Fulfillment

[Montie_Claunch]

Hey,

I need help. As time has been going on, I have been noticing more and more characterorial defects in myself. And some I can’t quite seem to sake off, some I don’t want to. But, I really do want to. And I find that not being able to is quite distressful. Do any of ya’ll know of any good programs that could help me with this, maybe something that the church directs? Thanks and God bless.

 

[InLight247]

I am not sure what are you referring to.

We are all called to holiness. This is a life time journey and effort.
The best way to overcome our character flaws and weakness is to pray and to build a close relationship with Jesus. Let Him transform us.

Read your Bible daily, don’t just read, but meditate on the content. Do Eucharist adoration, pray the Rosary with meditation, and go to confession.

You may also want to get spiritual direction. Make an appointment with your priest and talk to him.

God bless!

 

[LilyM]

Don’t work on ridding yourself of character defects so much as obtaining their opposing virtues. For example, I have a tendency (more than a tendency actually) to laziness and anxiety. So I work on glorifying God by working willingly and faithfully (the virtue of diligence) and the virtues of faith hope and trust.

You need to replace perceived character traits and habits that you don’t like with something good that is incompatible with the disliked trait - kinda like someone stopping smoking might take up sport or something else that they can’t do while smoking.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Spiritual direction would be excellent to look into, if available near you. Also, have you read any books about mystical theology or other books about the spiritual journey, and/or practiced some form of silent prayer? These things can help us understand and even experience a greater amount of union with God than “intellectual” theology.

There are really two great parts to Church tradition. One is the contemplative, monastic sort of tradition, sometimes known as “apophatic” and focuses on what we don’t know of God. The other is what most of us experience in active life, and focuses on what we do know of God.

The Church must have both, just as she must have both her priests who uphold tradition, and prophets who challenge traditions and teachings. It takes both sides to make the Church both strong enough to withstand attacks from outsiders, while carrying the pure messages of truth forward. The Church really does have enough resources to give true healing, and deeper forms of prayer can facilitate accessing it.

Alan

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Specifically about the character defects, this could be a sign that you are entering the “dark night” and your soul is yearning to find perfection.

If that’s the case, then I think it’s important to remember what Jesus said about when one demon leaves, it brings seven more sinister ones back with it to live.

I think that’s because as you increase in holiness and your interior “noise” level diminished, you start discovering ever-more-subtle things about yourself. Just when you think you have addressed an issue, that leaves you at even a quieter level and now things that are more subtle start occurring to you. This can be unsettling because it gives the impression sometimes that we are making negative progress. The Spirit is in control, though, for those who can trust, and this is a normal part of the spiritual journey to feel this way – almost like you’re treading water or something.

I hope that helps.

Alan