Does anybody else feel that tough times are truly ahead?

[atheistgirl]

Now, I need some pragmatical evidence that society is bettering itself. People are content to say that we are improving, Really? Is that so? cnn.com/2013/02/27/us/new-york-officer-cannibalism

Is this a sign of a better society? or when a maniac rips through a school killing 26 5 year olds and 1 adult, and then kills himself? If you can provide me evidence that we are getting better as a society, then I will believe You.

usnews.com/news/articles/2012/11/13/dumb-and-dumber-study-says-humans-are-slowly-losing-their-smarts

For every doom and gloom story you find, I can find 10 good news stories

I’m not just interested in the Priesthood, I want to be a Priest. However, What I can “Do” at this time is limited. I haven’t even graduated yet!! How on earth could I do anything about it now???

We’ve had this conversation before.

You can do lots now if you open your eyes to what’s around you and see what needs to be done.

I was running a business when I was your age.

Yes, I’m defensive, touchy, exasperated and frusturated.

Then you need to do something about that.

That’s not a healthy, kind or constructive frame of mind for a 17 year old young man to be in.

The Human Heart has become cold to the need of its fellow man.

You would say God made us in His image.

We are His creation.

Seems to me, I, as an atheist, have more hope in, faith in, acceptance of, tolerance of, understanding of and love toward God’s creation, than someone who wants to be one of His Priests.

Go figure

Sarah x

 

[OxygenMan]

Everybody I know makes fun of me for being Catholic. So it will certainly be tough times ahead for myself.

 

[ephesians4]

What can a 17 year old, with no insurance, and no job do constructively? What can a 17 year old say that I haven’t said in High School?, with charity and patience at that. What Can I do when even saying “I believe homosexuality is wrong” can be considered hateful? I would try to fix the problem if I had the means. A mechanic who wants to assemble a car, as much as he desires to assemble one, if He doesn’t have wrenches, sockets, ratchets etc., then he cannot put the car together. Thats like me. I don’t have the means (yet) to do anything. I still have mid Grade 12 to get through, what else can I do? I’m exasperated enough already due to other concerns, what else? I’m at the point of desperation at most times, what else can I do?? If I say something, either no one listens, or they take it the wrong way. I’m always getting bashed, but in reality, I’m very gentle and soft spoken in school. I’m not “preachy” by any means, although I do share some of my concerns from time to time, yet they fall on deaf ears. What else can I do??

Your problem appears to be that you can separate the worm from the apple.

If only you were brave enough to get with the herd, deny God and pretend good is evil, and evil good, you could be less “negative”.

Perhaps then you could have the intellectual integrity to make sweeping pronouncements that society isn’t going to hell when you literally do not believe in hell. Yet.

Anyway, your moral compass seems fine to me. Just remember that it may not always be stuff that God is ignoring, it may not always be on your plate to solve the world’s problems, it may be for you to take another approach. You need to have the kind of sense of proportion that comes from the scriptures about this sort of thing. Meditating on Proverbs and (the thing my nickname points to ) and hitting up the Psalms at random (careful, though )can be good for this, I think.

It is also our lot to take flak, as our Lord told us - if they would do what they did to him at the beginning, what will they do to Christians? We also know from the scripture that being hated for being Christian is a blessing, so I wouldn’t sweat it.

I think the thing about helping individuals may be good advice in general, although I’m not sure this will alleviate your concerns. Got to be worth a try.

World-weariness can come from being a Christian of faith and seeing lots of big problems you can’t fix - but that is in itself probably a big morale booster the enemy, all those people he can put in the unhappy column.

Seems to me, I, as an atheist, have more hope in, faith in, acceptance of, tolerance of, understanding of and love toward God’s creation, than someone who wants to be one of His Priests.

Yeah, but then it seems to you that God doesn’t exist. Just sayin’.

 

[mymamamary]

For every doom and gloom story you find, I can find 10 good news stories

We’ve had this conversation before.

You can do lots now if you open your eyes to what’s around you and see what needs to be done.

I was running a business when I was your age.

Then you need to do something about that.

That’s not a healthy, kind or constructive frame of mind for a 17 year old young man to be in.

You would say God made us in His image.

We are His creation.

Seems to me, I, as an atheist, have more hope in, faith in, acceptance of, tolerance of, understanding of and love toward God’s creation, than someone who wants to be one of His Priests.

Go figure

Sarah x

**
If you were running a buisness at my age, fantastic, but how am I going to do the same in a town of not even 1,000 !! This conversation is pointless. I want to do something, yet, I cannot. I can pray, but thats it. There are no soup kitchens around here (At least not until Christmass time), and there are no homeless centers, otherwise, I would gladly go and help. So then what? I will also go and see what the Nursing Home in the town where my school is says. If they would be willing to have a 17 year old come in and visit The Senior Shut-ins randomly. **

 

[grasscutter]

**
If you were running a buisness at my age, fantastic, but how am I going to do the same in a town of not even 1,000 !! This conversation is pointless. I want to do something, yet, I cannot. I can pray, but thats it. There are no soup kitchens around here (At least not until Christmass time), and there are no homeless centers, otherwise, I would gladly go and help. So then what? I will also go and see what the Nursing Home in the town where my school is says. If they would be willing to have a 17 year old come in and visit The Senior Shut-ins randomly. **

About visiting your local nursing home - yes(!) please do go and visit. So many people living in places like that are starved for company. Even a random visit from a 17 year old. That would be such a lovely, generous act on your part! If you can afford it, quite often small gifts like pens and notepaper are truly welcome and appreciated. As are offers to mail a letter, etc.

 

[mymamamary]

About visiting your local nursing home - yes(!) please do go and visit. So many people living in places like that are starved for company. Even a random visit from a 17 year old. That would be such a lovely, generous act on your part! If you can afford it, quite often small gifts like pens and notepaper are truly welcome and appreciated. As are offers to mail a letter, etc.

I’ll try to stop in sometime next week!

 

[carmichael2359]

When I said that 5 years ago I was a “fringe wacko” and an uncharitable Catholic if I mentioned any names, 3 years ago I was merely paranoid and today it’s often the opening of a conversation. We are indeed heading somewhere evil and rather quickly.

Oh yeah, most def. Both Garabandal and Kibeho were approved Marian apparitions, so I’m allowed to mention them here. Whether one believed in then is not a matter of Doctrine, but I say, if the Church approved them (oooooh, and Akita) then we’d better be listening. And in 2/3 of those apparitions, the message was clear: the world is in serious trouble. Personally, I think if the Blessed Mother was good enough go come and warn us, we’d better be listening and praying and fasting for the conversion of this world. Complacency got Sodom & Gomorrah in trouble, it got the people of Noah’s time in trouble, and it got the Temple destroyed three times and the Jews dispersed. Woe to the complacent in Zion! Lukewarm souls will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

[LilyM]

Oh yeah, most def. Both Garabandal and Kibeho were approved Marian apparitions, so I’m allowed to mention them here. Whether one believed in then is not a matter of Doctrine, but I say, if the Church approved them (oooooh, and Akita) then we’d better be listening. And in 2/3 of those apparitions, the message was clear: the world is in serious trouble. Personally, I think if the Blessed Mother was good enough go come and warn us, we’d better be listening and praying and fasting for the conversion of this world. Complacency got Sodom & Gomorrah in trouble, it got the people of Noah’s time in trouble, and it got the Temple destroyed three times and the Jews dispersed. Woe to the complacent in Zion! Lukewarm souls will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Garabandal most certainly is NOT approved - the statement from the Bishop is a ‘non constat’ - in other words ‘not established that it is a supernatural event’. The formuka for approved apparitions is ‘constat de supernaturalitate’ (established that it is super natural)

Where did you get the idea that it was approved?

See the following: www.ewtn.com/library/bishops/garaband.htm

 

[atheistgirl]

Yeah, but then it seems to you that God doesn’t exist. Just sayin’.

Irrelevant.

Either God exits, or He doesn’t, and if He exists, He’s either the God of Christianity or He isn’t.

My non belief in Him, based on lack of evidence for such a Deity, has no bearing on whether such a Being actually exists or not.

Seems to me, were He to exist, I have much more appreciation of and faith in, His creation, than someone who thinks he might be called to be one of His priests.

As it is, I just have a lot of faith and hope in human nature, humanity, and the goodness of people.

I like people.

I would have though that would be a basic job requirement for anyone who thinks they’re called to the priesthood.

Just sayin’.

Sarah x

 

[carmichael2359]

Garabandal most certainly is NOT approved - where did you get the idea that it was?

From a workshop I attended. Perhaps I misunderstood the comments about the diocese of Santander putting forward the findings of the commission.
I didn’t mean to imply that the Vatican approved them (although Kibeho was) because it’s the local magisterium that makes the approval possible. And, anyway, Garabandal’s message was mainly the importance of the Eucharist and the sanctity of the priesthood.
Sorry if I goofed!

 

[LilyM]

From a workshop I attended. Perhaps I misunderstood the comments about the diocese of Santander putting forward the findings of the commission.
I didn’t mean to imply that the Vatican approved them (although Kibeho was) because it’s the local magisterium that makes the approval possible. And, anyway, Garabandal’s message was mainly the importance of the Eucharist and the sanctity of the priesthood.
Sorry if I goofed!

???

It is the local magisterium that has to use ‘constat de supernaturalitate’ or words to that effect. The link makes clear that the local magisterium have said no such thing, and if anything gone in the opposite direction. Far from being established as a genuine apparition, the local magisterium have as good as said that Garabandal is NOT established to be a superatural event at all.

Clearly something cannot be approved as an apparition - by anyone - unless it is first established to be a supernatural event. No such thing has been established - and thus no approval has been given by the local magisterium to the apparition - in this case.

The only permission or approval I can see in the document is approval for Mass to be said on the site. That permission is not by any means meant to be construed as approval of the apparitions. In fact the approval is on condition that no link is made to the alleged apparitions

 

[atheistgirl]

I want to do something, yet, I cannot.

You say that, and yet there is a Nursing Home in the town where you go to school

I wonder what else is in that town?

And you’re in school.

Why couldn’t you start a club in school with a charitable aim. Either on or off premises. Organize some fundraiser activities then use that money based on whatever the aim was - to buy food, clothing, toys for a mother and baby unit, whatever.

Is there a hospital? A childrens hospital?

I’m sure there’s lots of groups in that town that could do with help or support.

If they would be willing to have a 17 year old come in and visit The Senior Shut-ins randomly.

I think visiting the nursing home is a great idea. I’m sure there are many there who have no family, or little contact with family, that would love a visit from a young man.

Maybe work on your terminology though, and loose the Senior Shut in huh?

Think about them a people - that’ll help.

How about organizing a group from school - put some folks together who can play musical instruments, learn some songs from the residents era if they’re mostly elderly, and entertain them for a few hours a week (or even once a month if y’all got a lot of study on).

Working one on one for a few hours with someone who loves the garden and gardening but can no longer do it without support.

I’m sure if you talk to the manager they’ll have no shortage of things for you to do.

A reading session.

Anything.

But all I hear is excuses.

Let’s see some positive action and less negativity.

If nothing else, there’ll be one less negative person in the world at least

Sarah x

 

[ephesians4]

ephesians4:

Yeah, but then it seems to you that God doesn’t exist. Just sayin’.

Irrelevant.

It is relevant when you are the source of a comment about who is going to hell, and how much worth there is in serving God.

If you do not believe in God anything you say about whether anyone is going to hell is nice wrapping around a definitively absolute bias.

To even be capable of any other conclusion, let alone a balanced one, one has to have accepted the core premise you reject - therefore nothing could be more relevant when considering the source.

 

[atheistgirl]

It is relevant when you are the source of a comment about who is going to hell, and how much worth there is in serving God.

MMM is the source of the comment, not me.

He says society is going to hell in this post here.

If you do not believe in God anything you say about whether anyone is going to hell is nice wrapping around a definitively absolute bias.

I never said anyone is going to hell.

The Catholic Church doesn’t say that anyone is in hell.

However, someone who *wants *to be a priest, thinks the society of people they would one day hope to shepherd, is going to hell.

Not a great start - in my opinion.

Sarah x

 

[carmichael2359]

What can a 17 year old, with no insurance, and no job do constructively? What can a 17 year old say that I haven’t said in High School?, with charity and patience at that. What Can I do when even saying “I believe homosexuality is wrong” can be considered hateful? I would try to fix the problem if I had the means. A mechanic who wants to assemble a car, as much as he desires to assemble one, if He doesn’t have wrenches, sockets, ratchets etc., then he cannot put the car together. Thats like me. I don’t have the means (yet) to do anything. I still have mid Grade 12 to get through, what else can I do? I’m exasperated enough already due to other concerns, what else? I’m at the point of desperation at most times, what else can I do?? If I say something, either no one listens, or they take it the wrong way. I’m always getting bashed, but in reality, I’m very gentle and soft spoken in school. I’m not “preachy” by any means, although I do share some of my concerns from time to time, yet they fall on deaf ears. What else can I do??

Sweetie, I have a 17 y/o daughter, in a similar predicament. All most of us can do and should do its pray fervently and offer up any personal sacrifices to God, in communion with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. You can do this even when you’re not in church. PRAYER moves mountains, all sorts of mountains. Just remain steadfast in Jesus.

 

[carmichael2359]

???

It is the local magisterium that has to use ‘constat de supernaturalitate’ or words to that effect. The link makes clear that the local magisterium have said no such thing, and if anything gone in the opposite direction. Far from being established as a genuine apparition, the local magisterium have as good as said that Garabandal is NOT established to be a superatural event at all.

Clearly something cannot be approved as an apparition - by anyone - unless it is first established to be a supernatural event. No such thing has been established - and thus no approval has been given by the local magisterium to the apparition - in this case.

The only permission or approval I can see in the document is approval for Mass to be said on the site. That permission is not by any means meant to be construed as approval of the apparitions. In fact the approval is on condition that no link is made to the alleged apparitions

As I said, I’m sorry if I goofed. Kibeho WAS approved, and again, I say I believe we need to pray. Now, if that’s wrong, shore me how and where.

 

[Denise1957]

I don’t like seeing him leave, either. He stood up for Church teaching, and I believe the next Pope will, too. But I think that as society becomes more liberal and moves away from God’s law, the Church will face more persecution. And those who will persecute the Church and Catholics believe that they are doing the right thing, out of a disordered sense of justice.

Regarding the OP, we may be facing tough times ahead in any manner of ways - financially, spiritually, mentally. Those of us who have spoken will people who lived through, say, the Great Depression, or World War ll in Europe, or in a Communist country, knows that a situation can change from good to bad in a short time. It’s good to be frugal and not too materialistic, because it can all be taken away. But if we do face tough times, it will provide a good opportunity to be of help and service to others.

Someone mentioned praying the Rosary, which is always an excellent idea!*

 

[ephesians4]

someone who wants to be a priest, thinks the society of people they would one day hope to shepherd, is going to hell.

It’s like a person who labours under the delusion that drugs don’t exist, calling somebody negative for expressing concern about drug problems. Just worth a shrug really, what can you say? Please understand, I’m not arguing with you about how wrong your opinion is, to say you’re in any way not entitled to it, or to unkindly knock you down, merely pointing out no young Christian wants to take such chastisement to heart or feel bad about being ‘negative’

Look, I don’t want to go in circles on this because I don’t want to harangue you or be unfriendly, but it’s a very simple point, and I’m sure you can understand it.

Personally, I do not think there is anything wrong with what was posted - society has always been such because of human nature, and licentiousness and infanticide are particularly huge problems in society at the moment. More or less perfectly supportable.

Nor do I think that expressing an interest in being a priest should be considered unusual - more a matter of “see a problem, think about ways to help”, which is quite normal for a young person of MMM’s age.

I think the problem has been clearly and correctly identified, some solutions thought/dreamed about, and the only thing really missing so far is a) an action plan and/or b) a greater sense of plodding dullness and scathing proportion which we all so gloriously lack about the world when we are teenagers (thank God for that )

 

[mymamamary]

You say that, and yet there is a Nursing Home in the town where you go to school

I wonder what else is in that town?

And you’re in school.

Why couldn’t you start a club in school with a charitable aim. Either on or off premises. Organize some fundraiser activities then use that money based on whatever the aim was - to buy food, clothing, toys for a mother and baby unit, whatever.

Is there a hospital? A childrens hospital?

I’m sure there’s lots of groups in that town that could do with help or support.

I think visiting the nursing home is a great idea. I’m sure there are many there who have no family, or little contact with family, that would love a visit from a young man.

Maybe work on your terminology though, and loose the Senior Shut in huh?

Think about them a people - that’ll help.

How about organizing a group from school - put some folks together who can play musical instruments, learn some songs from the residents era if they’re mostly elderly, and entertain them for a few hours a week (or even once a month if y’all got a lot of study on).

Working one on one for a few hours with someone who loves the garden and gardening but can no longer do it without support.

I’m sure if you talk to the manager they’ll have no shortage of things for you to do.

A reading session.

Anything.

But all I hear is excuses.

Let’s see some positive action and less negativity.

If nothing else, there’ll be one less negative person in the world at least

Again, you know nothing on the size of this town. Also what happens when you have no resources? These aren’t excuses, this is the truth. Until You’ve seen my schedule and seen this town, then I don’t think you are qualified to judge. I am trying to do what I can according to My resources And capabilities

Sarah x

 

[mymamamary]

MMM is the source of the comment, not me.

He says society is going to hell in this post here.

I never said anyone is going to hell.

The Catholic Church doesn’t say that anyone is in hell.

However, someone who *wants *to be a priest, thinks the society of people they would one day hope to shepherd, is going to hell.

Not a great start - in my opinion.

Sarah x

**Again, You don’t see where I am coming from. Of course believe that there is still hope for this world and even salvation, otherwise I would have abadonded Catholicism a while ago. However, You wouldn’t think highly of our LORD then either because it was HIM who said “Broad is the way and wide is the gate that leads to destruction and there are MANY who Travel IT”. Our LORD came to save us from such a reality. ONE of the motivating reasons that I want to be a Priest is because I feel a duty to my Brothers and Sisters to save their souls from hell. That is the whole point of the Church, The Sacraments, and the Death of JESUS. HE came not just to work miracles and help the lesser (Although THIS ALSO is a fundamental part of the work of the Christian), but to ultimatley save souls from hell. I do believe society is headed in a very dark direction and I want to save as many as I can from that. When one drives GOD from society, it is hell. Literally. One of the defintions of hell is that it is a place without GOD. This society is becoming that. We accuse GOD of every evil that befalls us, yet we shove HIM under the rug as often as we can. What do we expect? When man stops seeking GOD and His ultimate and final destiny, that man will turn to depraved things to fill the vacancy. Blame me all you want, I think Your criticism is invalid. If we fail to address the ills that are facing society, then we become guilty of negligence. I have always wanted to do some sort of humanitarian work, and call me out on this all you want, I cannot. Lack of time and resources. All I hear from your posts is undue critisicm. You have not even expierenced my situation and yet you are judging. You have not seen the size of the town where my school is, nor where I live, nor my schedule, and yet You made unfair, and invalid judgements. I will listen to your critiscm when You have seen what I go through in a day, and in what town, until then, I will not take an ignorant answer for an answer. **