Breaking a promise with Jesus?

[MartyrForJesus]

It is currently school holidays. A couple of weeks back I noticed the amount I have been using the computer lately and was slightly concerned. I didn’t want it to turn into a type of idolatry. I don’t know why - the hours seem to just build up. I’m on CAF for a couple of hours, then reading some websites for another hour, then watching videos on youtube for an hour or two, a couple of video games, then going on other Catholic forums, then Facebook, etc etc. Many, many hours seem to build up. Some days I was on the computer, with a few breaks in between, for 10 hours.

I promised Jesus I would over time decrease the amount of hours of using the computer. I said I would limit each day with 4 hours maximum - that seemed fair, 2 hours in the morning then 2 hours later in the evening. It was a bad decision. As I said above it is holidays, so a lot of days I have nothing to do. I go to Mass when I can, but that only takes up 1-2 hours out of a 15 hour day. I find myself bored around the house. Books could keep me occupied for a couple of hours, but eventually they get boring also. On the computer there are many things to do - read various articles, forums etc.

Anyways, I broke my promise. I was a fool for promising that in the first place. I just find absolutely nothing to do. I see my friends at Mass, but I don’t have any Catholic friends my age. They are mostly in their 20s and 30s, whilst I’m an adolescent.

I guess my question is, is there anyway I can ‘cancel’ my promise, or must I take it to the confessional? Any ideas of what to do with spare time?

Thanks, God Bless and Happy New Year!

Martyr.

 

[pollycarp]

Are there any elderly people where you live that could use help with anything? I often do little things for the elderly folks next door. They are reluctant to ask but always so appreciative, even for just a little visit.

 

[Catholic90]

Offer to help your parents with things - cleaning, rearranging, running errands, laundry, organizing the garage, organizing the basement, sorting your closet, cleaning and rearranging book shelves.

Volunteer to organize books at your church.

Look up volunteer opportunities in your community.

 

[Sirach2]

OP, you didn’t make it a vow, but in your devotion, the promise was in the form of a resolution. How often we break these, huh? It may have been imprudent for that moment to make such a promise, but Jesus knows your heart through and through. Just entrust it to Him to guide you and help you discern whether He wills for you to shorten your browsing time. As it is, it is not sinful, unless you are avoiding the other duties in your state of life. If so, then it could be venially sinful. It may just be an imperfection at this point that could escalate into a real matter of addiction to the web. We need to be healthily ‘detached’ from excesses.

He will lead you through pricking your conscience repeatedly until you recognize it is His voice.

 

[Catholic90]

Get a part time job.

Do your homework.

Read ahead for school.

Help your neighbors.

Offer to make dinner.

Procure the ingredients.

Clean up after dinner.

Organize the kitchen pantry.

Organize the kitchen spice area.

Organize the plastic container area.

Vacuum the stairs.

Clean the baseboards.

Wash all the windows.

Take out everything from the refrigerator, wash all shelves, wipe down the inside, and reorganize the fridge.

If you get all that done at YOUR house, come over to mine, and I will find lots of things to keep you busy!

 

[Sirach2]

Dark Night of the Soul:

All their time is spent looking for satisfaction and spiritual consolation; they can never read enough spiritual books, and one minute they are meditating on one subject and the next on another, always hunting for some gratification in the things of God. God very rightly and discreetly and lovingly denies this satisfaction to these beginners. If he did not, they would fall into innumerable evils because of their spiritual gluttony and craving for sweetness. This is why it is important for these beginners to enter the dark night and be purged of this childishness.

It is typical of new converts to the faith to be on fire for all things “spiritual.” It is natural, and a gift from God who draws these souls to Himself by allowing them to find much joy, sweetness and satisfaction in the things of God. I assure you that, in time, out of love for you and desiring to wean you from these excesses, you will find your former attractions very dry, insipid, arid, unfulfilling.

While you are learning, growing - even though it may be excessive - I don’t believe it is any more than an imperfection, as St. John of the Cross calls it, springing from “spiritual gluttony.”

As I mentioned earlier, you will know when it is becoming displeasing to God and make a more firm ‘resolution’ to shorten the time you spend on the web.

 

[MartyrForJesus]

OP, you didn’t make it a vow, but in your devotion, the promise was in the form of a resolution. How often we break these, huh? It may have been imprudent for that moment to make such a promise, but Jesus knows your heart through and through. Just entrust it to Him to guide you and help you discern whether He wills for you to shorten your browsing time. As it is, it is not sinful, unless you are avoiding the other duties in your state of life. If so, then it could be venially sinful. It may just be an imperfection at this point that could escalate into a real matter of addiction to the web. We need to be healthily ‘detached’ from excesses.

He will lead you through pricking your conscience repeatedly until you recognize it is His voice.

It doesn’t intrude on my other activities, and If I had something better to do I would more than happily do it. I guess I just have to find things to do. Thanks for your reply.