Returning to the Catholic Church

[promethius]

Hi Aniela, I will try my best to offer whatever wisdom I have that God has given me… But let me start by saying Pax et Amor Christi tecum (Peace and Love of Christ to you). It sounds like you could use both Peace and Love at the moment.

I didn’t care much for religion. It seemed corrupted. I felt like I was too intelligent to believe in God anymore. It didn’t seem logical and the history of the Church seemed to be filled with lies.

It is not religion that is corruptible, as the Church is Christ’s Body here on earth. But mankind is corruptible, and where those who have done great wrong abide, there is spiritual murder. I understand where you’re coming from, but I would encourage you to look at the teachings of the church to know where she stands, rather than looking at the actions of a few corrupt people out of billions of good catholics in history…

I lived a life where I only thought about myself. Sure, I gave occasionally and treated most people well…but I gave because I had no use for the items, and I treated only those I liked with respect.

This is human. We care for others who care for us… because we are by nature tribal creatures. If we like someone, they are part of our social “tribe” and so we respect them and help them. That is what makes Christianity so unique AND so vital. It calls us to do something more than human: to abolish the tribe and love, respect, and be compassionate for ALL people, even at cost to ourselves.

When we are in keeping with this teaching, we can move mountains and change the world… but when we fall from the teaching of God, we revert to base tribalism again and our world which we stand to affect shrinks down again.

Two nights ago, I accepted that there is a God and my worries subsided. I actually felt like I knew what life was all about. I felt different. It lasted for about a day and then the doubt returned. I feel like I am slowly making my way out of this hole I have put myself in but not really.

Sounds to me like God is reaching out to you, his lost sheep… but giving you the chance to reach back as well. After all, God loves us so much that He gives us free will.

But then the doubt comes in to strike me down. It tells me that I shouldn’t believe in fairy tales and that science and history are proving that it is all lies.

Agenda driven science and history are trying to crush the church. I have a bachelor of science degree in physics and can tell you that science has proven nothing in regards to God’s non-existance because, quite simply, it can’t. And even so, atheists do NOT have the majority rule on science, as I’ve found many are quite a bit ignorant of both science and its historical development.

Anyway, I am writing this for help. I am weak and lost. I want to find my way back home to the Church but I do not know where to start. I do not want to go to the priest of the local parish. He was one of the biggest reasons I stopped attending mass. He spoke of consequences rather than love. I tried to go to the church to pray but the doors are locked.

A priest is a good comfort at times, but not always exactly what you need. I would suggest calling the parish and asking when there is a Eucharistic adoration available. Go and kneel and pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament and just cry out to God for His guidance. I think you’ll find what you are looking for. After all, priests, like I said, are wonderful comfort at times, but no intellectual discussion I’ve had with anyone has ever come even close to my experiences of God while praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

Have faith, Aniela, and do not dispair. There is a God and He loves you dearly as His child… you have but to reach out and experience that love. It is very possible that this path has been God’s will for you so that you would understand the world and return stronger and hungrier for faith than ever before. You may have just experienced what St Paul of the Cross called the “dark night of the soul”, which is a redemptive period of silence from God to teach and grow the soul.

I know it might be a bit early to say this, but welcome home… (I have great faith that this is the beginning of your return to the life of faith)

 

[carmella_anders]

I feel so sad when I hear a life hurt in a person who is trying to survive in this world wanting so many answers. I always would hear “just stop and listen and be open to God’s
talking to you” OK, I 'm listening. I went on to start focusing on all I could do in helping others, no matter who, or how small is was. It is a big challenge for me to stay focused.
All of us have some cross’es to carry, big ones small ones. I have heard many times how colleges will change a person in the way he or she thinks. How science wants to prove all answers come from something scientific. Hog wash… The seculiar world is without peace I assure you. Its got to be the best job, the best schools, the best home. etc, it all goes away eventually, God is still here if earthly things fail or not. How beautiful your mom choose life and you were born and loved. Be aware of your peers and tell them you will start prayers for them and yourself.