Can a Catholic know when s/he is "saved"? Is it a feeling?

[Zerg]

It can be discouraging to wallow in mortal sin, when one has lost one’s salvation.

The good news is that if we look to Christ in the Eucharist at Mass we can change from “How can I ever be saved?” to “How could I even get lossed when He is with me”.

Sometimes when someone asks, “How are you feeling?” I always want to say “I feel great!”. Isn’t that how we should feel when we are truly sorry for our sins?

Lately, I and many others here, we fall into sin and so I question my salvation?

A protestant lady told me as a young child that you must always RUN back to God no matter what. I kind of like that anaology. It is like a stubborn child running back to their parent in tears asking for forgiveness.

What I am trying to ask, is “What is required for staying in a state of grace after baptism?”

Could someone confirm if I am correct in saying that Catholics are required of five things:

1. Confession at least once a year if in mortal sin
2. Fasting during Lent
3. Helping the Church with one’s talents
4. Communion at least once a year during Easter
5. Please help me with the 5th precept?

 

[Zerg]

Thank you!

 

[Nelka]

Only at death.

 

[vz71]

After judgement, when you look around and find yourself in heaven.
Then you can say you are saved.

 

[pensmama87]

If you make a good confession, then as soon as the priest says the words of absolution you’re good to go. God never plays “gotcha” with us. I’m not going to say getting to heaven is easy, but there isn’t trickery involved, and God gave us the Church to help us.

One quick answer for the “are you saved” question:

“I was saved when I was baptized, I am saved when I go to confession, and I hope to be saved when I die.”

 

[midori]

It’s always a work-in-progress, but if you try to do at least one or two things from Column A, and one or two things from Column B, every day, for love of God, you’re moving in the right direction…

 

[HeDa]

If you are relying on a feeling to know when you are saved then you are risking of making that feeling God.

 

[Vico]

What I am trying to ask, is “What is required for staying in a state of grace after baptism?”

Per Catholic dogma one that is baptized is given sanctifying grace which, if it is cooperated with, can remain without mortal sin. Since sin is voluntary, it requires the faithful to live their life in charity. As the Catechism states we are divinized.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

1988 Through the power of the Holy Spirit we take part in Christ’s Passion by dying to sin, and in his Resurrection by being born to a new life; we are members of his Body which is the Church, branches grafted onto the vine which is himself:36

[God] gave himself to us through his Spirit. By the participation of the Spirit, we become communicants in the divine nature. . . . For this reason, those in whom the Spirit dwells are divinized.37

 

[MonteRCMS]

Go to confession more often … monthly or weekly … tell the priest that you need the grace that comes with the sacrament of confession.

No need to become obsessive, keep it brief out of consideration for others, but more frequent confession is better than less frequent.

The need seems to come in “waves”.

I like the writings from

http://scrupulousanonymous.org

as a confessional guide.