Please help- terrified I’m going to hell

[OurLadyofSorrows]

Also, I would also strongly urge you not to listen to Fr Ripperberger (or any similar sort of material) any more - it’s clearly doing you a lot more harm than good!

This priest has not said this in any of the media have seen. He has discussed it as an idea others brought up. The OP has confused what has been said, but I agree, if it is confusing, either put it aside or ask if this is what is meant.

 

[Finn]

I’m very sorry for your loss.

 

[po18guy]

Very sorry to hear this. In addition to speaking with Father, it could very well be a spiritual attack.

1. The Sacraments.
2. Holy Water - the evil one HATES holy water.
3. Spiritual warfare prayers - make certain they are Catholic.
4. Counseling. It sounds an awful lot like scrupulosity - thoughts racing, doubts taking over. Anxiety/OCD/scrupulosity are closely related. It is 100% treatable. The gold standard is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - drug free. There are well known Catholic counselors who offer it.

James 4:7 “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

 

[puer.dei]

Besides, I’ve heard Fr Ripperger say something about how God, after a certain amount of mortal sins, cuts people off from the grace to repent and so they will be sent to Hell,

I hope you misunderstood him, because that is NOT Catholic teaching. God loves you.

 

[poche]

This appears to be a period of time in your spiritual development where God is leading you away from the consolations that he used to give. Now you are called to give more of yourself. You are being called to worship the God of consolations rather than the consolations of God.

 

[mrsdizzyd]

Firstly, it must be said that this OP is clearly not written by someone who truly rejects God. You long for God. It is clear from what you have written.

Besides, I’ve heard Fr Ripperger say something about how God, after a certain amount of mortal sins, cuts people off from the grace to repent and so they will be sent to Hell, and only if people pray for that person does He sometimes give them one last chance.

This is not correct. God loves us and never forsakes us. That is scripture. He never ever ceases to call us to himself. He is the Good Shepard that leaves the 99 and goes after that one. He is the father that rejoices at the return of his son. He is love itself, eternally. You were created out of love and in his image and likeness. He could no more hate or be disgusted by you than he can hate or be disgusted by himself!

Meditate on the prodigal son and the good shepard. Meditate on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It burns with love for you! Pray the Jesus prayer over and over. Just one simple yet powerful line: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

 

[CatholicLeanne]

Thank you all, I really needed to hear that. I feel a bit silly now but I’ve been really struggling lately and trying to get by without God is exhausting.

I’ve made up my mind to go to Confession tomorrow morning (I haven’t been since this whole mess started) and I’ll see if I can make an appointment to talk to my priest.

I’m still worried that I’m not ‘sorry enough’ for confession but I just hope and pray that God understands because I really just want to come back to Him.

Thank you all.

 

[mrsdizzyd]

I’m still worried that I’m not ‘sorry enough’ for confession but I just hope and pray that God understands because I really just want to come back to Him.

Through the grace of the sacrament, God will make up for what is lacking. Trust him.

 

[Anne1964]

And remember, being sorry for your sins doesn’t have to be a feeling. It is an act of the will.

 

[OurLadyofSorrows]

I’m still worried that I’m not ‘sorry enough’ for confession but I just hope and pray that God understands because I really just want to come back to Him.

There is something called false pride and false humility. Being not something enough can be an example of this. Go a bit easier on yourself and rejoice in your love of God, and His for you. We have to work to sainthood, we are rarely born to it. God gives us the graces to work to it. Do not reject God’s grace by telling yourself you are not 'something ’ enough.

Someone saintly once said, it is not the success that delights God as much as the struggles and the trying.

 

[Annie]

I’m still worried that I’m not ‘sorry enough’ for confession but I just hope and pray that God understands because I really just want to come back to Him.

The great thing about confession is that if you are sorry enough to confess, you are sorry enough.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Fr.Ripperger said that? A priest actually said that? Huh. To say such a thing, to say such a lie against the Divine Mercy is astounding to me.

Fr. Ripperger says quite a few questionable things. I would NOT recommend that anyone having a serious struggle with their faith listen to him.

Leanne, please turn off Fr. Ripperger, go seek out your OWN priest, and talk to him, in person. You may need to make an appointment.

As others have said, all Catholics go through stuff like this from time to time. You shouldn’t give in to despair because you’re having a struggle.

 

[BigRon]

Besides, I’ve heard Fr Ripperger say something about how God, after a certain amount of mortal sins, cuts people off from the grace to repent and so they will be sent to Hell, and only if people pray for that person does He sometimes give them one last chance. I can’t help but feel like my chance is past. He’s done so much for me, and yet I’ve thrown it all away.

I feel the same about Hell but this is wrong because His mercy is there until will die. Father Rippergar frightens me with some of the stuff he says, I always feel depressed after listening to him(although his video on sacramentals was good).

Father Mark speaks about Divine Mercy on youtube.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Yeah, just to be clear I also think Fr. Ripperger says some good, interesting and useful things too.

But I think he can be very frightening and confusing to Catholics who aren’t very secure in their faith.

 

[CollegeCatholic24]

God’s mercy is endless, but in order to be forgiven from sins you must truly be regretful of your sins, which you seem to be truly regretful about. Some of the greatest saints have been full of sin, like St. Paul, who persecuted Christians before his conversion. I really believe you might be overthinking this. A lot of people are suggesting that you talk to your priest, which I agree with, but I would also challenge you to do something directly involved with the poor. Whether it is volunteering at a local food pantry, soup kitchen, etc., some lifechanging moments can happen when caring for the poor.

 

[Vico]

… God, after a certain amount of mortal sins, cuts people off from the grace to repent and so they will be sent to Hell, …

God gives all the faithful who are sinners sufficient grace (gratia saltem remote sufficiens) for conversion. (Certainty: common teaching) – Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, Ludwig Ott, p. 240.

The Church teaches that the baptised who have fallen into serious sin, i.e., can
always be restored by true repentance.
(From: Lateran Council IV 1215, against the Albigensians and other heretics.)

Watch out for bias.

According to Cognitive Psychologist David Burns a person may jump to a conclusion by inferring ideas not from facts. Those conclusions usually stem from our brain’s tendency to save energy in the processing of information or the need to understand an idea in a timely manner. This is called a bias. but there are two other biases – fortune telling bias and mind reading bias. David Burns defines the fortune telling bias:

“It’s as if I were before a crystal ball that could only predict sadness. You imagine that something bad will happen and take that prediction as a fact (when it really isn’t). Imagine, for example, an elementary school librarian who, during an anxiety attack, tells themselves: “I’m going to faint”. That predictions is unrealistic .”

They are dogmas of faith that God desires to save all people, and also that God gives actual graces for
conversion. Now, once in a state of sanctifying grace one must cooperate with the given grace to keep that state since it is not irresistible, but God strengthens such a person simultaneous with that persons will to do good.

 

[Bluebright]

You can ask God to help you be sorry for your sins. Tell him truthfully what you tell us(and the rest), he knows anyway but he wants to hear it in your words. Tell him you are afraid. It’s all ok.
Remember, God always forgives.
God bless you

 

[TheLittleLady]

Besides, I’ve heard Fr Ripperger say something about how God, after a certain amount of mortal sins, cuts people off from the grace to repent and so they will be sent to Hell

I would want to read how this was framed before responding.

People can sin so much that they just stop even having a conscience, however, until the moment of death every human can call on the Mercy of God and repent.

I must be disgusting to Him. It amazes me that I can kneel before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and not be struck dead.

That is Satan talking to you, this is actually the sin of pride. He loves to convince us that our sins are so unique, so vile, so special that God is repulsed. Praying the Litany of Humility can help to realize that our sins are not special, they are common to human beings, the priest has heard this sin confessed a bajillion times.

Say to yourself “my sins are not special, my sins are very common”. Get out of that prideful headspace.

I don’t know how to be sorry because I just don’t love God. I’m too afraid of Him to love Him.

That is enough. Imperfect contrition means that we confess because we fear hell. As we grow in faith, we grow to contrition that comes from love. It is a process and may take a lifetime.

“The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom” straight from Scripture. Fear of the Lord is one of the gifts that you were given at Baptism and Confirmation. Use that gift.

 

[monmar]

Perserverence. Our loving Creator knows his plans for you and at this moment he has withdrawn his abundant grace so that you may grow in charity. Continue to pray for faith and perseverance, and have hope that you will overcome this dark period. Be strong, as you were not created to be weak and afraid.