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MTarcisius
Guest
Robert, you seem to blatantly ignore the church’s teachings in favor of your own opinions.
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ChibiViolet
Guest
I didn’t mean death itself–just that it is a road to Heaven or Hell ultimately and Heaven being good, I don’t find the idea of physical death at all revolting in itself. If a person is in Heaven or in Purgatory, the risk of Hell is gone and an eternity with God is guaranteed.
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Sarcelle
Guest
You are skating dangerously close to Gnosticism, which plainly speaking is heresy.
Go by what God said when He looked at creation. He called creation, good. He has plans to redeem creation. You malign creation, you malign the creator. Yes, calling the body loathsome is calling creation loathsome. There is nothing inherently wrong with the material world.
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EIF5A
Guest
In at least couple private revelations (which I know aren’t binding, but still), Jesus tells His saints to be patient with their imperfections.
But what exactly does that mean? They ate one more french fry beyond immediate bodily necessity?
Even if I were to not sin, there are moments of extreme disappointments at my propensity. I wish I can just program myself to be a certain way.
What were Adam and Eve like? Except for that “accident”…
But what exactly does that mean? They ate one more french fry beyond immediate bodily necessity?
Even if I were to not sin, there are moments of extreme disappointments at my propensity. I wish I can just program myself to be a certain way.
What were Adam and Eve like? Except for that “accident”…
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MTarcisius
Guest
First of all I will say that I am not a theologian or a spiritual director.
You have mentioned wanting to program your mind to not sin. Based on what humans know about brainwashing this would be possible. However, would it be moral?
Prayer and meditation have been shown to change the mind and thought patterns. Would praying the rosary be a form of spiritual programming?
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EIF5A
Guest
I honestly get bored and can’t contemplate the mysteries. I mean, I wasn’t there. How am I supposed to meditate on something so spiritual?
I don’t even like touching the rosary beads. Or being around holy things.
The little bit of attempted prayer I have done so far seems so…pathetic.
Hmm…I hope I’m not possessed…
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AKDee
Guest
E1F5A-
FWIW, praying the Rosary does get easier. At first it felt a little bit like trying to rub my belly and pat my head, where I’m saying a prayer out loud but trying to focus on a mystery at the same time. And at first I had to keep a reference sheet next to me because I didn’t have the prayers memorized. Generally my meditation is centered around visualizing what occurred. Sometimes I get a little help from movie scenes- such as when I’m meditating on the Agony in the Garden, I might directly think of that scene from the Passion of the Christ, or Mary of Nazareth. I’ll focus on what the scriptures said. If I can’t remember, I might read the scriptures pertaining to that right before I say the Rosary. And sometimes instead of focusing on a mystery, I’ll focus instead on the fruit of the mystery. So, for example, if I’m meditating on the Annunciation, I might focus on how I can be more humble, or how I might say yes to God.
If you decide to try again on the Rosary, try just saying one decade at a time. And you can always ask Our Lady to help you.
FWIW, praying the Rosary does get easier. At first it felt a little bit like trying to rub my belly and pat my head, where I’m saying a prayer out loud but trying to focus on a mystery at the same time. And at first I had to keep a reference sheet next to me because I didn’t have the prayers memorized. Generally my meditation is centered around visualizing what occurred. Sometimes I get a little help from movie scenes- such as when I’m meditating on the Agony in the Garden, I might directly think of that scene from the Passion of the Christ, or Mary of Nazareth. I’ll focus on what the scriptures said. If I can’t remember, I might read the scriptures pertaining to that right before I say the Rosary. And sometimes instead of focusing on a mystery, I’ll focus instead on the fruit of the mystery. So, for example, if I’m meditating on the Annunciation, I might focus on how I can be more humble, or how I might say yes to God.
If you decide to try again on the Rosary, try just saying one decade at a time. And you can always ask Our Lady to help you.
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pianistclare
Guest
Good advice.
Try the Divine Mercy chaplet.
it goes very quickly if you find you lose concentration.
Thinking about the Mysteries of the rosary is simply recalling the story.
You remember scenes from movies and stories correct? Same deal.
Don’t fall into the mindset of thinking you pray “incorrectly”.
everyone has different practices.
If you want something to walk you through a brief, five minute devotion, try www.sacredspace.ie
Daily prayer. A very short passage of scripture, and “help tabs” on each page. Takes about 5-10 minutes.
Nice in the morning, try it!
God bless.
Try the Divine Mercy chaplet.
it goes very quickly if you find you lose concentration.
Thinking about the Mysteries of the rosary is simply recalling the story.
You remember scenes from movies and stories correct? Same deal.
Don’t fall into the mindset of thinking you pray “incorrectly”.
everyone has different practices.
If you want something to walk you through a brief, five minute devotion, try www.sacredspace.ie
Daily prayer. A very short passage of scripture, and “help tabs” on each page. Takes about 5-10 minutes.
Nice in the morning, try it!
God bless.
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EIF5A
Guest
I prayed the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet daily for a couple months.
Then I stopped because I see no point. Weekly confession, same sins. Over and over.
It’s not like I prayed well. Probably just babbling, and I don’t want to delude myself into thinking I can merit something.
But I do have to stop committing the same sins and being so evil and prideful.
I read somewhere that if one prays the Rosary, they will not fall into mortal sin.
Well, I tried. Didn’t work.
Used to go to weekday Mass at least twice. Now I just go to Sunday Mass to make the obligatory trip. Can’t add to my sins when it’s just an hour of my time.
Then I stopped because I see no point. Weekly confession, same sins. Over and over.
It’s not like I prayed well. Probably just babbling, and I don’t want to delude myself into thinking I can merit something.
But I do have to stop committing the same sins and being so evil and prideful.
I read somewhere that if one prays the Rosary, they will not fall into mortal sin.
Well, I tried. Didn’t work.
Used to go to weekday Mass at least twice. Now I just go to Sunday Mass to make the obligatory trip. Can’t add to my sins when it’s just an hour of my time.
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AKDee
Guest
Hm. Well- we’re not supposed to stop praying because we didn’t get what we want. Prayer, and devotions, are things we do for God. For Mary. And even for other people (such as if we pray the divine mercy as penance for our sins and those of the whole world). Prayer, I dont’ think, is supposed to be so much for us. Obviously we can, and should, ask for what we need. But God answers prayers in His own time.
Here’s one idea: This was actually a penance that Father gave me one day, and I felt it was so helpful I do it often. Ask Mary to lead you to Christ, and say 3 Hail Mary’s for that. That’s all. Just ask her to lead you to Christ, and then say 3 Hail Mary’s. That’s an easy devotion, and it sounds like right now it might be helpful.
Here’s one idea: This was actually a penance that Father gave me one day, and I felt it was so helpful I do it often. Ask Mary to lead you to Christ, and say 3 Hail Mary’s for that. That’s all. Just ask her to lead you to Christ, and then say 3 Hail Mary’s. That’s an easy devotion, and it sounds like right now it might be helpful.
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ethereality
Guest
Reading the first page, it sounds like the OP is depressed, and needs comfort, not arguments.
I feel much the same way. Fatigue and depression weigh us down, but we gotta keep living anyway, and try to be happy and trust that it’s for a good reason. I think it’s also good to try to do your best, and then take some mental comfort knowing you did your best. There’s self-worth to be derived there: “I followed God’s will to the best of my ability. I tried to help other people.”
Angels are spiritual beings who chose not to sin. (Those who did choose to sin are demons.) We can be pure just like angels – and we are, after Baptism and after Confession. We can live and die in a state of purity, as well, in which case we skip purgatory and go directly to heaven. Apparently there’s often an odor of sanctity or a supernatural expression on one’s face when this happens. See Corrie ten Boom’s The Hiding Place, where – spoiler alert – apparently that happened to her sister, whose purgatory was a Nazi concentration camp. (Although otherwise an emaciated corpse, her face had a radiant, youthful beauty.)
Your last questions get to the dignity of man, which we don’t realize: We are of a higher dignity than angels – hence they come to help us (not the other way around) – because we must struggle with this physical world. Hence in the Bible there’s that part where I think St. Paul asks, “Don’t you know that we shall judge angels?” Our value does not come from our abilities (since angels have greater intellects than we do), but from what God has made us as: Human beings. This underscores why we must avoid sin, so that we can live befitting our dignity as Christians and as men.
I feel much the same way. Fatigue and depression weigh us down, but we gotta keep living anyway, and try to be happy and trust that it’s for a good reason. I think it’s also good to try to do your best, and then take some mental comfort knowing you did your best. There’s self-worth to be derived there: “I followed God’s will to the best of my ability. I tried to help other people.”
I’ve been to Confession at times when I was utterly numb inside, barely able to think, not sure if God even existed. I was able to think, “Well, what I did wasn’t good, or wasn’t as good as it could have been, so if God exists, then yeah, I’m sorry I didn’t do better,” and then said an act of contrition (promising to amend my life, avoid near occasions of sin, etc), and that is enough, I think. We don’t need to “feel” anything; we just need to be sincere.
Human nature is the state of being human: Finite creatures, we are our bodies and live according to our means the best we can.
Angels are spiritual beings who chose not to sin. (Those who did choose to sin are demons.) We can be pure just like angels – and we are, after Baptism and after Confession. We can live and die in a state of purity, as well, in which case we skip purgatory and go directly to heaven. Apparently there’s often an odor of sanctity or a supernatural expression on one’s face when this happens. See Corrie ten Boom’s The Hiding Place, where – spoiler alert – apparently that happened to her sister, whose purgatory was a Nazi concentration camp. (Although otherwise an emaciated corpse, her face had a radiant, youthful beauty.)
Your last questions get to the dignity of man, which we don’t realize: We are of a higher dignity than angels – hence they come to help us (not the other way around) – because we must struggle with this physical world. Hence in the Bible there’s that part where I think St. Paul asks, “Don’t you know that we shall judge angels?” Our value does not come from our abilities (since angels have greater intellects than we do), but from what God has made us as: Human beings. This underscores why we must avoid sin, so that we can live befitting our dignity as Christians and as men.
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EIF5A
Guest
It’s not that I didn’t get what I want.
It’s “Are they even listening? I’ve been sinful so my prayers will not even be heard.”
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ethereality
Guest
Hence the value and necessity, I think, of intercession, asking saints to pray for you, and noting that we are one body in Christ, in a real way, not only a symbolic conceptual way.
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AKDee
Guest
Ah. This brings to mind for me Romans Chapter 8 Verse 26:
“In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.”
Sometimes, when I am so overwhelmed, or sad, or spiritually empty that I cannot pray for myself, I recall this passage and I ask the Holy Spirit to pray for me.
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EIF5A
Guest
Holy Spirit is also God.
I just want to sit in a corner and watch from a distance. Unfortunately souls are immortal and I can’t just disappear.
At the end of the day, I just want some sort of peace.
I can never pray enough. Or with enough love or confidence or fervor or desire.
I can never give enough to the poor.
I can never reach some level of adequacy that is demanded of me.
Everything ends in failure.
Why did God allow such weak souls like me? Why did He allow for sin? Why even create humans in the first place? What’s the point of having a body that only allows for burden and more occasions of sin?
If His justice is severe, why allow for souls that are faulty?
I just want to sit in a corner and watch from a distance. Unfortunately souls are immortal and I can’t just disappear.
At the end of the day, I just want some sort of peace.
I can never pray enough. Or with enough love or confidence or fervor or desire.
I can never give enough to the poor.
I can never reach some level of adequacy that is demanded of me.
Everything ends in failure.
Why did God allow such weak souls like me? Why did He allow for sin? Why even create humans in the first place? What’s the point of having a body that only allows for burden and more occasions of sin?
If His justice is severe, why allow for souls that are faulty?
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EIF5A
Guest
and if a straight person commits the same sin as me, i’m more evil because it’s “unnatural”.
did i ask for this?
i want the same treatment as straights. equally wicked. equally good.
but no. i did not choose to have this.
but my sins will be treated as more evil.
and to think i took Communion at one point…to the best of my knowledge i wasn’t in mortal sin since last confession but who knows…maybe i committed sacrilege
if people who cry out to the Lord at revelation will be turned away, what is left?
did i ask for this?
i want the same treatment as straights. equally wicked. equally good.
but no. i did not choose to have this.
but my sins will be treated as more evil.
and to think i took Communion at one point…to the best of my knowledge i wasn’t in mortal sin since last confession but who knows…maybe i committed sacrilege
if people who cry out to the Lord at revelation will be turned away, what is left?
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pianistclare
Guest
What does your priest say?
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EIF5A
Guest
I’m supposed to talk to a priest? The only time is when I go for confession…I always hope for the mean priest who gives more harsh penance but it’s always the same priest that gives the same penance…
There’s a priest shortage. I’m sure they’re busy enough dealing with their normal work load
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ethereality
Guest
It sounds like you need counseling if this is your thought process, because the situation you describe does not match the reality you are describing: You’re not seeing reality clearly.
I recommend speaking to someone in person rather than on a web forum.
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pianistclare
Guest
OF COURSE you should talk to your priest! That’s’ where people go when they have faith questions. Sheesh! Make an appointment! Make friends. He’ll walk you through this feeling of not praying effectively.
the internet is only for random advice…REAL advice comes from your pastor. He’s NOT too busy for you. It’s what they do. GO. (You’ll like it).
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