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ivana_2
Guest
Has the faith at least given you a sense of peace?
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Lee1
Guest
I have a moment ivana2.
A Christian follows the teachings of Christ, included in the teachings are instructions as to how to behave, therefore acts are necessary that means one must intellectually agree and follow His teachings. To act in a loving way it is necessary to love to some degree which is of course emotion. So no, it’s not enough to simply abide by the rules alone, but it’s a start.
To gain peace I have found it necessary to come to terms with myself and my worthlessness, not in a way that leads me to hate myself but simply to accept that I am of no great value and that any value I have is only for God to judge and certainly not me, since without God I am nothing. This way of thinking also leads me to seek approval only from Him and not man since only His opinion of me is important because He is God and because of that can Know me fully, after all I can pretend to be all sorts to man can I not…but not God.
I don’t believe there are any quick intellectual ways to gain faith but I hope these suggestions might help.
A Christian follows the teachings of Christ, included in the teachings are instructions as to how to behave, therefore acts are necessary that means one must intellectually agree and follow His teachings. To act in a loving way it is necessary to love to some degree which is of course emotion. So no, it’s not enough to simply abide by the rules alone, but it’s a start.
To gain peace I have found it necessary to come to terms with myself and my worthlessness, not in a way that leads me to hate myself but simply to accept that I am of no great value and that any value I have is only for God to judge and certainly not me, since without God I am nothing. This way of thinking also leads me to seek approval only from Him and not man since only His opinion of me is important because He is God and because of that can Know me fully, after all I can pretend to be all sorts to man can I not…but not God.
I don’t believe there are any quick intellectual ways to gain faith but I hope these suggestions might help.
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ivana_2
Guest
To me, the way you have found peace is more intellectual, by thinking of our worthlessness we cling to God… But do you have inner peace and assurance in the sense that God is always with you and keeping you with love inside his hands?
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It is primarily grace which empowers one to make a committment to life lived in the Trinity .
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ivana_2
Guest
Can we all receive that grace? And if so, how?
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Lee1
Guest
Yes, I do feel God is with me, but I had to go through quite a process to get to this point, in fact it took me sixty years.
Of course we can do little without intellectual consent, that’s the beginning, and I suppose when we feel both intellectual and emotional connection with God then we are really working with the Holy Spirit. I’m saying that before I could make any real progress I had to become humble, not just think humble thoughts without feeling but actually realise why I should be humble. It was emotional and I shed many tears in the process and sometimes I had no words to express myself, my intellect was found wanting in other words. This is how it was for me, but since we are all different then perhaps others have found they took a different route.
I would highly recommend praying to Our Lord sincerely with an open heart for understanding before reading the Gospels. Then reading carefully the words constantly reminding yourself that He is speaking the Truth and speaking it directly to you! This is Truth, it leads to Life, it’s important that you receive this message. Faith will come have no doubts.
Of course we can do little without intellectual consent, that’s the beginning, and I suppose when we feel both intellectual and emotional connection with God then we are really working with the Holy Spirit. I’m saying that before I could make any real progress I had to become humble, not just think humble thoughts without feeling but actually realise why I should be humble. It was emotional and I shed many tears in the process and sometimes I had no words to express myself, my intellect was found wanting in other words. This is how it was for me, but since we are all different then perhaps others have found they took a different route.
I would highly recommend praying to Our Lord sincerely with an open heart for understanding before reading the Gospels. Then reading carefully the words constantly reminding yourself that He is speaking the Truth and speaking it directly to you! This is Truth, it leads to Life, it’s important that you receive this message. Faith will come have no doubts.
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God makes an invitation , a call .
Grace empowers an obedience of faith to respond to that invitation , that call .
I see no reason why any should not be granted grace .
I receive grace through Baptism .
It is how Catholics are graced , through Baptism
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Athanasius_Mary
Guest
Yes, in the sense that I know that I’m bought by the blood of Christ and sustained by the love of Him and Our Lady. And that the Faith is pure if the Church is not.
As long as I stay close to the Sacraments, I know that God is bigger than my confusion.
As long as I stay close to the Sacraments, I know that God is bigger than my confusion.
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Lee1
Guest
There is something else I’d like to say and then I’ll stop posting for a while, I promise!
I’m not sure that you can ever disconnect from God. That sense of having God with you comes from an understanding that actually it works the other way around. Now that can be a great comfort but it also means that you must be more responsible in your avoidance of sin. This is how I have found God, He was there all the time.
I’m not sure that you can ever disconnect from God. That sense of having God with you comes from an understanding that actually it works the other way around. Now that can be a great comfort but it also means that you must be more responsible in your avoidance of sin. This is how I have found God, He was there all the time.
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ivana_2
Guest
Is it possible for a Baptized person to seek grace and to be left empty handed?
This is something I have been struggling for a very very long time…
This is something I have been struggling for a very very long time…
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ivana_2
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This last sentence is beautiful…
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ivana_2
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All the time, even trough your sins? No need to stop writing 
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Lee1
Guest
There are two things.
Firstly my conversion and baptism. I had struggled with a vague belief in God all my life and finally I was overcome by the weight of my sins. I was sure that I needed to seek salvation through the Catholic Church and though I was baptised and confirmed I still wasn’t converted. In fact I did mention this to my priest and he told me that we’re all in the process of conversion, even him!
Secondly, yes when I sin it’s usually if not always when things around me upset my equilibrium. Temporarily then I am blinded by my senses. From a spiritual point of view our human nature needs to be chaperoned I think. A large part of me needs to be as holy as possible and so my old nature is a little like a boisterous large puppy which needs to be housetrained. I am constantly reigning it in, gently but firmly training it to conform to my higher ideals. I’m sure this is a lifelong process.
Firstly my conversion and baptism. I had struggled with a vague belief in God all my life and finally I was overcome by the weight of my sins. I was sure that I needed to seek salvation through the Catholic Church and though I was baptised and confirmed I still wasn’t converted. In fact I did mention this to my priest and he told me that we’re all in the process of conversion, even him!
Secondly, yes when I sin it’s usually if not always when things around me upset my equilibrium. Temporarily then I am blinded by my senses. From a spiritual point of view our human nature needs to be chaperoned I think. A large part of me needs to be as holy as possible and so my old nature is a little like a boisterous large puppy which needs to be housetrained. I am constantly reigning it in, gently but firmly training it to conform to my higher ideals. I’m sure this is a lifelong process.
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ivana_2
Guest
I loved the comparison with the puppy But important is that you really see/trust to God at the end of the tunnel.
But important is that you really see/trust to God at the end of the tunnel.Such is grace that we encounter the unseen , for our encounter is by faith not by sight .
I have no reason to say that I have sought grace and been left empty handed .
But looking at what I can see , which is myself , I know I have received grace which has been wasted through sin .
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ivana_2
Guest
You are so blessed!
Just like everyone else .
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ivana_2
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‘’
I meant since you know grace is within you. That must feel so pleasant inside regardless what happens outside of you. People like me are I guess or limited or are being withhold.
I meant since you know grace is within you. That must feel so pleasant inside regardless what happens outside of you. People like me are I guess or limited or are being withhold.
@ivana_2 , you need to get to know who you are and what you have through your Baptism .
You need to realise your true identity in the eyes of God . You can’t do that yourself . Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you and show you the truth of who you are .
I suggest that you read what the Catechism says about Baptism , especially paras 1213-1216 . It’s amazing .
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a1.htm
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ivana_2
Guest
Yes, nobody can do that by himself. If we are Baptized would it be impossible for Holy Spirit to lack? Because some of us feel stuck in that situation. Is it possible to lose that connection by sinning?
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