Is this just scrupulosity?

[josephback]

Hi all. In the past I’ve posted and been told I sound depressed, or that I need detachment from material things. For some time I’ve tried to actively beat down any zeal or enthusiasm for Christianity and such in myself, and I think it’s working. Part of this is because I think I suffer from a religious form of OCD, and so to oppose it I fight any religious impulse or enthusiasm in my system - thus I am divided against myself. I also feel like I wasted most of my life by justifying my fears through religion, and I don’t want to waste it anymore.

A side problem is that of confession and communion. I make confession and everything 's good for a couple weeks, but then I slide into my old pattern and think its better to stay away from the sacraments. If you don’t participate you don’t have to try, but I can’t bring myself to break completely with the Church because I do on some level believe - it just seems like the faith is both impossible to live up too and seemingly useless most of the time. Am I just setting impossible standards for myself and does anyone else ever feel this way?

 

[Memaw]

Hi all. In the past I’ve posted and been told I sound depressed, or that I need detachment from material things. For some time I’ve tried to actively beat down any zeal or enthusiasm for Christianity and such in myself, and I think it’s working. Part of this is because I think I suffer from a religious form of OCD, and so to oppose it I fight any religious impulse or enthusiasm in my system - thus I am divided against myself. I also feel like I wasted most of my life by justifying my fears through religion, and I don’t want to waste it anymore.

A side problem is that of confession and communion. I make confession and everything 's good for a couple weeks, but then I slide into my old pattern and think its better to stay away from the sacraments. If you don’t participate you don’t have to try, but I can’t bring myself to break completely with the Church because I do on some level believe - it just seems like the faith is both impossible to live up too and seemingly useless most of the time. Am I just setting impossible standards for myself and does anyone else ever feel this way?

Sounds to me like you need to have a good talk with a priest who can help you with this. Maybe some Catholic counseling too. Prayers for you to get help with it. God Bless, Memaw

 

[Bookcat]

Advice: make an appointment with a Priest to discuss these things personally.

(and since you mention struggling with scrupulosity it is important too for you to see Priest who knows you --regularly (a regular confessor – for when you return to the Sacraments)

And know that in Jesus of Nazareth is* true life* (and thus in his Church) -despite any and all difficulties we may encounter.

And that he loves you

 

[powerofk]

Yeah, that actually sounds like scrupulosity. Scrupulosity was what caused Martin Luther to declare his dogma of “Sola Fide”, because he couldn’t reconcile the fact that his parents wanted him to be a lawyer, when he felt called to be an Augustian priest. He felt that because he was not doing what his parents asked, he was violating the Ten Commandments, and, as such, sinning against God. However, he felt that not following his call would also be sinning against God. As such, he came up with “sola fide” to try to justify himself to himself. He did not understand that, as an adult man, he had no obligation to obey his parents without question - only to respect their opinion, treat them respectfully, include them in his life, and take care of them if need be and possible.

 

[LauraThomson]

I think that you should talk to a priest about your feelings. It is only through constant prayer and frequent reception of the sacraments that we can truly become the child of God that we were created to be. You should consecrate yourself to Jesus through the Blessed Virgin Mary. She will help you, protect you and lead you to Jesus. God created us to know him, to love him and to serve him. It is pride and selfishness that separates us from God. Seek his Divine Mercy in confession.

 

[ready]

If you love God and yourself you will do everything possible to get to Heaven, no matter what the cost. Love God and love your soul, my friend. I do not want to see you losing your soul … and you will lose your soul if you do not love God and your soul or care about your salvation. God bless you.