Obsession?

[james281]

Dear brothers and sisters,

I’ve been thinking quite a lot these past couple of weeks, but I have an interesting question.

Can our love for Christ start to become obsessive? Is this obsession a bad thing or is it a good thing?

 

[Cartesian]

In my opinion, if the source of your love is truly Christ, no obsession can be too much. Love is one theological virtue, and I don’t think a virtue can be in excess.

Of course, this love, being immense, should lead your life, your decisions and your relationship with your surroundings.

CCC(1844) By charity, we love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves for love of God. Charity, the form of all the virtues, “binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Col 3:14)

 

[DMC12]

you can’t love Christ enough, but of course you can twist the love and turn it into something like fanatism.

 

[james281]

In my opinion, if the source of your love is truly Christ, no obsession can be too much. Love is one theological virtue, and I don’t think a virtue can be in excess.

Of course, this love, being immense, should lead your life, your decisions and your relationship with your surroundings.

CCC(1844) By charity, we love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves for love of God. Charity, the form of all the virtues, “binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Col 3:14)

Thanks for the reply!

The problem is, when I think about obsession, it has a negative connotation to it. In context, it’s like when your significant other thinks about you unhealthily and constantly, like a sense of distrust.

I feel like, in terms of a relationship with Christ, there should be such thing as a healthy balance. Perhaps like the burning bush? I guess I like to look at that scripture and see it as a symbolism of a spiritual relationship. The bush is me: bare. Yet, the fire is like Christ. The relationship between the fire and the bush is interesting; the fire does not destroy the bush, so the bush still keeps it’s identity (but technically, it’s been ‘purged’ of it’s original bark). Yet, the fire brightens the bare bush and makes it a spectacle and Holy.

Maybe I’m rambling, but I’m on that search for finding a balance; whatever balance may mean .

 

[ClearWater]

Dear brothers and sisters,

I’ve been thinking quite a lot these past couple of weeks, but I have an interesting question.

Can our love for Christ start to become obsessive? Is this obsession a bad thing or is it a good thing?

Depends. There are people in mental institutions who take it too far. So, it is possible. Again, it depends.

 

[Cartesian]

Thanks for the reply!

The problem is, when I think about obsession, it has a negative connotation to it. In context, it’s like when your significant other thinks about you unhealthily and constantly, like a sense of distrust.

I feel like, in terms of a relationship with Christ, there should be such thing as a healthy balance. Perhaps like the burning bush? I guess I like to look at that scripture and see it as a symbolism of a spiritual relationship. The bush is me: bare. Yet, the fire is like Christ. The relationship between the fire and the bush is interesting; the fire does not destroy the bush, so the bush still keeps it’s identity (but technically, it’s been ‘purged’ of it’s original bark). Yet, the fire brightens the bare bush and makes it a spectacle and Holy.

Maybe I’m rambling, but I’m on that search for finding a balance; whatever balance may mean .

You raise very important observations. I had to look up at the dictionary, and obsession refers indeed to a psychological disorder of excessive attraction to a person or object.

So, although English is not my native language, I think obsession may indeed not be so healthy afterall.

Your example of the fire not consuming the bush is excellent and I think perfectly describes how the love of God should work on us. Obsession brings anxiety, but I believe love a Christ should give us peace of mind. Even at time of their martyrdom, many Saints such as Joan d’Arc or St. Agnes were in peace…