My Questions Thread

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Hi, I’m a college-age Catholic, and I’ve been having a lot of doubts/questions about the faith lately. I still believe I want to stay Catholic, but I need many things clarified. I decided to make just this one thread to ask a question whenever I think of one.
  1. I’ve been getting this vibe lately that one has to sacrifice and suffer a lot to truly be saintly. One of the quotes I read from St. John Bosco was “When you become a priest , you begin to suffer.”
    • To further my question, should we not do modern things like spend stuff on big screen tvs, ipods,watch the latest shows, or listen to the latest music? I mean thinking about spending money on big screen tvs and ipods, it seems okay to me as long as one doesn’t get too frivolous spending their money on all the latest gadgets. A person should also equally give time and money to help good causes, such as charities. I think in that situation it is okay to spend on big screen tvs and objects like that. Am I correct?
      - And as far, as watching modern shows and modern music, the aspect I wanted to focus on was the explicit things. I mean I believe someone can enjoy a song purely because of the beat and not focus on degrading/bad lyrics. Are the lyrics so bad that a good Catholic my age should not listen to modern songs? I also think while watching some shows, which contain obscenity, one can find some value to them, like an educational value without focusing on the obscene aspect. I do believe that some shows are completely just offensive though. Am I correct in believing this?
    • Furthermore, two quotes I’ve kept in mind from St. John Bosco are “God wants you to be completely happy in this life and the next” and “To be a saint, all one has to do is to love and serve God and others and keep a smile even when the going gets tough.” Despite those quotes, I still get the feeling that maybe I should not dress in the nicest clothes or eat good food or many other things I see college-agers do. I wanted to ask if in general most college-agers lifestyles contain sinful things. All I can really p(name removed by moderator)oint that are wrong in the some college-agers are the pre-marital sex things and destructive party lifestyle. What is your opinion about most college-agers’ lifestyles?
      - To further that question, reading threads around the forum, it seems like one has to change a lot about their lifefstyle and be restricting to themselves in order to really be the perfect Catholic. I can’t p(name removed by moderator)oint anything at the moment, but must it really be so, I need clarification.
Those questions are all I can think of for now. Thank you very much for your responses.
 
Despite those quotes, I still get the feeling that maybe I should not dress in the nicest clothes or eat good food or many other things I see college-agers do.

**St. Francis de Sales said in his INTRODUCTION TO THE DEVOUT LIFE that Christians should be dressed in the best and most becoming clothes they could afford.

Of course, he was speaking lay people living in the world, not to clergy or religious.**
 
troubled_soul said:
Hi, I’m a college-age Catholic, and I’ve been having a lot of doubts/questions about the faith lately. I still believe I want to stay Catholic, but I need many things clarified. I decided to make just this one thread to ask a question whenever I think of one.
  1. I’ve been getting this vibe lately that one has to sacrifice and suffer a lot to truly be saintly. One of the quotes I read from St. John Bosco was “When you become a priest , you begin to suffer.”
    • To further my question, should we not do modern things like spend stuff on big screen tvs, ipods,watch the latest shows, or listen to the latest music? I mean thinking about spending money on big screen tvs and ipods, it seems okay to me as long as one doesn’t get too frivolous spending their money on all the latest gadgets. A person should also equally give time and money to help good causes, such as charities. I think in that situation it is okay to spend on big screen tvs and objects like that. Am I correct?
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       - And as far, as watching modern shows and modern music, the aspect I wanted to focus on was the explicit things. I mean I believe someone can enjoy a song purely because of the beat and not focus on degrading/bad lyrics. Are the lyrics so bad that a good Catholic my age should not listen to modern songs?  I also think while watching some shows, which contain obscenity, one can find some value to them, like an educational value without focusing on the obscene aspect. I do believe that some shows are completely just offensive though. Am I correct in believing this?
What do you think? Why do you need a big screen tv…will a nice 27 inch not do the same thing? Sure iPods can be wonderful (Catholic podcasts!). As for the latest shows, and the latest music…watch and listen at your own risk. I know from experience that whether or not you intend to enjoy explicit lyrics or parts of shows, that the saying “trash in, trash out” is indeed true. You could be doing much better things anyways, like talking to Jesus.
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- Furthermore, two quotes I've kept in mind from St. John Bosco are  "God wants you to be completely happy in this life and the next" and "To be a saint, all one has to do is to love and serve God and others and keep a smile even when the going gets tough." Despite those quotes, I still get the feeling that maybe I should not dress in the nicest clothes or eat good food or many other things I see college-agers do. I wanted to ask if in general most college-agers lifestyles contain sinful things. All I can really p(name removed by moderator)oint that are wrong in the some college-agers are the pre-marital sex things and destructive party lifestyle. What is your opinion about most college-agers' lifestyles?
God does want you to be happy. That being said, you will not find happiness in a big screen tv, and ipod, food, or clothing. At best, you will experience fleeting pleasure. Happiness will only be found in following Jesus Christ with your entire will. This means following Him to both the happiness and joy that the miracles he works in your life will bring, and to the sorrows that He endures, which is ultimately the cross.
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          - To further that question, reading threads around the forum, it seems like one has to change a lot about their lifefstyle and be restricting to themselves in order to really be the perfect Catholic. I can't p(name removed by moderator)oint anything at the moment, but must it really be so, I need clarification.
The aim isn’t to follow the rules to be the “perfect Catholic” but to follow and obey Jesus as He commands us to. "So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Those questions are all I can think of for now. Thank you very much for your responses.
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It definitely may not sound like fun, and alot of times it isn’t. Jesus himself told us “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Taking up your cross is not fun, it was not intended to be fun. However, it will bring you more happiness than worldly things can. You just have to decide whether you are going to go all the way, do nothing, or be lukewarm.
 
troubled_soul said:
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-  To further my question, should we not do modern things like spend stuff on big screen tvs, ipods,watch the latest shows, or listen to the latest music? I mean thinking about spending money on big screen tvs and ipods, it seems okay to me as long as one doesn't get too frivolous spending their money on all the latest gadgets. A person should also equally give time and money to help good causes, such as charities. I think in that situation it is okay to spend on big screen tvs and objects like that. Am I correct?
        - And as far, as watching modern shows and modern music, the aspect I wanted to focus on was the explicit things. I mean I believe someone can enjoy a song purely because of the beat and not focus on degrading/bad lyrics. Are the lyrics so bad that a good Catholic my age should not listen to modern songs?  I also think while watching some shows, which contain obscenity, one can find some value to them, like an educational value without focusing on the obscene aspect. I do believe that some shows are completely just offensive though. Am I correct in believing this?
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As far as the first question you asked above about big screens and ipods - read Luke 16:19-26 “the parable of the rich man and Lazarus”

As far as the music and TV shows - by listening/watching vulgar, satanic or obscene things you are a) numbing your conscience so that you stop realizing those things are not of God, b) giving yourself a number of “occasions for sin” through the evil thoughts/acts that seem ok to you, c) not having charity for whoever may be with you listening and/or watching who may be even more corrupted by those, and d) causing scandal to whoever may be with you in leading them to believe that Catholics think all of that is fine.

Whatever you decide, remember that at Judgement it isn’t to anyone on this forum or your priest or your family that you need to explain yourself - it’s to Jesus when He asks about what you’ve done and why.
 
Suffering does bring us closer to Christ, and yes, many people purposefully deny themselves certain things in order to suffer voluntarily. (“Mortification”, that’s called.) It’s a good idea, but it’s very easy to slip into some kind of mindset where being spiritual is like running the Olympics. Higher! Faster! Stronger! More fasting! Worse food! Less fun!

First off, you have to be careful to distinguish between giving up things that are bad, giving up things that are bad for you, and giving up things because they are good.

Second, you need someone like your priest to advise you on what practices of self-denial are reasonable, given your place in life. The Greeks and Romans loved to bathe, so a lot of early Christian hermits and monks didn’t bathe at all. This is not a good idea for you, however, because you don’t live in the middle of a desert and it’s a very cruel thing to do to your neighbors.

Third, you need to realize that a lot of this isn’t about stuff at all. Excessive, unwholesome grabbiness and clinging, turned towards created things instead of the Creator, is the real problem. Someone who’s unattached and full of love for God could own every painting in the Louvre and still pass through the eye of the needle.
 
I feel like I have a strong urge to leave the Catholic faith. If you want to convince me otherwise, please don’t give me bull like I expect. I’ve noticed from reading around the forums and other areas that there is so much disorganization in the Church. Your responses to my questions do not conform, in my opinion, to Father Vincent Serpa’s response to the same questions. Other issues that seem disorganized, which I can think of off the top of my head, are Lifeteen mass. Is it wrong? Why do we continue to have it? Why did I see a priest dip the communion bread in wine? Is that wrong? Why is he not conforming? I’ve noticed numerous other issues that I can’t remember at the moment. Things that Catholics do that don’t necessarily conform with things I’ve read on the forums. Do all Catholics have to change?

BUT, if I leave the church and just become atheist, per se. I go to hell right. But if I stay with my church it seems I have to change a lot to even get into purgatory. Why the **** even try? You tell me pray, you tell me read scripture, you tell me speak with priests. I’ve done that, and got nothing. This Catholic faith is not helping my anxiety and depression.
 
If you have anxiety and depression problems, I hope that you are seeing a doctor as well.

The Catholic Church is the One, True Church established by Christ himself. No one is going to force you to stay against your will, that is up to you. You asked a question, and we responded to it. I am not sure what else you expect us to do, because if you already have your mind set on leaving, there is not much we can do about that. I do not know what “bull” we have given you, but I am sure everyone responding is sincere in their response, and their want to help you. If you do not want certain advice, you should have specified that.

Furthermore, Life Teen has had problems with deviance from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. The bishops requested compliance, and I believe that if it is done properly, Life Teen is fine (I would have to do more research though). Furthermore, the priest “dipping the communion bread in wine” is called intinction. The priest is allowed to do this, and it is perfectly acceptable. I hear the Pope himself actually does this. (The laity however is not allowed to go up, receive the Body, and walk over to another EM to dip it in the Blood. Intinction is only ok when done and administered by a priest.)

Finally, purgatory will lead to heaven no matter what. I don’t know why you would be so upset about ending up there.
 
troubled_soul said:
I feel like I have a strong urge to leave the Catholic faith. If you want to convince me otherwise, please don’t give me bull like I expect. I’ve noticed from reading around the forums and other areas that there is so much disorganization in the Church. Your responses to my questions do not conform, in my opinion, to Father Vincent Serpa’s response to the same questions. Other issues that seem disorganized, which I can think of off the top of my head, are Lifeteen mass. Is it wrong? Why do we continue to have it? Why did I see a priest dip the communion bread in wine? Is that wrong? Why is he not conforming? I’ve noticed numerous other issues that I can’t remember at the moment. Things that Catholics do that don’t necessarily conform with things I’ve read on the forums. Do all Catholics have to change?

BUT, if I leave the church and just become atheist, per se. I go to hell right. But if I stay with my church it seems I have to change a lot to even get into purgatory. Why the **** even try? You tell me pray, you tell me read scripture, you tell me speak with priests. I’ve done that, and got nothing. This Catholic faith is not helping my anxiety and depression.
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Yes, human beings are confused and chaotic - it’s called Original Sin. As Jesus says, we were not made initially like that but throughout history since the Fall we have been that way. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to find any other non-Catholic or even non-Christian religion (unless it has one person in it:D ) that isn’t chaotic and/or confused. My understanding from reading some of the Saints is that He is not so concerned with our achievements as He is with our continuing to seek Him. It kind of sounds to me (I certainly could be wrong) as if you want to hear from someone on the forum that what Jesus says isn’t all that important as long as you do what feels good. I won’t insult Jesus or your intellect, nor risk your soul by saying that (I’m also not into “millstones”). I will certainly pray that you can hear His voice, also for your depression and anxiety problems. Whatever you decide, don’t forget His Divine Mercy!
 
Hey! Since Divine Mercy Sunday is coming up and He’s promised to St. Faustina that anyone who makes a good confession (with true contrition and purpose of amendment) and receives Holy Communion on this coming 2nd Sunday after Easter will receive not only forgiveness of sins (as a good confession always does) but forgiveness of even the consequences of sin, practically like a 2nd Baptism! Sure can’t hurt!🤷 And tell Him how your feeling!
 
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