Living like a saint

[Jump4Joy]

I know I need a spiritual director. This is a reaction to another post. We are responsible for what goes in the world, our households, etc. How can I take fully responsibility of that? That’s what deters me from wanting to grow closer to Christ more responsibility and more knowledgeable of my sinful nature. It seems like nothing we’ll do will ever be good enough. I don’t understand God we are inherently created broken people yet we are punished for this. I understand we should rise above our baser nature.
It must hurt as a parent accepting to you failed your children. You cannot reverse anything said, done or thought of.
I’m having trouble with that. Owning my sin. I understand I could have been better which sucks to acknowledge but I chose not to. Throughout my life, I’ll make a different mistake.
There are some sins, I committed without malice, but in ignorance or out of bad habit. They still affected other people. I’m still responsible for my ignorance and correcting my poor habit.
The easiest way I understand sin is that it is a choice. I didn’t have to yell or lose my temper but I did. It’s hard to take responsibility for something that comes so easily to you.

 

[joeybaggz]

Old Saying, “Even God can’t change the past.”
God lives in the present moment, now, not yesterday, not tomorrow. You can only meet him now. Every Catholic on this forum has probably got some great regrets as to past behaviors. Dwelling on that, allowing it to cloud the present is not what God intended. Jesus paid the debt once and for all. Live in peace and harmony with him, strive to be the best version of yourself and be the best influence you can be on all the people you meet.
If you are trying to take full responsibility for everyone else, it will break you in the end. You have to live in this moment with God and with yourself. Put down the guilt and the grudge, it is too heavy for anyone to carry.
And if life hands you lemons, get a bottle of tequila and some salt.

 

[OsculeturMeOsculo]

I thought you were supposed to squeeze the lemons into someone’s eyes. (Just kidding)

 

[Kei]

It can be difficult sometimes, but being self-critical is extremely important. Never think of yourself too highly. That is important. God ALWAYS gives us enough Grace to avoid sin. He gives even more, in abundance, if we ask for it. Important it is to ask before temptation gets too heavy. I cannot say I am perfect in this.

But the first step to becoming a saint, I have read, is to decide to become one. Say to yourself, “I will be a saint” and pray. I need to do a much better job than I’ve done!

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

OP, if you’re referring to the thread in the Social Justice category, please don’t torment yourself.
You have lots of questions and start interesting threads.
Please don’t make yourself crazy over minutia.
Love God and your neighbor, obey the Commandments and understand that your power and influence is limited.

ray:t2:ray:t2:ray:t2:
For you!

 

[Jump4Joy]

The litany of humility and the examination of conscience are pretty scary documents to read

 

[SacredHeartBassist]

Just make a good confession. Read the examination of conscience. Make use of confession as often as you can until you stop certain sins. That’s how the church allows you to change your life.

 

[SacredHeartBassist]

Also try to avoid the near occasion of sins if that’s triggering to you

 

[Reuben_J]

Our lives is an unending strive of repentance. The good things about it, is that it is never too late to start on everything that we need repenting of.

 

[Trickypixie]

We are not created broken. Although it’s easy to assume because we are all broken. We are taught the right way, and we rebel in defiance. It isn’t innocent.
Each one of us in our own way relives the rejection of God in Eden. Our choice is real. Our Free Will is real. However to choose other than God creates corruption in the individual.
The fact that we have saints is proof that other choices can be made. We can do God’s will on Earth. However we cannot do it on our own power.
It is God’s grace, God’s power, that gives us the ability. The true struggle is to surrender to his will even when we do not understand the suffering. We ask for Grace, we ask for wisdom and our daily bread.
The key is to pray without ceasing which is difficult in this world. God will build you Brick by Brick but you must believe his promises. He promises to love you.

I find my guilt is often self pity. I want a do over! my heart is broken and it has been a long struggle to get past the things I’ve done. I’m not quite there but with each passing year God is changing me, mellowing me, humbling me and thereby setting me free at a pace that I can handle and that I trust is necessary because my Rebellion runs deep.
God loves you. Let him shape you. Saint Teresa of Jesus writes about this process in a very human, loving way. I found her autobiography at the library. She wrote it about 400 years ago and it’s completely relevant now. May the Holy Spirit bring you comfort good woman as you are truly blessed. Brave to seek God in a time when many would give up.
Seek and you shall find!

 

[Trickypixie]

CS Lewis, the problem of pain, changed my heart and the way I view suffering. He is also a gentle writer and you will feel compassion as you absorb the reality of suffering. He calls it God’s megaphone because it is used to create good by forcing us 2 Face the reality that we can do nothing without him

 

[Jump4Joy]

The book sounds interesting. Hmm… I am a reader.

 

[Trickypixie]

You will find your way because you are real and you are facing this life head-on with God!

 

[Jump4Joy]

Lord help my soul

 

[hymin]

Gaudete et exsultate, the newest apostolic exhortation (found online, current now in pre-order on amazon.com) presents the call to holiness. Therein the Pope presents the beatitudes. Consider also other readings such as the catena aurea (best translation online:Aquinas, you can copy and paste the fathers explanations of Matthew chapter 5-7. “The magna carta of the Christian life” (cf. general directory of catechesis, 115), known as the Sermon on the Mount. (St Augustine presents the Sermon on the Mount as “the perfect charter of the Christian life and contains all the appropriate precepts necessary to guide it” (De Sermone Domini in Monte I, 1; PL 34, 1229-1231); cf. Evangeli Nuntiandi, 8] Copy and paste, print, and place it in a binder for easy reading. “the love of God is not idle” (Gregory the Great, XL Homiliarum In Evang., l. 2, h. 30, 2).

Spiritual reading. An important component and if you are a reader you have an advantage. A person has to be fully persuaded by God to decide to seek the freedom to be holy. Most people see it as a trap. If anyone, in his or her own way, downplay the truth of the Gospel and not strive to be a saint “…in this way will become like the sick person who has so lost confidence in the doctor that he rejects him as if an enemy and regards as poison the medicine that can save his life. That is why our Lord says that he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven: not because God cannot forgive all sins, but because that person, in his blindness towards God, rejects Jesus Christ, his teaching and his miracles, and despises the graces of the Holy Spirit as if they were designed to trap him (cf. St Pius V, Catechism, 2, 5, 19; St Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, 2–2, 14, 3)”
Commentary from Navarre Bible Saint Mark’s Gospel. (2005). (p. 69). Dublin; New York: Four Courts Press; Scepter Publishers.

The soul has to be persuaded by heaven and shaped by the journey that it is the only way to live and the actual obtainment is unforeseen, or may in the passion of despair unlikely. Yet with the virtue of magnanimity, they see it as the only reasonable thing to pursue and so the soul gives its best to pursue. It is a grace to be persuaded into that mindset. Cultivate what you have by a living faith (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 142-143). Faith in what Jesus said, such as - Lk 13:3, Mt 4:17, Mt 7:24, Mt 11:29; (Mt 17:5 listen in the biblical Greek means ongoing perpetual listening).

 

[guanophore]

We are responsible for what goes in the world, our households, etc.

I think you lost me here. How can anyone be responsible for things outside of their control? You are responsible only for what you contribute, or fail to contribute to the world, to your household.

How can I take fully responsibility of that?

Just be responsible for yourself.

That’s what deters me from wanting to grow closer to Christ more responsibility and more knowledgeable of my sinful nature.

He never promised it would be easy.

It seems like nothing we’ll do will ever be good enough.

This is certainly true. We are saved by grace, through faith, not of works, lest any of us should boast. It is only He who can make us worthy for the high calling to which we are called.

I don’t understand God we are inherently created broken people yet we are punished for this.

God did not create us broken. He created us in perfect fellowship with Him. This fellowship was lost by the choices of Adam and Eve. He wants to return us to that perfect fellowship with Him.

I’m having trouble with that. Owning my sin. I understand I could have been better which sucks to acknowledge but I chose not to. Throughout my life, I’ll make a different mistake.

This is not really a productive focus. We repent of our sins, and commit ourselves to walking in the Spirit. When we fall, we get up, ask Him to cleanse us, then start walking again.

There are some sins, I committed without malice, but in ignorance or out of bad habit. They still affected other people. I’m still responsible for my ignorance and correcting my poor habit.

Yes, we are responsible for these things, and to make reparation where
ever possible. But we don’t do this of our own power. It is the Holy Spirit working in and through us that makes these corrections.

The easiest way I understand sin is that it is a choice. I didn’t have to yell or lose my temper but I did. It’s hard to take responsibility for something that comes so easily to you.

It gets better with practice.

 

[Seagull]

Pick up your cross. Carry your cross.
Each day.
DROP the idea of ’ Living like a Saint ’ -
Try not to be so worldly, whiny - or spoiled.
You got to get way tougher, and sweeter ( harmless as a dove, wise as a snake )
The sooner the better.
You don’t want to carry on - as thinking your broken - and with a temper !
I really like - how you put it out there - for us - to read.
Just pull out all the weeds - rake, arrange - and work on your garden

 

[hymin]

Did the Lord tell you to say that to me? I had an inspiration that your post came from the Lord to exhort me. Is there anything else you think should be added?

 

[Jump4Joy]

Wow. I have no clue. I don’t know what else to say.

 

[Seagull]

Change - is within you - waiting for you !
At least try for four weeks - your utmost -
And remember - Jesus first word was “ repent “
All repent means - is to turn away from.
It’s easy to do.

Though I did read, a few days ago,
some dude who wanted to keep his computer porno.
In September, we’ll probably still be reading him and his no change.

I’m knowing various people on this site -
Jumpforjoy - you’ve been fun to read -
these last five weeks -