Feeling embarrassed

[Kathrin]

I hope I’m not hijacking the thread here, but out of curiosity, do you have any troublr praying while youre with a group of non-believers or non Catholics or whoever besides family?

When I’m with family or friends who don’t pray before meals, I don’t like to make a show of myself either. I usually say a silent prayer then. With my family I ahve mentioned it before, but I don’t want to press the issue, but be a quieter kind of missionary too…

How about mentioning prayer to people? I noticed this today, a man was telling me about the cancer he survived, just while passing by me in the street, so we didn’t talk long, and somehow it would just have sounded wrong to say “I’ll pray for you”… I made the prayer gesture with my hands though.
I could mention God and prayer a lot in every conversation, but sometimes the opportunity doesn’t seem right.

I did feel guilty afterward and lit a candle at church for him!

Kathrin

 

[Kathrin]

My Dad dropped me off at church today because they were collecting clothes for charity and I was taking a huge bag.

It felt awkward to cross myself when we reached the church. Maybe because I felt it would just make my Dad think I am being compulsive again and that would NOT do any good in converting him?
So I just did it very fast, like hardly at all.

Wondering now though: Is it a mortal sin to feel embarrassed? I went to communion. I hope that was ok?
Kathrin

 

[Kathrin]

Would you call not crossing yourself while somebody is looking right at you a mortal sin?

 

[djrakowski]

Would you call not crossing yourself while somebody is looking right at you a mortal sin?

It doesn’t seem to meet the qualifications of mortal sin as defined by the Catechism, which states: “Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.”

It doesn’t sound like grave matter to me. To the best of my knowledge, we’re never required to make the sign of the cross outside of Mass.

But, what are your reasons for avoiding the expression of your religion in public?

 

[baltobetsy]

Would you call not crossing yourself while somebody is looking right at you a mortal sin?

NO!!! Not a sin at all. An imperfection at most. Crossing yourself is a custom that is entirely optional.

I think you may be reading more into the actions of other people than they intend. When someone is “looking right at you,” it is not necessarily a challenge to your faith. They’re probably not thinking, “Well, let’s see if Kathrin will make the Sign of the Cross or if she will deny her God and her faith…” It’s probably more like, “Where can we dump these bags of clothes so we can go have lunch?”

There is no 11th Commandment saying that you must be “in your face” with every little thing about your faith. Sometimes it’s the right thing to do; sometimes it’s not. If you judge that it’s not the time or place to be obvious, you have that right. If you make a mistake, it’s not a sin - it’s just a mistake. And I’m not saying that you made a mistake this time either. You know your parents - we do not. Don’t worry!

Betsy

 

[Kathrin]

Ok Because I have kind of started challenging myself with this. Like when I start playing my music, I like to say a prayer, but sometimes when somebody is staring right at me it seems kind of embarrassing to cross myself right then…

 

[baltobetsy]

I like to maintain a constant loving conversation with God throughout the day. I don’t start and stop it with the Sign of the Cross each time. I just talk to Him. The important thing about prayer is the love, not the outward sign. If no one notices you’re praying, that’s just fine - you’re still talking with God in a loving way.

Betsy