New post to the forum

[rb26dett]

Hello everyone
I’m just familiarizing myself with the forum so please correct me if this post is in the wrong section.

I have a few questions.
Some background information, I come from a Catholic semi-practicing family (mostly my mother) and have always took a passive stance in faith till this year.

My concern is that over the past few years I’ve been disconnected with friends and family, they have moved away and I have been on my own. I struggle with academics (college student) and don’t have a solid foundation to which I can be around and openly practice faith with. I find that life has been comprised mostly of downs and very very few ups. I use prayer to guide me. Despite it all, I can’t seem to be in a relationship with a religious girl or a non religious girl. I can’t get into the program of my choice due to my lack of intelligence I suppose. I pray and pray and pray, nothing happens yet somehow i’m still fairly happy (even though I know the situation is rough) I live away from home as well. I want to be able to brush away immoral thoughts but I feel like the things I do (smoke drink sex masturbate) are the only thing that supports my mood and prevents me from going into a state of depression. I hate that part of myself and wish to delve into the faithful part of me. I find it extremely difficult to do so. How do I move forward? I want to be passionate about faith and strong willed regardless of the tough situation. How do I move forward when it seems like my life is at the very bottom of the barrel?
I feel terrible that I can only come here in times of bad, but I enjoy going to church, I love Mass and singing at it.
Thanks for reading this ridiculously long post haha.

rb

 

[WesleyF]

I want to be able to brush away immoral thoughts but I feel like the things I do (smoke drink sex masturbate) are the only thing that supports my mood and prevents me from going into a state of depression. I hate that part of myself and wish to delve into the faithful part of me. I find it extremely difficult to do so. How do I move forward?

Keep trusting the Lord. That, in essence, is the way to go forward. I remember a priest once said that all sin begins with fear and anxiety, fear in the sense of “what will happen to me”? That’s where sin begins. We are commanded to not be anxious.

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat?' or What shall we drink?’ or `What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.” (Matthew 6:31-34)

We are called to trust the Lord at all times and so Paul says, “whatever does not proceed from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). So have faith in God.

Where does faith come from? “Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

That means you need to hear sound preaching about Christ. I can suggest some good sites for sermons -
audiosancto.org/
wordonfire.org/WOF-Radio/Sermons.aspx

You have been using smoking, drinking, sex and masturbation to keep yourself from depression. But you know that these things are not a permanent solution. The pleasure you get when you do these things is temporary and not lasting and when it’s over you are more miserable than you were before. The true remedy to depression is faith in God. We get depressed because we are anxious and afraid. But cast your burdens upon Jesus and see what happens! Stop worrying and being anxious and trust Jesus and see what happens. Take it one day at a time as Jesus said and see the wonderful ways in which he shall work in your life.

 

[Dorothy]

“rb”,

It is a grace that you enjoy Mass! The Holy Spirit is working in you.

As for the rest that you feel bad about…the Sacraments on a regular basis can take care of that. (The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ that you are seeking!)

I hope you can find a peer group that you can relate to and be supported in your faith. Many secular colleges have a Catholic Church nearby that takes care of the spiritual needs of Catholic college students, and provides ways for those students to get to know one another. Either that, or a Catholic Newman Club on campus,…or even both!

God bless you!

 

[phoooiee]

Hello everyone
I’m just familiarizing myself with the forum so please correct me if this post is in the wrong section.

I have a few questions.
Some background information, I come from a Catholic semi-practicing family (mostly my mother) and have always took a passive stance in faith till this year.

My concern is that over the past few years I’ve been disconnected with friends and family, they have moved away and I have been on my own. I struggle with academics (college student) and don’t have a solid foundation to which I can be around and openly practice faith with. I find that life has been comprised mostly of downs and very very few ups. I use prayer to guide me. Despite it all, I can’t seem to be in a relationship with a religious girl or a non religious girl. I can’t get into the program of my choice due to my lack of intelligence I suppose. I pray and pray and pray, nothing happens yet somehow i’m still fairly happy (even though I know the situation is rough) I live away from home as well. I want to be able to brush away immoral thoughts but I feel like the things I do (smoke drink sex masturbate) are the only thing that supports my mood and prevents me from going into a state of depression. I hate that part of myself and wish to delve into the faithful part of me. I find it extremely difficult to do so. How do I move forward? I want to be passionate about faith and strong willed regardless of the tough situation. How do I move forward when it seems like my life is at the very bottom of the barrel?
I feel terrible that I can only come here in times of bad, but I enjoy going to church, I love Mass and singing at it.
Thanks for reading this ridiculously long post haha.

rb

Why not take some medication to deal with depression. Smoking, drinking etc. are nothing more than self-medication for what may be a chemical imbalance. The things you are using to prevent depression are sins. They will hurt you more than they help you. Taking a pill for a medical problem, however, is no sin at all. It might help you feel less desperate and more able to find the faith you seek.