Do you feel alienated?

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Domine_Deus

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I have been a practising Catholic for over fifty years, but recently I have become a devout Catholic. I am consumed with my love for Jesus and the Church, I think of Jesus all the time, with Mary and the saints but unfortunately I am alone in my devotion. That is why I come here, to talk to people who feel the same way. My friends and relatives don’t understand the change in me, they think I’m going through a faze and I will come to my senses. I’m trying to be a good Catholic and follow the teachings of the Church by trying to show them many things that are wrong with the world, abortion, homosexual marriages, etc, but they don’t get it. I have nothing in common with these people anymore, my life has changed and Jesus and the Church are my whole life now. I will keep trying to help my family and friends understand the importance of Jesus in all our lives. I might add most of these people are Catholics which is frustrating, because they should know how I feel but just consider me a “religious nut”. I was wondering if anyone else here feels alienated in this way.

:amen:
 
absolutely! I am considered to many at my parish as one who drank the Vatican Koolaid ™ because I believe what the church teaches and want to follow “the rules”. I sometimes begin to wonder if they have a point… but then I come back to the fact that there is objective truth, and if I don’t stand up for it- what does that say about me?
 
I actually don’t know any married homosexuals, so that topic doesn’t dominate my conversations with others. However, I’ve never been refused when I have asked one of my friends “could you give an old lady a ride to Mass so I don’t have to take the bus?”
 
I think it’s normal in any age for faithful Christians to feel alienated from the world. That’s what Jesus promised in the Gospels. However, I also know many–including myself–who feel alienated to some extent from the post-Vatican II Am-church, exemplified by 1) dissident bishops, priests, and theologians; 2) irreverent liturgical novelties; 3) rampant homosexual abuse and radical feminism; 4) insipid sermons and catechesis; 5) ugly church architecture–as exemplified by the $200 million monstrosity known as Our Lady of Angels Cathedral in LA; 6) de-emphasis of devotions; 7) removal of kneeling rails and kneelers; 8) non-Catholic Catholic colleges; 9) the supper table rather than the sacrificial altar; 10) disbelief in the Real Presence and in the doctrine of hell; and 11) false ecumenism. There’s certainly a lot of work to be done by faithful Catholics who should be the light of the world. The fact that 48% of American Catholic voters could vote for Kerry is symtomatic of the magnitude of the problems confronting the Catholic Church in today’s America.
 
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larryo:
I think it’s normal in any age for faithful Christians to feel alienated from the world. That’s what Jesus promised in the Gospels. However, I also know many–including myself–who feel alienated to some extent from the post-Vatican II Am-church, exemplified by 1) dissident bishops, priests, and theologians; 2) irreverent liturgical novelties; 3) rampant homosexual abuse and radical feminism; 4) insipid sermons and catechesis; 5) ugly church architecture–as exemplified by the $200 million monstrosity known as Our Lady of Angels Cathedral in LA; 6) de-emphasis of devotions; 7) removal of kneeling rails and kneelers; 8) non-Catholic Catholic colleges; 9) the supper table rather than the sacrificial altar; 10) disbelief in the Real Presence and in the doctrine of hell; and 11) false ecumenism. There’s certainly a lot of work to be done by faithful Catholics who should be the light of the world. The fact that 48% of American Catholic voters could vote for Kerry is symtomatic of the magnitude of the problems confronting the Catholic Church in today’s America.
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I couldn’t agree more, thanks:thumbsup:
 
WELCOME to the Family. Your brothers and sisters are here for you. NO YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
 
Yes, exactly. Alienated is a perfect word for it. Swimming upstream is how I usually refer to it. Exhausting, isn’t it? I do wonder sometimes, (when other Catholic parents find out that my husband and I don’t use artificial birth control and look at me like I’ve grown a second head), why it has to be so difficult. Then I look at a Crucifix and get a little perspective. I have been becoming increasingly zealous myself over the past couple years, and amazingly so the past 7-8 months. Sign of the times maybe? Or maybe it is a logical response to the frightful watering down of the Catholic faith in America?, the hedonistic society we live in?, or any one of a hundred other reasons! It is hard sometimes not to get discouraged. That is why I came to these forums also. To get to talk to like minded individuals. We may be scattered across the country, but we are all one in Christ who strengthens us!
 
We are all behind you 👍

as far back behind you as we can get, but behind you none the less…

just kidding… holler of you need us… 👍
 
Think of it like a football game. You are gaining grown towards the enemy’s goal line. The closer you get, the harder HE will fight against you with all he had (to include your friends). You are on a good team. YOU ARE ON THE BEST TEAM.
 
Yes, I also feel very alienated. I am the only Catholic in the office, the only Catholic on are street and the only one in the family. My sister is Catholic as well, but since she lives in Seattle, I get all the fun.
 
the TLM is the place for you - You Masses of depressed Catholics. Tired of dancing witches in tutu’s- the TLM is the place for you. COme to the TLM all ye weak and tired Masses, here you shall be replenished and made whole again.
 
Domine Deus:
…I might add most of these people are Catholics which is frustrating, because they should know how I feel but just consider me a “religious nut”. I was wondering if anyone else here feels alienated in this way.
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Welcome! It’s refreshing to hear from others who are considered religous fanatics because they truly love the Lord and His Church. I’m so thankful for CA. and all the sisters and brothers here…it’s keeping me sane:yup: …even though I’m considered as you say a “religious nut”…I’m happy to be a “nut” for the Lord! God Bless, Annunciata:)
 
Domine Deus:
I have been a practising Catholic for over fifty years, but recently I have become a devout Catholic. I am consumed with my love for Jesus and the Church, I think of Jesus all the time, with Mary and the saints but unfortunately I am alone in my devotion. That is why I come here, to talk to people who feel the same way. My friends and relatives don’t understand the change in me, they think I’m going through a faze and I will come to my senses. I’m trying to be a good Catholic and follow the teachings of the Church by trying to show them many things that are wrong with the world, abortion, homosexual marriages, etc, but they don’t get it. I have nothing in common with these people anymore, my life has changed and Jesus and the Church are my whole life now. I will keep trying to help my family and friends understand the importance of Jesus in all our lives. I might add most of these people are Catholics which is frustrating, because they should know how I feel but just consider me a “religious nut”. I was wondering if anyone else here feels alienated in this way.

:amen:
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Welcome home! 😃 My family is not Catholic, and wasn’t even present for my reception into full communion with the Church. They figured that I’d “grow out of it.” Little did they know. It’s only been six months since my confirmation/first eucharist, but since the moment I heard the words “Pius :getholy: , receive the Holy Spirit” and shortly after that making my first communion, things have never been the same and my love for the Lord and His Church have only grown. The people at the parish in my home town where I’d worked as an organist for a year and half prior to my conversion didn’t know of my conversion until I received the Holy Eucharist after playing for Mass the week after I got back from EWU. lol.

I quickly was branded a ‘boat-rocker’ and ‘troublemaker’ by the parish music director after I tried to point out to the congregation that we weren’t following the Church’s teachings on sacred music in the Latin rite and consequently made a lot of enemies at the parish. I’m planning on starting some classes on the place of sacred music in the Liturgy (with the blessing of the priest, mind you!) and working to introduce Paul VI’s “Jubilate Deo” into the parish musical repertoire. The music director will try to have me fired for that. lol

But I digress… stick with it! We are the few, the proud, the POD.
 
I understand your frustration, I have many friends that are non-Catholics that just don’t understand my true devotion to the Church…so most of the time I just don’t talk about it:(
It is really hard to hold in your feelings and not be able share your excitment of how the Lord has moved you in many ways.
I do have one Catholic friend that really understands me and its great when I spend time with her…I can say anything and not be looked at like “some religious nut”
Right now I’m taking a RCIA class “to brush up” and I’v met some great people that share the same enthusiasm that I have. I so look foward to this class on Thursday night just to be around others that feel the way I do.🙂
 
went through a lot of pain in the years after Vatican II as a teen and young adult trying to cope with the rapid changes, usually unexplained from the pulpit, but so busy finishing school raising a family, trying to pay for Catholic school, get the to Church on Sunday, scouts, band all the rest. Then I finally got a chance to catch my breath and tend to my own spiritual needs, get more active in the Church, become a catechist, seek spiritual growth and direction.

When I started paying attention to what was going on with the Church I would have called myself a liberal Catholic. That is until I started reading, listening, discerning what people wrote, said and did in and about the Church. I woke up one day when I read an article in US Catholic (which I considered a moderately good Catholic magazine at the time) about “What makes a conservative Catholic?” and realize “I are one” as Pogo would say.

sometimes I feel like I have been transported to a distant planet where only a warped image of the Church and the culture I grew up in exist, and wonder how to find my way back to the mother ship.
 
Thank you all. I knew I would find many comforting comments when I came back to this post. As I said before, that’s why I come here. My love for Jesus grows more and more each day, so I don’t care what other people think, I will keep trying to lead them to the right path. Knowing that I have all you wonderful people to console me, tugs at my heart. Thank you Mary for leading me to this forum.

:blessyou:
 
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Annunciata:
Welcome! It’s refreshing to hear from others who are considered religous fanatics because they truly love the Lord and His Church. I’m so thankful for CA. and all the sisters and brothers here…it’s keeping me sane:yup: …even though I’m considered as you say a “religious nut”…I’m happy to be a “nut” for the Lord! God Bless, Annunciata:)
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Amen to that!!!
 
I have to attend my parish’s RCIA class tonight to support a young (early 20’s) man who is fighting heresy being taught in the class.
This young man was a student of mine in adult Confirmation last year and probably knows more about the Church - and loves her more - that a lot of priests I know.
There’s a man teaching Sola Fide and the Faith Formation Director has told the students that there weren’t always 7 sacraments. In the early Church there was no Confession. And here I thought that was what Pentacost was all about. Silly me!
My point is that twenty-somethings should not have to defend the truth against heresy by adults.
We (they call us"dissenters") must stick together, or the Church will come apart. At least our piece of it.
Like I wrote in another thread:
“Never, never, never, never, never give in.”
Winston Churchill
 
“Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love…”

Be careful what you wish for I guess. I share the “nut” label and wear it proudly. The same Holy Spirit that sets us on fire will help us persevere to the end. I pray for an increase in our Faith, Hope and Love. Amen.
 
my pastor prefers to think if this feeling as belong to the “faithful remnant”
 
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