**Part one of two:
**I really hope that I can help.
Someone already said, the teachings have been studied and found to be without fault. Trust me, your answers are out there. Don’t rely wholly on yourself to figure everything out–this is why we have a Church, and it’s a mission of apologists and theologians and clergy over the centuries to make these things clear. It is helpful to read what we call “apologetics”. Seek out apologetics websites–search
catholic.com for issues you are struggling with.
Jimmyakin.org is another apologetics site that can clear up seeming-inconsistencies. Where there seem to be loopholes and inconsistencies, trust me–it’s because one hasn’t found the answers yet, or hasn’t really researched enough. This particular problem of yours is a symptom of needing more knowledge to support your faith, and your situation is not unique.
HelpingHands:
- Is there any difference in Catholics? Where’s the santifying grace?
That’s a very good question. But give serious Catholics a fair shake here–and seek them out, because it sounds like their company can be very helpful to you right now. Start by talking to a kindly priest. Pour your heart out to him and cry if you want to. Seriously! You won’t say anything they haven’t heard before, and they’re trained for this. It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to help, that they don’t have as often as they might like. You seem serious enough that when you uncover enough, you’ll realize how unhappy you are. I sympathize and empathize with that, having been there myself.
There are other people who go to Mass, just to be seen. There are people who receive the Eucharist in the state of mortal sin–look how few people go to confession, vs. how many are receiving the Eucharist. Now, this is by no means doctrine, but in St. Faustina’s book, Jesus tells her that he withholds graces from people who hoard them for themselves. You never know, but these people may not be receiving the graces they could, if they used confession and truly appreciated the Eucharist, and actively used these graces given to them, instead of profaning the sacrament and living away from Church no better than unbelievers.
HelpingHands:
- Where is God anyways? It doen’t make any sense for God to abandon us here on this miserable planet like this.
He is most visibly with us in the Eucharist and actually allows us to physically unite with Him in that way. The Church is here so that we are not abandoned and left to our own devices, when we are in moral peril or in need of special graces. He is also with you at all times, waiting for your prayers.
HelpingHands:
- Why hasn’t the fact that Jesus came changed the world one iota? It seems like all this talk of Christ returning is just delay tactics.
Oh, but it has. Jesus has revealed MUCH more about God than was previously known. It’s up to people to learn, be open to, and implement what He taught. Compare what is learned about God in the Old Testament, with what is learned in the New Testament, and in Church traditions. There is a big difference there.
HelpingHands:
- What’s the point in this all? Whole thing doesn’t make sense
Love, to serve God in a way pleasing to Him, and our destiny to be with God in Heaven for eternity, in perpetual happiness.
HelpingHands:
6)Suffering comes to the innocent while the haughty feast. So then people say that it’ll all be made right by Christ in the end.
It is what Jesus promised–that He will come back.
Suffering is actually an opportunity, too–an opportunity to trust in God and grow. Saints and other faithful consider it a gift. Why? Suffering unites us to Christ’s passion. It is through this shared experience with Christ that we come to understand His passion on a deeper level–talk about a way to increase closeness! It’s one of the best opportunities to do penance, besides good works and sincere prayer.
God never gives a person more than they can handle, and He is right there to give help for the asking. Look also, for the lessons in suffering. It brings you back to what is truly important, which is not worldly things.
Sometimes we are also sent “trials”: St. Faustina suffered and at times did not feel God’s presence, but still acknowledged that He’s there, and went through the motions out of the virtue of obedience to her confessor and superior. At her most desperate moment, she then professed her faith to God in prayer no matter what she suffered. Obedience turned out to be the virtue/tool that saved her in this seemingly empty time–something we can use, too–and led to the receiving of graces that healed her.
(continued)…