to do devotions and etc but I feel like I’m doing something wrong here. I just genuinely don’t care about Catholicism enough to do all of those things. The topics I care about-sexuality /theology of the Body usually bring me much annoyance and confusion because I don’t necessarily agree with some stuff (obviously not that God cares, and I don’t expect the church to change) so I don’t even read up about stuff like that anymore.

Do you honestly feel like I’m doing something wrong here? Is that a weird question? I see many people here who are so fired up and I just don’t get it. I don’t feel anything nor do I expect to. :confused:
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I don’t do devotions so I can call myself holy.

I do devotions to help me with my day to day struggles.

I know for a fact that I am a sinner and I need all the help I can get. This is fact and part of humility is acknowledging it.

Also our faith journey will be different for each of us so no use comparing yourself to others.

We are not meant to be clones of each other.
 
Well firstly, being “Holy” really means being set aside as a Holy People who praise and serve God. If you look into in, this is how the term is used in the Bible. Is it necessary to pray to be Holy? Yes. Is it necessary to pray in a particular way? No.
Anyway, is there anyone who doesn’t pray the rosary, read Catholic books/theology, learn about the saints, do long prayers or whatever?
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Well to adopt your definition of “holiness”, which is as I have said somewhat off center, I have found myself in the last few months rather less enthusiastic about my faith than a used to be and even uncomfortable with certain devotions and practices. The reasons for this as complex and I won’t go into them here for risk of diverting you thread, but I do not pray the Rosary or generally speaking pray other than to God directly. I usually use set prayers that derive from an Anglican source that has served me well over the years. I have increasingly done less and less “spiritual” activity and am doing well to make it to Mass on Sundays at the moment (made it today though!) You might be going through a similar spiritual tough time. If it continues, you will need to think if you can do anything differently to overcome it.
 
Lea101 said:
I use that term loosely, because I don’t want a long title.

Anyway, is there anyone who doesn’t pray the rosary, read Catholic books/theology, learn about the saints, do long prayers or whatever?

I honestly just make up my own prayers and go for Mass. I know technically we aren’t forced to do devotions and etc but I feel like I’m doing something wrong here. I just genuinely don’t care about Catholicism enough to do all of those things. The topics I care about-sexuality /theology of the Body usually bring me much annoyance and confusion because I don’t necessarily agree with some stuff (obviously not that God cares, and I don’t expect the church to change) so I don’t even read up about stuff like that anymore.

Do you honestly feel like I’m doing something wrong here? Is that a weird question? I see many people here who are so fired up and I just don’t get it. I don’t feel anything nor do I expect to. :confused:
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I honestly can’t imagine not ever learning more about the faith. The idea of maintaining my current status quo sounds unbearable and repressive. Not really because I’m a great person but because I’m not a great person. I feel like there’s so many insights & new discoveries for God to share with me to help me grow and not get stuck in a rut. I know God loves us as we are, right now, but at the same time, I feel so green in my faith still.

I’m not sure why some don’t feel the same way. I haven’t lived the life you’ve lived. I spent a number of years drifting through life, worse off than where you are, since you have your faith even if you don’t feel fired up about it. I hope this changes for you.
 
How does one gage holiness?

I recently lost a friend whom I consider a saint, a very holy person. What made her seem holy to me was her peace and wisdom and how she made everyone she met feel like a close beloved friend.
 
Sarcelle said:
I don’t do devotions so I can call myself holy.

I do devotions to help me with my day to day struggles.

I know for a fact that I am a sinner and I need all the help I can get. This is fact and part of humility is acknowledging it.

Also our faith journey will be different for each of us so no use comparing yourself to others.

We are not meant to be clones of each other.
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Exactly.
God created each one unique. Some things are for everyone, like Eucharist.
Other things, like talents, are varied and as different as the many different types of persons.
The disagreeing with what the Church teaches is much more problematic than ways and methods of praying.
 
MrsAngelala said:
the shortest route would be to turn back and and press into those topics that annoy and confuse you. Try looking at them seriously, in good faith, and from the point of view that you are wrong. I expect the fire will heat up pretty quickly.

If you choose to go that route, I pray it will be a quick journey, and as painless as possible.
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I have, many times. I get that “they’re right” and “I’m wrong”, I just don’t like why God made that the answer, if that makes any sense at all. So I just skip it.
 
Forget about whether you or others are Holy or not Holy. Do not compare yourself with others. Pray because it is in prayer that we converse with God. When we converse with God we are in relationship and contact with Him. This relationship/ contact changes us. It cannot but change us. Prayer therefore helps us to be better people, to become the best “me” that God created me to be. Prayer, that is contact with God, gives glory to God because the glory of God is man (or woman) fully alive. We are only fully alive when we are in Christ/ God.

Try praying the rosary. Start small. Try saying one decade, then two, three, and so on… say the "Jesus prayer ". There is no right way to pray. You will find a way that suits you. Sit before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and just be there with the Lord. You don’t have to say or do anything. Just being in Jesus’ presence is prayer. It is a statement of faith. Jesus will strengthen, heal and pour out graces on you just by being in close contact with Him.

Think of the woman who merely touched the hem of His garment. This was a faith filled act on her part. Just by reaching out Jesus transformed her. So with us. When we reach out to Our Lord before Him in the Blessed Sacrament He will transform us. But we must reach out and give the Lord time. It will happen but in His time and NOT ours. So be patient.

Also, reading about the Saints is prayer.

Be gentle with yourself. Turn with hope and expectation to Our Lord and Our Lady and just try.

Peace of Christ to you.
 
When we don’t understand something, as someone else said, we dig deeper and study harder.
That’s the only way you will come to terms with it.
Just read up as much as you can on the things that trouble you, and take them to God in Adoration.

You have your whole life to learn about the faith.
None of us ever know everything all at once.
 
Lea101 said:
I use that term loosely, because I don’t want a long title.

Anyway, is there anyone who doesn’t pray the rosary, read Catholic books/theology, learn about the saints, do long prayers or whatever?

I honestly just make up my own prayers and go for Mass. I know technically we aren’t forced to do devotions and etc but I feel like I’m doing something wrong here. I just genuinely don’t care about Catholicism enough to do all of those things. The topics I care about-sexuality /theology of the Body usually bring me much annoyance and confusion because I don’t necessarily agree with some stuff (obviously not that God cares, and I don’t expect the church to change) so I don’t even read up about stuff like that anymore.

Do you honestly feel like I’m doing something wrong here? Is that a weird question? I see many people here who are so fired up and I just don’t get it. I don’t feel anything nor do I expect to. :confused:
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Do you really expect anyone to answer yes? As for what you may be doing wrong, I think it is best to ask and discern with a priest. Questions like these may be opening you up to judgment by posters. I’m just warning.
 
Lea101 said:
I didn’t say that I don’t care about Catholicism, but that I don’t care enough to do all of those things.
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Well, if you “do care about Catholicism”, even somewhat, then you’re on the right track and that explains why you’re here.

I don’t think it’s that you “don’t care enough” to do the things like devotions, praying to saints, etc., it’s just that those things are not appealing to you, for any number of reasons. You may or may not change your mind about them later on, maybe many years later on. I’ve definitely had multiple decades in my life where I did not regard saying the Rosary or reading the Bible as an appealing activity, and doing those things was sort of like eating a plate of some icky vegetable because it was supposedly good for me.

I don’t think you’re odd at all. In fact you’re forthright, which is good.
If I were you I would think a little bit about the things you like about Catholicism, that make you interested or happy. Maybe make a list.
Then see if you can do those things more and focus less on what other people, who may be in a totally different place in their life from you or have a totally different background, are doing.
Remember that none of us are holier than anyone else. We’re all just sinners trying to make our way. We’re all in this together.
God bless you.
 
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