Conflict with the Second Commandment

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Drewww

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I hope everyone had a spectacular Christmas!

I’m going to make it clear that I can be over-scrupulous and that there will be noticeable elements and symptoms of this condition throughout my writing. However, I also wish to be honest with myself and the Lord about whether my actions have been sinful to the extent in taking a complete 180 degree spin in my relationship with the Lord, which I would dearly dread. The bottom line is, two days ago, the same day I went to confession, I was talking to two friends quite some time before Mass and I mentioned Catholics that show up for Mass only on Christmas and Easter which usually leads to the Church being more crowded than usual, all this I said so without trying to belittle them or intentionally raise negative emotions towards them. Anyway, when mentioning this to my friends, I jokingly called these people “Cheasters”, a term I used by combining Christmas and Easter for labeling these folks. However, the familiar sense of dread swept me as I immediately began to worry that I blasphemed against the Lord by taking the names of sacred holidays (especially CHRISTmas), and bent them so they would be comical while labeling these people. I’m struggling in discerning the effect of this on my relationship with Christ - which is my biggest worry, and I learned not to trust my feelings because they come and go. But despite saying this and being unsure of my soul’s current state, I went to receive the Eucharist four times since. Worrying even greater in committing sacrilege against the Lord. I know about the three conditions of mortal sin, and I feel like I havent met the condition of full knowledge of that aspect because what I said - I said thoughtlessly. And to worsen my state of clarity, I ended up saying that word again when saying it outloud in the shower - trying to discern to myself if it’s sinful.

As you probably noticed, I’m a scrupulous mess, and I’m doing my best to trust in God - whether He’ll reveal to me in some way that I have severely tainted my relationship with Him, or not which I’d take as opportunity for continual communion in the upcoming celebrations of Mass as a form of expressing my trust in Him. Confession is also available tomorrow before daily morning Mass. Any advice is greatly appreciated, thank you all in advance.
 
Did you intend to mock God? Would a reasonable (or unreasonable for that matter) observer have thought you were mocking God?

No. So there is no blasphemy. Likewise there is no sacrilege. One is only bound to refrain from receiving the Eucharist if one is certain of mortal sin.
 
I don’t think you have any real issue with Communion here or mocking God. I would however consider the impact of your disposition to those who do only show up on major holidays. I too wish they would come more often, however they DO come. I personally think our part is to welcome them back as anyone else; their relationship with God is mainly between them and God. Our job is to facilitate the growth of that, a knee jerk judgement does not help IMHO.
 
First, Merry Christmas to you also. Second, I sorry to learn of your scruples. Now, let’s look at this problem:

Satan is proud and so was your behavior wasn’t it. But, my saying so especially with consideration of that “individual” was sinful. This is what can harm the scrupulous, forward and backwards constantly. I know it all too well. Before I proceed, let me just ask you to view a youtube video called “Gods Love Letter.” Relax and let it put you in a better place. Then, (and only after you have watched it) read below:

God loves you, he is not counting your sins, tell his son it was a joke for him and if he didn’t laugh, you are sorry.
 
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As you probably noticed, I’m a scrupulous mess
Yes scruples are at work here and scruples need counsel for your regular spiritual director or pastor, not random people on the internet.

There is no blasphemy here, just your scruples.
 
Anyway, when mentioning this to my friends, I jokingly called these people “Cheasters”, a term I used by combining Christmas and Easter for labeling these folks. However, the familiar sense of dread swept me as I immediately began to worry that I blasphemed against the Lord by taking the names of sacred holidays (especially CHRISTmas), and bent them so they would be comical while labeling these people.
Christmas and Easter are both words created by human culture, so not part of divine revelation. In fact, the term “Easter” is taken from the Spring fertility rites of Pagan Europe “oestre”. In the East it is still called Pasca.

The Mass for Christ’s birthday is also a human invention. The truth is we do not know when He was born, so a date was chosen to celebrate His birth. This was not part of divine revelation either.

Personally I think it is more concerning “labelling” persons who only come to Mass on major holidays like Christmas and Easter. These are opportunities to engage and evangelize, and the rest of us should be standing in the back of the church to let them have the pews!
 
Thank you all for sharing, I really appreciate it and your words have provided me with some clarity. I’ll definitely try to be more charitable and generous - especially in avoiding labeling others haha.

God bless!
 
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