Homosexual relationship ending, help requested

[Irish_Becca]

I have heard that Courage is wonderful. couragerc.net/

I’m so sorry that you are dealing with this. You are a true inspiration. I pray that God showers you with blessings. You will be in my prayers.

 

[urban-hermit]

God bless you, brother! Thank you for inspiring us with the choice you have made for God - I’m sure He will not disappoint you. It sounds simplistic, but when things seem overwhelming or over-complicated, if you keep obedience to God your first priority, everything else will fall into place eventually.

I will pray for you and your partner. I left the gay lifestyle about 5-6 years ago and, like you, “reverted” to my Catholic faith. I’ve never seriously looked back, by God’s grace, and I hope you have the same experience.

I found the road of chastity impossible until I attended some Courage meetings and started saying the rosary every day. It takes time, of course, but you will find that living a chaste life means you must make more time for prayer every day or you will encounter more failures in practicing this virtue. Just my opinion, but I recommend the scriptural rosary. You can listen to and download a beautiful rendition of it from ewtn’s website:
The Scriptural Rosary - www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=504

I also echo blessedtoo’s recommendation of The Courage to be Chaste by Father Benedict Groeschel. Below is a link to the book on Amazon and below that is a link for if you want to buy it directly from Fr Benedict’s community, where the proceeds go to their work with the poor.
Amazon.com - The Courage to be Chaste

www.franciscanfriars.com - The Courage to be Chaste
(this page takes a little longer to load if you’re on dialup because it shows pictures of all his many books on one page.)

 

[anamchara]

Both of you have my prayers, this cannot be easy. I admire your strength in making this decision. God truly does want what is best for us even if at times it is so difficult to comply.

 

[brittrossiter]

Thank you all for the recommendations for “The Courage to be Chaste” - I have ordered a copy. I’m also praying the Rosary daily and spending as much time in Adoration as I can.

God bless you all; it is you who are an inspiration to me.

 

[mercygate]

God bless you, brother! Thank you for inspiring us with the choice you have made for God - I’m sure He will not disappoint you. It sounds simplistic, but when things seem overwhelming or over-complicated, if you keep obedience to God your first priority, everything else will fall into place eventually.

I will pray for you and your partner. I left the gay lifestyle about 5-6 years ago and, like you, “reverted” to my Catholic faith. I’ve never seriously looked back, by God’s grace, and I hope you have the same experience.

I found the road of chastity impossible until I attended some Courage meetings and started saying the rosary every day. It takes time, of course, but you will find that living a chaste life means you must make more time for prayer every day or you will encounter more failures in practicing this virtue. Just my opinion, but I recommend the scriptural rosary. You can listen to and download a beautiful rendition of it from ewtn’s website:
The Scriptural Rosary - www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=504

I also echo blessedtoo’s recommendation of The Courage to be Chaste by Father Benedict Groeschel. Below is a link to the book on Amazon and below that is a link for if you want to buy it directly from Fr Benedict’s community, where the proceeds go to their work with the poor.
Amazon.com - The Courage to be Chaste

www.franciscanfriars.com - The Courage to be Chaste
(this page takes a little longer to load if you’re on dialup because it shows pictures of all his many books on one page.)

Every hair on my body just stood at attention reading this testimony. God bless you! (as, clearly, he has – abundantly)

I can only stand on the outskirts of a discussion like this because I have never had to struggle with this. Your witness is breathtaking.

 

[spacecadet]

Thank you all for the recommendations for “The Courage to be Chaste” - I have ordered a copy. I’m also praying the Rosary daily and spending as much time in Adoration as I can.

God bless you all; it is you who are an inspiration to me.

i just noticed u are in Ohio. consider driving up to Franciscan U of Steubenville for a pilgrimage, especially on a weeknd where they have a Festival of Praise.

 

[SLCFranciscan]

Dear Friend, First of all, let me state my admiration and support for you. Yours is a powerful witness and I admire and appreciate your courage.

I am a woman, a Franciscan, who spent 20 years in SF caring for people with AIDS. I had many friends in the homosexual community. Although I did not accept the lifestyle, I could and did certainly see the woundedness of the people who believed that this lifestyle was inevitable. I always felt that they had been sold a “bill of goods” by being told that homosexuality was the only option to them. On the other hand, I knew a homosexual man (also a Franciscan) who had been celibate for years, thanks to his participation in Courage. I commend you for your decision. I know–because I have seen it happen on several occasions–that with the help of Our Lord and His Blessed Mother, that you can indeed separate from this situation. You have been given a great opportunity for grace to work in your life and you are to be commended for wanting to correspond with that grace. Please know that I will be praying for you each and every day.

God bless and keep you!

 

[havemercy]

Brother,

I have two very good friends who have similar struggles. Have courage. I pray for you as I pray for them.

Blessings,
tony

 

[brittrossiter]

Thank you all so much for your prayers. It is nearly two years later. I am still here, doing my best to remain faithful to the Church.

Please continue to keep me in your prayers.

 

[mesurman]

Hey everyone. I’m a “revert” who has recently come back to the Church after a prolonged absence (over 20 years), but who had been living for the past seven years in a same sex relationship.

Last night, after finally working up the courage to do so, I told my partner that I could no longer offend God by engaging in acts of sexual intimacy with another man. I am beginning down a road right now that I know will be difficult - a commitment to chastity appropriate to the stage in life where I am in life right now. If anyone has any suggestions for resources I can check out to help me in this walk, I would be most appreciative if you could point me in that direction.

Also, my partner is taking this very hard. He is not Catholic, but has a strong belief in God and comes from a Protestant background. But he is also convinced that God made him the way he is and that same sex intimacy is not offensive to Him. (I used to be of that same mindset before coming to see the truth in what the Church teaches.) Does anyone have any suggestions, apart from continuing to pray for him (as I am already doing) as to how I can help him better understand and accept that I can no longer engage in this sort of behavior, but that this does not necessarily mean that he is being hopelessly abandoned, as this is how he currently feels. It’s breaking my heart.

At the very least, if you all could keep us in your prayers, I would really appreciate it. Thank you very much.

The Holy Spirit is calling you loud and clear. Go with it. God speed to you and your return to the Holy Catholic Church. Pray and pray often. You will be given the strength and grace to finish the race. I urge you to go to confession and get God’s Grace. I urge you to make new living arrangements, you need to avoid the near occasion of sin. God Bless.

 

[wanner47]

I have nothing to offer but my prayers and admiration. You have done an incredibly difficult thing and carry a cross much greater than most. You and your friend are in my prayers.

Agreed. God bless you.

 

[IronHammer]

Thank you all so much for your prayers. It is nearly two years later. I am still here, doing my best to remain faithful to the Church.

Please continue to keep me in your prayers.

I am so happy that they don’t close and remove old threads! I stumbled across your original thread and noticed that it was two years old. I am so happy to see that you have come back, two years later, to post a reply to kept us updated. It is so good to hear that you are still running Paul’s race! It doesn’t matter where you finish, only that you finish, my friend!

I keep in my prayers you and all those who have lived in and are living in homosexual relationships. You are a shining beacon of light to those who struggle to come back to God and His infinite mercy and love!

 

[jwashu]

Check out Melinda’s book, I haven’t read it yet but have a number of friends who are gay and hope to read it soon. From her blog she seems to be “real” about what she went through and goes through, it would be nice to be able to help should any of them make the choice you are making.

sexualauthenticity.blogspot.com/

May God Bless you and Keep you!

Sincerely,

Joe