Is this bad?

[annie17on12]

I always meet other Catholics who cry and get really emotional when in Praise and Worship, after confession or during adoration. But I do not. I think I remember crying once when I thought I was going to hell ( which was resolved by confession). That was about a half a decade ago. So, is there something wrong with me for not feeling all emotional. I am a female and therefore shouldn’t I be one of the most emotional ones in the room? I don’t know why I don’t cry. If I do get emotional, I get really joyful I feel like exploding or extremely competitive. After confession even, when I have been completely honest, I feel nothing. I cry when I stub my toe, or get hurt emotionally. So, I really am starting to feel like something is wrong with me. Is there?

 

[animalis]

A reasonable tactic is to understand something by it opposite. Good is contrary to bad. Love is a passion that seeks a good. It is our practice to inform our consciences with the magisterium of the Church and thereby find our good.

Pope Francis includes much about emotions in his teachings because of his background as a psychological professor. In my opinion, it brings much novelty in what he says. Yet, he has a concrete sense of the nature of mission. I would call him a universal man, if I knew him better.

He said,

“The enthusiasm and festive atmosphere which you know how to create are contagious. Enthusiasm is contagious. But do you know where this word comes from: enthusiasm? It comes from Greek and it means “to have something of God inside” or “to be inside God”. Enthusiasm, when it is healthy, demonstrates this: that one has something of God inside and expresses him joyously. Be open — with this enthusiasm — to hope and to yearn for fullness, yearn to give meaning to your future, to your whole life, to imagine the appropriate journey for each of you and to choose the path that brings you peace and human fulfillment. Appropriate journey, choose the path… what does this mean? Do not stand still — a young person cannot stand still! — and journey. This means go toward something; because a person can move and not be one who journeys, but a “wanderer”, who roams, roams, roams through life… But life is not made for “roaming through”, it is made to “journey through”, and this is your challenge!” (5 July 2014)

Personally, I believe the Church would benefit if good and proper theologians would investigate the psychological teachings of our present Holy Father. To find a unity amongst us all, introverted and extroverted.

I would say to you to make a journey of hope. Go toward and make it your good to recite the rosary, frequently read the bible and the magisterial teachers, read the Fathers of the Church, make the stations of the cross, adore the Blessed sacrament. Find a good vocal prayer book like “The Original Pieta Prayer Book” or “Prayers and Heavenly Promises”. Go to confession frequently and frequently receive the Eucharist. If your desires are set on all these things in simplicity (contrary to multiplicity), you will indeed develop enthusiasm and live in accord to the teachings of the Church. *Ubi peccata, ibi multitudo * (“Where there is sin there is there is multiplicity”)

 

[phil_at_dayboro]

Well…looks like I should be a girl too,lol,
Because I don’t think I have ever cried about anything to do with religion,
So don’t feel bad, it’s something that makes me feel at peace with myself and the world around me,but doesn’t bring me to tears, be happy and rejoice,there is much to be happy about …:extrahappy: ,

 

[faithfulwannabe]

Well…looks like I should be a girl too,lol,
Because I don’t think I have ever cried about anything to do with religion,
So don’t feel bad, it’s something that makes me feel at peace with myself and the world around me,but doesn’t bring me to tears, be happy and rejoice,there is much to be happy about …:extrahappy: ,

But there is difference between girl & boy, man & woman. Man is more masculine & expected to be stronger, woman is more feminine & expected to be softer.

Also usually we see woman cries more than man. Man does cry, but usually they cry in silence or in hidden places.

 

[phil_at_dayboro]

But there is difference between girl & boy, man & woman. Man is more masculine & expected to be stronger, woman is more feminine & expected to be softer.

Yes true, but I can go to the cinema with my beautiful wife,
And I can out cry her any day,

 

[annie17on12]

So I am weird?

I don’t know if my question actually was answered or not…

 

[mdgspencer]

People are different. You shouldn’t worry as far as I can see.
Emotions can be helpful in many things. But emotions don’t bring us closer to God. Faith, hope and love are what help most in bringing us to God.
Being emotional is not intrinsic to women’s spirituality–women like Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint Catherine of Siena were not emotional like the women you saw.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I always meet other Catholics who cry and get really emotional when in Praise and Worship, after confession or during adoration. But I do not. I think I remember crying once when I thought I was going to hell ( which was resolved by confession). That was about a half a decade ago. So, is there something wrong with me for not feeling all emotional. I am a female and therefore shouldn’t I be one of the most emotional ones in the room? I don’t know why I don’t cry. If I do get emotional, I get really joyful I feel like exploding or extremely competitive. After confession even, when I have been completely honest, I feel nothing. I cry when I stub my toe, or get hurt emotionally. So, I really am starting to feel like something is wrong with me. Is there?

Emotional reactions are not an issue. The issue with Confession is whether or not you are sorry for your sins, confess all your mortal sins in kind and number and don’t mislead the priest.

Because Adoration is usually optional (unless part of someone’s penance), I would say there is nothing wrong with you if you don’t cry at it. I’ve never seen that.

So just keep trying to be a good Catholic and don’t worry about crying.

 

[SuperLuigi]

So I am weird?

I don’t know if my question actually was answered or not…

You’re not weird. :nope:

If you want weird, come to the Clubhouse forum.

We’re weird there, and not shy about it! :nunchuk:

Sounds scary, huh?

:bigyikes:

 

[edarlitrix]

I don’t think you are weird. I am the exact same way and i know another person who is like this (or perhaps all three of us are weird).

But, is there a commandment in the Bible or Catechism that says you must be emotional and cry after confessing your sins? Is there any command that says, CRY. FEEL.

There is Romans 12:15, which says weep with those who weep.

Does that mean you must cry when other people cry, because you feel compassion? No, I don’t believe so, because I observe that we cannot control our emotions until after they come into existence. So, if you don’t feel sad, you can’t make yourself sad. You can’t make yourself weep. But, you can understand that other people are upset and seek to accompany them in their sorrow rather than look at then with contempt. I think that is what Rom. 12:15 means.

If that is what that verse means, then i believe there are no commandments to have emotion. We simply cannot force ourselves to feel. We can try to have empathy (and remorse), but that is something physically (name removed by moderator)ossible for those with underdeveloped amygdalas (part of brain that regulates emotion i believe).

So, no, you are not weird. Unless you believe in the pod-people (everybody is like a preprogrammed alien and is the same as everyone else).

 

[Catie59]

Dear Annie 17on12,
You are not weird. It doesn’t matter what others think about how you react to Faith and Worship etc. There are many people in this world who are misunderstood because they don’t show emotions on the outside. God knows how you feel. God knows if you love Him. God knows if you are sorry for your sins. That is all that matters regarding your show of emotions. Don’t worry about it and don’t try to force yourself to react the way someone else does. What I hear is that you go to Praise and Worship, confession, adoration. Seems to me that you love our Lord very much. He knows it.

Things could be much worse. You could be like me and sob at the drop of a dime which makes me feel weird. I feel like people see me and think “Oh no here she comes…get out the kleenex!!” LOL

No worry. God loves You, and you love God.

Can I hear an AMEN?

 

[Petaro]

So I am weird?

I don’t know if my question actually was answered or not…

You are not weird ! You are just not as emotive as some giggly girls who show a sense of immaturity in their expansive crying.
My faith is an intellectual one too, and I don’t believe that the emotional response of the shallow ground is justified.
A Lady does not go grabbing the next parishioner in some effusive hug at the exposition of the Eucharist or the “kiss of Peace”.
No you are as normal as a true Lady, but maybe just as rare.

 

[awsiukiewicz]

the gift of tears