Having trouble

[snowman10]

I am really having trouble. I keep reading and seeing things about Mary and apparitions and it is becoming hard for me to keep up believing in them. Im slightly aware of Fatima, Lourdes, etc…but its so hard. Jesus before Mary…always. I am probably out of line, and I am sorry, I am just having some issues with it now.

Not only her though, I am tired of hearing “end of world” junk. Sometimes its prophecy this, prophecy that. It went from ST. Malachy after JP2’s passing and now I have heard the end is near because of Fatima. Then there are people going on about the number of natural disaters and so on. Don’t forget Avian Bird Flu. People don’t realize these things have not become more intense, just more widely known, because of the media. Its just getting old now.

Im staying in RCIA but please pray.

dxu

 

[aurora77]

We’re not required to believe in any of the apparitions. It’s not a sin to doubt them. The Church has a approved a few of them, meaning they say that Mary most likely did appear, but does not say we have to believe them as a condition of our salvation.

I, too, find the “end times” talk to be silly and counterproductive. Yes, the Jesus will return and the world as we know it will end, but we should be focusing more on the world of today and doing what God asks of us, rather than on an event that may or may not happen in our lifetime.

 

[RCCDefender]

snowman,

My prayers are with you! Please stick with it, it’s worth it. I am a convert, and I dropped out the first time. How I regretted that decision!! Don’t make that mistake. Can I suggest (as I have on countless other threads) that you read “Why Do Catholics Do That?” by Kevin Orlin Johnson and “Surprised by Truth” by Patrick Marid?

Contrary to popular opinion, we do not and should not put Mary before Jesus. Remember that Mary needed a Savior, too. And no one knows when the world will end. Just ignore it like I do.

Keep the Faith!!

 

[Lorrie]

aurora77:

We’re not required to believe in any of the apparitions. It’s not a sin to doubt them. The Church has a approved a few of them, meaning they say that Mary most likely did appear, but does not say we have to believe them as a condition of our salvation.

I, too, find the “end times” talk to be silly and counterproductive. Yes, the Jesus will return and the world as we know it will end, but we should be focusing more on the world of today and doing what God asks of us, rather than on an event that may or may not happen in our lifetime.

This is wonderful advice. I can only say, “Ditto”.

 

[jesusluv]

I have problems with things like a half eaten grilled cheese with Mary on it and stuff like that. Actual apparitions like Fatima, Lourdes, Guataloupe etc. I don’t have a problem with because Our Lady physically appeared to these saints.

I don’t put really any stock in reports of a water stain on concrete, soap scum on a shower door and things like that where Our Lady has “appeared”. Personally, I can’t see why she would be sitting in heaven thinking “hmmm, how can I bring them closer to my son? I know, that woman there is making a grilled cheese, I will appear on it, that should do it”.

 

[scylla]

There will always be silly people seeing signs in a tortilla, or in a water stain. It might be good for their faith, but I stay way, way clear of that sort of thing.

We need to hold on to what is good and seek truth. We are not required to believe in any of the apparitions. I wont rule out miracles and apparitions as God does exist and his power manifests in many different ways, but I wont follow every rumor or fad out there.

As a Catholic I am content in the unity of doctrine and firm foundation of the faith.

As far as end times stuff, there is always people promoting that kind of thing, I rarely see it in the Catholic Church and have never seen it officially. I do remember Pope John Paul celebrating the year 2000 as the Jubilee year and this struck me as the church I previously was attending was hiding out in fear of the end of the world.

God Bless
Scylla

 

[Didi]

Mary will never lead us away from Jesus, she only points us towards Him. In Mary’s Magnificat (the prayer in Luke 1:46-55) Mary prays “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…”

Mary only magnifies Jesus; she becomes the magnifying glass and shows us her Son in deeper and clearer ways than we have seen before.

True devotion to Mary never places her above Jesus.

 

[jesusluv]

scylla:

As far as end times stuff, there is always people promoting that kind of thing, I rarely see it in the Catholic Church and have never seen it officially. I do remember Pope John Paul celebrating the year 2000 as the Jubilee year and this struck me as the church I previously was attending was hiding out in fear of the end of the world.

God Bless
Scylla

All the end times predictions is one of the main things that sent me running for the Catholic Church. You can become more confused looking into all the different end times events protestants come up with…all from scripture of course, lol…that you won’t know what to believe when you are done.

 

[puzzleannie]

snowman10:

I am really having trouble. I keep reading and seeing things about Mary and apparitions and it is becoming hard for me to keep up believing in them. Im slightly aware of Fatima, Lourdes, etc…but its so hard. Jesus before Mary…always. I am probably out of line, and I am sorry, I am just having some issues with it now.

Not only her though, I am tired of hearing “end of world” junk. Sometimes its prophecy this, prophecy that.
Im staying in RCIA but please pray.

dxu

none of this is required for belief by Catholics, so disregard it. Even the messages from apparitions that have been approved by the Church - which are few and far between - are private revelation, and in no way change Divine Revelation or Church teaching, and Catholics are free to disregard any or all of it.

As far as the end-times type of prophecies claimed by a lot of recent visionaries, including the Malachy hoax, none of them to my knowledge has any kind of Church approval, so it is a lot of malarky. Even messages that were approved, such as those at Fatima, have been so distorted by people pushing various agendae, that they bear no relation to the original messages.

spend your time in RCIA asking questions about authentic Church teaching on Mary and her role in the economy of salvation, and leave the prophecies to the crazies on the internet.

 

[Myangel]

While I know that we as Catholics dont have to believe in appartitions, it kind of makes me feel warm knowing that people are praying to walls, fence posts (a case here in Australia where the blessed mother apparrently was clearly seen) and water marks. However they decide to pray, they are praying for her intercession. I think if it moves you that much to pray, what harm could there possible be in believing.

As far as the end times, well its hard not to wonder with all the natural disasters that are happening, as stated in the bible, however as long as you TRULY try to lilve your life with Jesus by your side, have no fear I say!