Anyone with addictions found their healing in the sacraments and not in AA?

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Roxygirl1488

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Just wondering if anyone believes that addictions whether drugs, porn, alcohol, gambling, can be treated through the sacraments and not Alcoholics Anonymous and other programs? Most 12 step groups I’ve encountered believe AA is the only way to achieve sobriety? What are your thoughts, non bias opinions please
 
Some people overcome addictions on their own, some with prayer and some without. I doubt that anyone knowledgeable about addiction would recommend that, however. Counseling and group therapy greatly increases the chance of success.
 
Roxygirl1488 said:
Just wondering if anyone believes that addictions whether drugs, porn, alcohol, gambling, can be treated through the sacraments and not Alcoholics Anonymous and other programs? Most 12 step groups I’ve encountered believe AA is the only way to achieve sobriety? What are your thoughts, non bias opinions please
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Before Alcoholics Anonymous existed, many people achieved sobriety through temperance programs, which were often run by Catholic Churches. The Sacraments definitely provide assistive graces here. I would like to point out, though, that Alcoholics Anonymous actually has a lot of Catholic roots. The program grew out of a Catholic hospital (St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, Ohio) and a nun was one of the founders (Sister Ignatia Gavin). There’s lots of reliance on God and His Grace in the original program, too. I wouldn’t put up an “us vs. them” dichotomy between AA and the Sacraments. AA is a partly Catholic program and therefore would go well if the person using it was also frequenting the Sacraments and praying for grace to succeed in the program.
 
Faith that the Lord will take away the addiction and assist us in avoiding temptation, giving us the grace to overcome addictions through the sacraments is very real. Howe ver, don’t discount the 12 step programs which are faith based. Step 3: Came to believe that a Power greater ourselves could restore us to sanity. To most, the Higher Power is God almighty. I have several Alcoholics in my family, helped by AA and the sacraments. It doesn’t have to be either or, it is often both, and.

After 35 years of addiction to cigarettes and trying various methods, I cried out to the Lord for help and was cured of the craving in that very moment. That was 22 years ago. Praise God. I daily attend Mass and receive the sacraments.
 
I know several people who were led back to their faith through 12 Step programs.

The origins of 12 step recovery are Biblical in nature. The early 1900’s a Lutheran pastor named Frank Buchman, who, after a series of events following seminary, began what was called the Oxford Group Movement at Oxford University in England (not to be confused with the Anglican “Oxford Movement” which was ecclesiastical and liturgical in nature). Basically dedication to Christ, acknowledgement of past shortcomings, confessing your shortcomings / transgressions to another and then carrying this message to others.

The movement spread through “house meetings” and were often supported by churches. They were quite popular as a method of curing what we would call sinful behavior. Bill Wilson’s friend Ebby got sober through an Oxford Group and carried the message to Bill. When Bill was on a business trip to Akron, the “list” he was calling were for Oxford Groups which wound up connecting him to Dr. Bob.

They began attending Oxford Group meetings, and the church people, as church people are wont to do, began seeing the drunks as “those poor drunks” and conveying a sense of prideful direction. The drunks, as drunks are wont to do, got their own coffee pot and started their own meetings. This was the official beginning of what we know as AA.

If you read some of the historical material, like “Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers”, you’ll see Dr. Bob said there was nothing in the 12 Steps that couldn’t be found in the “good book”, particularly the Gospels, The Beatitudes and Book of James (particularly chapter 5).

I think the biggest difference between AA and church is that those who “get” recovery see their lives as dependent on living a spiritual life, where as most church people I meet are unaware of their need of living a rigorous spiritual life due to their sinfulness. Sometimes resulting in prideful empathy without realization the addict is often on more firm spiritual ground…

So, that’s a long way of saying the Church has everything one needs to end a life of addiction, but those looking to recover will often have a difficult time finding a group of people to connect with for support in their journey.

Hope that helps.
 
I have known people who managed to be sober through A.A. But, I happened upon a website while researching addictions for a paper, called the orange papers. Orange discusses alternatives to A.A.

Orange Papers points out that A.A. has had issues such as the infamous 13th step and the fact that sometimes very ‘dangerous’ people are sitting in attendance with very vulnerable people, such as underaged kids. This came as a surprise to me.

Although the Orange papers tends towards ‘non-belief’ based programs.

I am not suggesting an endorsement of the Orange papers, just that you asked and I happened upon this information a few months ago.

IMHO, I think any struggle with an addiction or habitual sin could only benefit from prayer and frequenting the Sacraments. In fact, if someone I loved was struggling it would be the starting place I’d suggest. You might also look into Fr. Ripperger and Sensus Fidelium channel on Youtube.
 
egretps said:
I have known people who managed to be sober through A.A. But, I happened upon a website while researching addictions for a paper, called the orange papers. Orange discusses alternatives to A.A.

Orange Papers points out that A.A. has had issues such as the infamous 13th step and the fact that sometimes very ‘dangerous’ people are sitting in attendance with very vulnerable people, such as underaged kids. This came as a surprise to me.

Although the Orange papers tends towards ‘non-belief’ based programs.

I am not suggesting an endorsement of the Orange papers, just that you asked and I happened upon this information a few months ago.

IMHO, I think any struggle with an addiction or habitual sin could only benefit from prayer and frequenting the Sacraments. In fact, if someone I loved was struggling it would be the starting place I’d suggest. You might also look into Fr. Ripperger and Sensus Fidelium channel on Youtube.
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Thanks!
 
A good friend of mine has talked about the Calix Society for Catholics in AA. Here is the link. I think she has ordered materials from them.

I’ll post the link in case it’s of interest to anyone.

calixsociety.org/
 
Roxygirl1488 said:
Just wondering if anyone believes that addictions whether drugs, porn, alcohol, gambling, can be treated through the sacraments and not Alcoholics Anonymous and other programs? Most 12 step groups I’ve encountered believe AA is the only way to achieve sobriety? What are your thoughts, non bias opinions please
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AA is an excellent way to achieve sobriety, especially when one is simultaneously receiving the sacraments. I don’t see why it has to be either/or.
 
I am currently on this journey. I don’t want to knock AA but I believe the Catholic Church through Jesus, Sacrament, Our Holy Mother, the Angels and Saints can heal us. The Rosary is a great weapon to use, I pray it daily. I have a spiritual advisor, pray daily, go to confession once a month and attend Mass on Sunday + 1. I may to Mass a couple of times during the week if possiable. Sounds like a lot but it really isn’t.

I have found when I say I use these tools I get ridiculed and told I’m not working the program. I have to say that what I’m doing is making me a heck of a lot better Catholic and I love it.

I am currently wrinting about my journey in my blog.

catholicandsober.wordpress.com
 
I am in rural Ireland and before that on a remote Scottish island and anyways would not have gone to AA. Not a group person…

I got off prescription meds with determination, alone, living with God in my heart and hands. No access to sacraments.

No one can get over any addiction unless they will it. No programme will avail unless that determination is there in their heart and will.

I had many online contacts through xanga and one US lady asked me to pray for her to overcome her alcoholism as she could not do it with her prayers alone, I of course agreed BUT suggested she went to AA. Heard later she had done well and was getting married to someone she met there… Kind lady sent me a huge basket of fruit!!!

Whatever works.
 
I will pray for you. Sometimes I wish I was secluded like you, life gets too hectic. There were may Saints who were secluded. If you can go to Communion and confession once a year and take extra time with the Lord on Sunday. You can watch Mass on line. Above all say the Rosary and pray, pray and pray some more. I will add you to my intentions when I pray the Rosary every day.

By the way I’m have relatives in Ireland form my mother’s side.

You can do this!!!
 
BobbyR said:
I will pray for you. Sometimes I wish I was secluded like you, life gets too hectic. There were may Saints who were secluded. If you can go to Communion and confession once a year and take extra time with the Lord on Sunday. You can watch Mass on line. Above all say the Rosary and pray, pray and pray some more. I will add you to my intentions when I pray the Rosary every day.

By the way I’m have relatives in Ireland form my mother’s side.

You can do this!!!
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I am fine ; through it all …
 
ChurchSoldier said:
I know several people who were led back to their faith through 12 Step programs.
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I find that extremely interesting and noteworthy, ChurchSoldier. AA, or something like it, would seem to have the potential of becoming the greatest form of evangelization in the modern world. Think of the huge numbers of people… Addiction is everywhere and affects everyone in one way or another, as we all know. I wonder what the Vatican’s official stance is on this subject? It seems like a valid and genuine form of spirituality to me, but I’m unclear whether AA itself downplays that aspect.

One problem I can see, are alcoholics who use alcohol to overcome social anxiety. These people are in a particularly difficult situation, because if they were type of people who could handle being in a crowded place like an AA meeting, they would have never needed to begin drinking in the first place! People in this position are forced to rely on their own devices, and on cultivating a prayer life on their own.
 
I am a recovering alcoholic. By the Grace of God and the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous I have been sober now a little over 5 years. The program of Alcoholics Anonymous saved my life and led me back to God and the Church. I spent a large part of my adult life adrift, but in order to get sober I had to find a way to reconnect with God. The program did that for me and ultimately into a more connected relationship with the Church and the sacraments, not just showing up when I was supposed to show up. I don’t think, for me, I could have gotten sober the other way. I have met a few people who sobered up through their churches and quite a few more who tried that and failed, who appear to all intents and purposes fully engaged in their religious lives, but are still raging alcoholics. AA is a spiritual program of action. “Faith without works is dead” is a prominent theme in AA.
 
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