I am a brand new catholic, and am facing some rather large life changes. I need to know how to deal with them and hope someone can help me!
- My Husband: He has a tough time with pronography. He has not converted, but I do not in any way agree with him watching it, or masterbating. How can I help him?
- Daily habits: I need some simple advice on how to work prayer and God into my daily life!
- Sexual limitations: What are the Catholic churches views on sexual limitations? What CANT we do?
- Forgiving the past: I feel like a horrible person because of my past. Now knowing what God does and does not want us to do, and which sins Ive commited… I dont even know how to begin to live with myself! How can I ask God to forgive me, and forgive myself…
Thank you so mucH!
Hi, Leslie, it’s good to have you with us!
Regarding question 1. As your husband has free-will and different beliefs, you can’t actually get him to do or not to do anything as you know.
All you can do I think is
a) to quietly and respectfully tell him how you feel about this…that you are uneasy and unhappy with this behaviour.
b) pray for him.
Jumping to question 4: As a new Catholic you have been baptised (if not earlier) and you will have gone to Confession.
It is because you are a good person with a good heart that you are upset by past mistakes and wongs. Jesus know’s the good intention of your hear.
Dear, you can’t beat yourself up about sins that occurred before your conversion. Apart from the fact that they’ve been absolved by the priest through the aurthority given by Jesus, your understanding was different before you found God. You cannot be judged or judge yourself on the person and the values that you had previously. To sin, you must knowingly, and willingly, consent to something what you believe/know to be a sin. Was that so, before you became Catholic. And even if so, you have received God’s forgiveness.
In the Bible, God promises you…
“If we say we have no sin in us, we are deceiving ourselves…but
if we acknowledge our sins, then God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and purify us from everything that is wrong.” [1John 1:8-10]
“Jesus Christ…is the sacrifice that takes our sins away, and not only ours, but the whole world.” [1John 2:1-2]
Our God, You sent Your Son “into the world, not to condemn the world, but so that through Him the world might be saved. No one who believes in Him will be condemned.” [John 3:17-18]
You assure us through Isaiah, our God,
“I have dispelled your faults like a cloud
your sins like a mist
Come back to me, for I have redeemed you.” [Isaiah 44:22]
Furthermore, You proclaim:
“Happy those whose crimes are forgiven, whose sins are blotted out; happy the man whom the Lord considers sinless.” [Psalm 31:1-2] For through Your Son, You have “cancelled
every record of the debt that we had to pay; He has done away with it by nailing it to the cross.” [Colossians 2:14-15]
Therefore, our God it is not presumptuous to ask that we may be healed of our faults and freed from our sin. Indeed, You have said:
“
No need to recall the past,
no need to think about what was before.
See I am doing a new deed,
even now, it comes to light; can you not see it?
Yes, I am making a road in the wilderness,
paths in the wild.” [Isaiah 43:18-19]
Although we must strive through the Spirit to walk the way of Your Son, You assure us that we are not alone or dependent upon our efforts alone:
“
For I, … your God,
I am holding you by the right hand;
I tell you, do not be afraid, I will help you.
Do not be afraid…poor worm…
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer.” [Isaiah 41:13-14]
