faithful catholic but worried about works?

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chaz0426

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I follow my faith as best as I can. I do sin and I confess when I can and try not to. I consider myself very accepting, very open minded to others and generally nice.

However I hear numerous quotes from the bible expressing works of faith important. I do believe that. And I do good things when presented to me for the most part. I do have my faults like anyone else and falter and I acknowledge that. However I’m 20 years old and I’m in college. I find myself very caught up in my life and my studies as an engineering student (really rigorous) and really busy during the week. After college I know i’ll most likely be working a job 40 hours a week and devote the rest to social mattes or personal hobbies. I do spend sundays at mass and read catholic books every now and then for leisure to grow in my faith. I consider myself an ordinary guy. I go to mass every sunday and that is never a problem (maybe 5 times a year it is for legit reasons)

I am currently active in the local catholic club at my university, I help out when I can, I am not doing it just for works. I like meeting people of the similar faith and values and joining social events.

However,

When I hear numerous quotes especially this one
" When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (Matthew 25:31-46).
I worry I’ll be condemned because I wasn’t able to do such charitable things that much. I have done similar work for the homeless during confirmation class in High School but haven’t really since then. Am I in serious sin by this alone?
 
So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
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For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work.
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Philippians 2:12 - 13
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St. Paul tells us we should take works seriously. Your works aren’t just those things that you seek out to do for others, like volunteer work with your parish or a community organization. Works are in your everyday life. You come across people in need of help all the time. Just start looking for how you can help people in every situation that presents itself. Be realistic, you aren’t a superhero. Help who you can help, and pray for those you can or cannot help.

God knows your heart. If you really have no time to volunteer, and your reasons are just, you have nothing to worry about. However, remember that people in need will come looking for help, so be ready to help when you can.
 
I would pray, pray and pray for answers.

I go enough to confession, that I often am seen as though scrupulous, but then again it is often the priesthood, and vocations, which have the most liberal of men. Jesus Judges by deeds, and deeds alone (faith is a deed).

Keep up confession, and follow God as best you can, there may be simpler ways to do charity, but it is between you and God- the standard.
 
Charity also begins at home, with your classmates, your siblings etc.
It includes not only organized efforts but how you live you life. If you treat everyone as you would expect them to treat you…then you are following Jesus’ teachings. If you try your best, not only to attend church regularly but also make a daily morning offering up of all your words, thoughts and deeds to the Lord, which just takes moments, then you are also living your life as God intended.

As the previous poster said…pray, pray, pray and you will see the how Jesus works in your life. Ask the Holy Spirit and our Blessed Mother for intercession…and let God do to the rest.
 
I have become persuaded that for those of us who cannot get out and serve in exterior ways as much as we’d like, there is no greater work of mercy one can do than to have a devotion to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. These are people – real people – who suffer night and day without rest. They need our prayers, our sacrifices, the Mass, the sacramentals, and all else we can give them! Perhaps you can offer a regular novena to the Holy Souls, and go down to your parish and offer Masses for them – particularly the deceased people in your family and whom you’ve known.

This is a highly legitimate and worthy act of charity that benefits us much both now and after death. Do it with all your heart, and you will gain grace and favor with God! 👍
 
You should be worried if you think your works will somehow “earn” you justification. Or do you think you can actually keep the law and obey the 2 Great Commandments perfectly? “Be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect” - Christ did not come to make the law more “manageable” but to elevate it beyond what people were thinking (adultery=lust, murder=anger, etc.). You shouldn’t read the commandments of the NT and think, hey I’m doing a pretty good job keeping these. Unless you really think you are keeping the commandments perfectly (that is 24/7 in thought/word/deed and with pure motives/heart). Helping out in a soup kitchen once a week doesn’t cut it. Not to say sanctification is negligible or unnecessary, far from it, but mixing it into your righteousness before God can be a bit problematic - the law kills with its demands, the gospel brings life.
 
You may be already doing works but not even know it. If you are setting an example to your friends in college and gaining inquiries into the faith this is a work.

But if you really want to start NOW start praying for others, the church and the sould in purgatory. These are all valid works and something we can all easily do every single day.

James
 
The most important thing to remember is that this is a life long process. As Paul tells us, we need to persevere to the end. Just try to do a little more, a little at a time. When you are out of school, you will look at things like tithing to the Church and to help those more in need. You can look at ways to use your education to “give back”. You can spread the faith to your family and (hopefully) your children. It is all important.
 
The_Dude said:
You should be worried if you think your works will somehow “earn” you justification. Or do you think you can actually keep the law and obey the 2 Great Commandments perfectly? “Be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect” - Christ did not come to make the law more “manageable” but to elevate it beyond what people were thinking (adultery=lust, murder=anger, etc.). You shouldn’t read the commandments of the NT and think, hey I’m doing a pretty good job keeping these. Unless you really think you are keeping the commandments perfectly (that is 24/7 in thought/word/deed and with pure motives/heart). Helping out in a soup kitchen once a week doesn’t cut it. Not to say sanctification is negligible or unnecessary, far from it, but mixing it into your righteousness before God can be a bit problematic - the law kills with its demands, the gospel brings life.
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This sure sounds like a Protestant perspective to me. If that’s the case, it really belongs on a different forum thread.
 
I can do all thing through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.
Each of us is given 24 hours a day, no more and no less. During the time that we are given, we have things that must be done, whether it is studying or work. We also need to take care of ourselves, We too are made in the image and likeness of God. We hear how we are called to be Christlike, to walk in the footstep of Jesus Christ. What does that mean for individuals who do not live in Roman occupied Jerusalem? To follow Christ is to live authentically the life you are called to individually. The works of love that some are called to perform do mean volunteering once a week in the local soup kitchen. For others, it is the work to which we are called. For you that may mean building and designing safe bridges. It is our relationships and the way that we treat one another. Sometimes it means setting aside that the fear that we are not doing enough to build up the kingdom of God.
A message that I once received loud and clear while on retreat was “Quit trying to be me (God). Be the creature I have called you to be.” As another person posted, we are not called to be superhumans. We are called to obedience to God’s call on our lives, whatever simple acts that may entail.
 
DebChris,
Absolutely the way in which we fulfill God’s will shall vary from person to person and depending on their gifts and circumstances and situations (someone who has a family will operate in a different manner than a single person, a shy wealthy person different than a poor extrovert, etc). But do you agree that God’s will for all believers is summed up by the 2 Great Commandments? Is a violation of obeying God’s will a sin? If so, anytime we are not obeying the 2GC (which I would say is far more often than not on a daily basis no matter our gifts/circumstances), we sin no?
 
The righteous man sins seven times a day.
We are indeed called to love one another as Christ loved us and we often fail. We can dwell on our sinfulness or we can rejoice in the mercy of God and His forgiveness.
 
DebChris,
Right, so when we neglect/violate the 2GC (which are really just extensions of the First Commandment as all of the rest of the law/commandments flow from that) by our sins of comission/omission (i.e. putting ourselves first/self-idolatry (which all sin is) and laziness/indifference), why is that not of grave matter?
 
The_Dude said:
DebChris,
Right, so when we neglect/violate the 2GC (which are really just extensions of the First Commandment as all of the rest of the law/commandments flow from that) by our sins of comission/omission (i.e. putting ourselves first/self-idolatry (which all sin is) and laziness/indifference), why is that not of grave matter?
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Catholics recognize the authority of the Church to determine what is grave matter. We should be very careful, as laity, not to attach gravity where it does not belong.

In an answer to the OP, to the best of my knowledge of Catholic faith and morals, failing to do meritorious works amounts to venial sin. It is not advisable, especially given our individual and collective need for penance, but it does not condemn the soul. (Please correct me, if I am mistaken, with documentation to the contrary.) However, the Scripture you cited cannot be taken lightly: We do have an obligation to our fellow man. Therefore, deliberately neglecting this obligation can certainly lengthen one’s own penalty after death. But as I mentioned earlier, *it may not be so impossible to meet that obligation under your circumstances as you suppose. 🙂 *
 
Hi surf,
“Catholics recognize the authority of the Church to determine what is grave matter.”
Right, but there is no exhaustive list unfortunately - although I believe it is generally confined to violations of the decalogue and the 5 precepts of the church based on the examinations of conscience I’ve read. But my concern is that if all sin violates the 1C, why is not all sin of grave matter then? One could say I suppose, only sins that explicitly violate a certain commandment are grave - so I don’t violate the 1C gravely unless I worship a false deity, practice divination, etc. but then that seems to cut against violations of the 5/6C in which lust/hatred are considered (rightly so given Christ’s words) of grave matter, not just explicit murder/adultery.

“failing to do meritorious works amounts to venial sin.”
Would you agree that many are failing miserably at doing this? That anytime you sleep in on the weekends or sit on the couch watching tv or put your desires and frivolous interests/activities first when you could be serving, you are neglecting God and your neighbor and violating the 2GC?
 
The_Dude said:
Hi surf,
“Catholics recognize the authority of the Church to determine what is grave matter.”
Right, but there is no exhaustive list unfortunately - although I believe it is generally confined to violations of the decalogue and the 5 precepts of the church based on the examinations of conscience I’ve read. But my concern is that if all sin violates the 1C, why is not all sin of grave matter then? One could say I suppose, only sins that explicitly violate a certain commandment are grave - so I don’t violate the 1C gravely unless I worship a false deity, practice divination, etc. but then that seems to cut against violations of the 5/6C in which lust/hatred are considered (rightly so given Christ’s words) of grave matter, not just explicit murder/adultery.

“failing to do meritorious works amounts to venial sin.”
Would you agree that many are failing miserably at doing this? That anytime you sleep in on the weekends or sit on the couch watching tv or put your desires and frivolous interests/activities first when you could be serving, you are neglecting God and your neighbor and violating the 2GC?
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I disagree with your premises, but this discussion belongs on a separate thread. Out of respect for the original poster, I will close my part of the conversation here.
 
MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
  • Thomas Merton, “Thoughts in Solitude”
 
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