Questioning faith at times

[Eoin51]

Hi my name is Eoin, I’m a college aged Catholic. First off, to stop people from telling me to talk to my spiritual advisor or a priest in person the questions I am asking will be or have already been brought up with a priest. Lately I’ve been struggling with my faith. I do love Jesus with all of my heart and soul but lately I’ve been having thoughts if Catholicism is the true faith. I’ve had these thoughts before and actually left the faith for awhile but then started reading the bible and really through reading the Bible found that the Catholic church was truth. I’m unsure of why these feelings are coming back it may have something to do with my struggle with sin as these past few weeks I have felt far from God and haven’t really made time for the sacrament of confession like I have in the past. My worries mostly are that I won’t go to heaven because I’m catholic (I know to it may sound silly) I’ve come across a lot of harsh comments towards catholics on forums and blogs and It gets me thinking(I am a bit of a worrier). I don’t know exactly what I’m here asking for or even if this is the right section on the forums. I just need some advice and/or prayers.

 

[Crux_Sacra]

Eoin51,
Welcome to the Forum!
I would like to recommend some things to you, in light of your dilemma.
First, pray regularly. Not just to help in your struggle against sin, but to enrich your faith. The Rosary, especially if you meditate on each mystery, will help immensely. As Padre Pio said, the rosary is the weapon against the enemy.
Second, receive the Sacraments as often as you can. Regular Confession and Communion will strengthen you. If you have trouble making it to regular Confession times, call and make an appointment. If you are struggling with the same sin repeatedly, make time the moment you fall for Confession and make an appointment. When it comes to struggling against the same sin over and over, it is important to put forth extra effort to get to the confessional. Especially if you begin to despair. If you have to, corner your priest after Mass and ask him to hear your confession then. You’ll be back on track for the next week’s Mass at least.
Third, if things that you read, watch, listen to, etc., make you doubt the Faith, then avoid them like the plague, if possible. But more importantly, learn to defend the Faith with Apologetics, and immerse yourself in books and other things that will inform you and build your faith. You will learn new things, have questions answered, and come to understand things more clearly, while learning to present the Truth to others and refute falsehood.

In each case, don’t just try to stop short of the negative which will tear you down, but turn the other way and head toward a positive which will build you up.

And remember that we all struggle with sin. That’s why Christ gave us Sacraments like Confession; for when we sin after Baptism. He knew we would need them. We are privileged as Catholics to have access to such Grace.

God Bless!

PS- Try to make a Holy Hour in front of the Most Blessed Sacrament whenever you can, immersing yourself in the Real Presence.

 

[bzkoss236]

It is good to question or take account of your faith, because it gives the opportunity to strengthen your faith. This forum/website is a great place to do that, because you can bring your questions to us and we’ll be able to help you with that. I was in college when I came back to the Catholic Church. Ironically, it was through a Protestant campus ministry that I eventually came back. It was those questions and comments from the Evangelical Protestants that I was around that made me research and learn more. And the more I learned, the more I understood, and the more I understood, the more my faith in the Catholic Church and Her teachings about God, Christ, and everything is Truth. The answers I found in the Catholic Church’s teachings were to some serious questions I had.

I’d recommend you get or borrow a copy of The Essential Catholic Survival Guide, which is a helpfully organized set of tracts found on the main Catholic Answers website (catholic.com/tracts). I have a list and links to the tracts contained within the book, but there are more tracts out there than are in the book, so I may just suggest checking out the site. Also, (most) Tuesday and Thursday evenings, they have a Q/A session on the Catholic Answers radio show (2 hours every evening) on the EWTN radio network. You can check HERE to find your local station and time. You can also listen online and search and listen to previous sessions via the radio calendar. They have been very helpful to me. Check the radio calendar also for Q/A for non-Catholics. For those shows, they only allow non-Catholics to call in and ask questions. It is also helpful to see how many have misinformation on what the Church teaches.

Good luck on your journey back to the Church.

 

[NHeath]

Crux Sacra is right…

First of all, how appropriate to be tempted during Lent. Do you remember the reading where Jesus was out in the desert for 40 days and Satan kept tempting him… Dont ever think for a minute there is no devil. He is probably whispering those doubts in your ear right now. Dont dwell on negative thoughts either. Even when you feel you are troubled by these thoughts say out loud how grateful you are for what you have and your family and food and friends, they are all God’s gifts. Think positive but get to church as soon as possible. Maybe drop in after a class and just quietly visit by yourself without distractions (no cell phone).

When you go to Confession and receive the Holy Eucharist you receive graces that pretty much help defend you in battle like recharging your defenses. There is a spiritual battle now constantly, especially with the younger adults like yourself. Pray, pray, pray, as if you are texting God and ask Him to send you strength and ask for peace. Only Jesus can give you peace.

I am sure you have read all sorts of books buy my favorite is Mist of Mercy by Anne, the Lay Apostle… in the back of the books are letters Jesus dictated to her to write for us in these awfully tempting times. Dont read the whole book at once, just a letter or two at a time. The bible of course is even better.

 

[ChibiViolet]

Hi my name is Eoin, I’m a college aged Catholic. First off, to stop people from telling me to talk to my spiritual advisor or a priest in person the questions I am asking will be or have already been brought up with a priest. Lately I’ve been struggling with my faith. I do love Jesus with all of my heart and soul but lately I’ve been having thoughts if Catholicism is the true faith. I’ve had these thoughts before and actually left the faith for awhile but then started reading the bible and really through reading the Bible found that the Catholic church was truth. I’m unsure of why these feelings are coming back it may have something to do with my struggle with sin as these past few weeks I have felt far from God and haven’t really made time for the sacrament of confession like I have in the past. My worries mostly are that I won’t go to heaven because I’m catholic (I know to it may sound silly) I’ve come across a lot of harsh comments towards catholics on forums and blogs and It gets me thinking(I am a bit of a worrier). I don’t know exactly what I’m here asking for or even if this is the right section on the forums. I just need some advice and/or prayers.

Look up miracles. The miracles at Guadeloupe are especially convincing and the ones at Fatima and Lourdes are too in my opinion. Also, try praying the Rosary. Praying it cured me of almost constant emotional apathy that lasted about three years.

Also, most feelings don’t mean anything so don’t think too much of them and certainly don’t base your beliefs on feelings. Feelings from God can be be AMAZING, but just because you don’t feel Him there with you does NOT mean He isn’t there with you. He is there with you and He LOVES you and that reality is greater than any feeling.

 

[ChibiViolet]

Praying…

 

[arctic197]

I’ve had these thoughts before and actually left the faith for awhile but then started reading the bible and really through reading the Bible found that the Catholic church was truth.

Just curious, how did you arrive at that conclusion; that the Catholic Church is the truth by reading the bible?

 

[Gorgias]

Lately I’ve been struggling with my faith.

lately I’ve been having thoughts if Catholicism is the true faith.

I’ve come across a lot of harsh comments towards catholics on forums and blogs and It gets me thinking(I am a bit of a worrier). I don’t know exactly what I’m here asking for or even if this is the right section on the forums.

Eoin,

Welcome! I have the feeling that CAF is exactly the right place for you!

Don’t worry about ‘struggles’ or ‘doubts’ – they seem to be part of the fallen human state, and they’re especially a part of being a young adult. This is exactly the part of your life where you examine the beliefs that you were presented with as a child, and find ways to assimilate them into your adult life. It’s not that you’re doubting the truths of the Catholic faith, per se – it’s that you’re dealing with them as an adult and trying to accept them on their own merits! The Catholic faith isn’t a weak, illogical undertaking – it’s not a ‘house of cards’ that will fall apart with a little scrutiny!

So, if you’re worried, this is the place to look at the kinds of things that you’ve read and subject them to a healthy dose of analysis! Are there any particular things that you’ve read, that you want answers about? The ‘Apologetics’ section is a great place for those, as well as the ‘Scripture’ or ‘Philosophy’ sub-sections there. Are you concerned about Catholic liturgical practices? The ‘Liturgy and Sacraments’ section is a great place to start.

Don’t be afraid to use the ‘search’ function to see if someone has already asked a question that you’re currently struggling with. If you can’t find your particular question in an existing thread, start a new one – I guarantee you, people will be willing to talk with you around here about your questions!

Blessings,

G.

 

[PrinceAnceints]

In this world that is the devils what else are you to think? You have no alternitive but the one world that is. I know how they said they did not think I was worth it, yet every time I would turn on the television or the radio, I can clearly see, that even though they own almost everything, it is them, who to me, is not worth it. His vision is does not come close to mine, and while my heart is full of good and passion, his is full of bull. They killed a creative genius when I was a child. Faith? Faith in what? Not Christ. Not me. I have though, even though I lost my home, not lost myself. It this, is the threat.