Salvation and Confession

[Armenian_cpa]

Maybe someone out there can straighten me out.

I sometimes wonder how I can be ever worthy enough to be able to obtain salvation. I don’t feel like I can’t be forgiven, but I feel guilty over letting our Lord down so often.Like a child would feel ashamed to let down his own parents.

While I know everyone sins, what if one repeats certain sins over and over. I am truly remorseful and try to be pure. But at times I relapse and commit the same sins again. I have been to confession and tried to keep pure but it is difficult.

It’s like I don’t want to be a hypocrite but when I say my act of contrition in confession I intend to be pure but seem to fail often.

I know while being Catholic and practicing the faith is a wonderful gift, it can also be difficult at times a burden , if one truly examines their conscience. It is a constant battle to work for ones salvation.

Maybe its just the way it is. Am I being to hard on myself or maybe being a bit scrupulous?

I constantly say the Jesus prayer (an Eastern prayer which I like) to remind me to ask the Lord for mercy.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

 

[math2vln]

Read the scripture of the Prodigal son, and think about our heavenly Father running to greet you when you go to Him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He will overwhelm you with the graces necessary to overcome your sinfulness. Being human means being sinful, we all sin. Your intention when you avail yourself of the sacraments is to remain in a state of grace. Pray for more grace to avoid this one particular area of sinfulness in your life. Perhaps if you read the lives of the saints you can find a particular saint who overcame your particular weakness, and pray for his or her intercession. Also ask your confessor for guidance. God bless you.

 

[teachccd]

Read the scripture of the Prodigal son, and think about our heavenly Father running to greet you when you go to Him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He will overwhelm you with the graces necessary to overcome your sinfulness. Being human means being sinful, we all sin. Your intention when you avail yourself of the sacraments is to remain in a state of grace. Pray for more grace to avoid this one particular area of sinfulness in your life. Perhaps if you read the lives of the saints you can find a particular saint who overcame your particular weakness, and pray for his or her intercession. Also ask your confessor for guidance. God bless you.

Excellent advice!! I would just like to add that on our own we could NEVER achieve salvation. We can only go to heaven through the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. The crucifixion is the ultimate act of love and God’s love is the infinite treasury that we draw from every time we fail. Jesus will pick us up every second of the day if we reach for Him.

Utilize the Sacrament of Reconciliation as often as you need and know that you do have a firm purpose of amendment but as humans we will fail in our greatest area of weakness. Saint Paul said that it is when we are weak that we are strong. That is only when we become closer to Christ because of our weaknesses…God Bless…teachccd

 

[TheDoctor]

…but I feel guilty over letting our Lord down so often. Like a child would feel ashamed to let down his own parents.

I know where you are, because I have been there, am there now, and will probably be there in the future.

The guilt is good (Catholic guilt baby, nothing but the best!) because it means that you have a well formed conscience and you desire to sin no more and do good always. We do let the Lord down, but He never lets us down.

Let me take your child analogy just one step further: When my son does something wrong he feels ashamed and wants to do what he can to make it OK. I may be initially disappointed in him, but I am proud that he has stood up and wants to improve and I will never ever never give up on him. I tell my kids always “I may not like the things you do, but there is nothing you can do that will ever make me stop loving you”.

If a lowly nothing like me will not give up on my children, how much more mercy and love does Jesus have for us?

Isn’t there a Devine Mercy saying of Jesus :“I desire mercy, not justice?”

Peace.

 

[guanophore]

Maybe someone out there can straighten me out.

I sometimes wonder how I can be ever worthy enough to be able to obtain salvation.

This is a very good thing, to be embraced. None of us can ever be “worthy enough to be able to obtain salvation”. If we could, then the death of Christ on the cross would not have been necessary. There is nothing any of us can do, of ourselves, to meet the standard that God requires.

Eph 2:8-9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - 9 not because of works, lest any man should boast.”

We are saved by grace, through faith. Not by our own merit.

I don’t feel like I can’t be forgiven, but I feel guilty over letting our Lord down so often.Like a child would feel ashamed to let down his own parents.

It is commendable that you have such a sensitive conscience, but this is also something that the devil likes to use to keep us from the joy that is our inheritance in Christ.

While I know everyone sins, what if one repeats certain sins over and over. I am truly remorseful and try to be pure. But at times I relapse and commit the same sins again. I have been to confession and tried to keep pure but it is difficult.

You are walking in the way of the cross. You are picking up your cross daily, and following HIm. God delightes in your faithfulness.

It’s like I don’t want to be a hypocrite but when I say my act of contrition in confession I intend to be pure but seem to fail often.

It is intention that matters most. That part is up to us. The other part is up to God. We cannot, of ourselves, become the persons God wants us to be. Instead, we must trust in His grace.

Phil 1:6
“And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

He is the One who began the good work in us, and it is He who will bring it to completion.

" Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." Phil 2:12-13

It is for us to be obedient, and to work it out, by yielding to the power of the Spirit. For He is at work in us both to want/make us desire, and to make us able to please God.

When we forget to let God do His part, or focus too much on our own work, and not His, then we can get discouraged and frustrated.

Phil 2:12-13 I know while being Catholic and practicing the faith is a wonderful gift, it can also be difficult at times a burden , if one truly examines their conscience. It is a constant battle to work for ones salvation.

You are experiencing what Paul writes about in Rom. ch. 7. In that respect, you are right where God wants you! But, don’t stop there. Keep reading into Ch. 8, where you find the solution to the problem of mankind.

Rom 8:1-3
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.”

Also, itis important to note, we are not to be working “on” our salvation or “for” our salvation. This has already been accomplished in us b the grace of God.

“…**work out **your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Phil 2:12-13

When we do our part (carrying the cross) we are working out what is already at work in us (God’s grace).

It is not by works of our own that we attain salvation:

“Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, **not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace **which he gave us in Christ Jesus” 2 Tim 1:8-9

Maybe its just the way it is. Am I being to hard on myself or maybe being a bit scrupulous?

I constantly say the Jesus prayer (an Eastern prayer which I like) to remind me to ask the Lord for mercy.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Keep it up!

Your struggle is that of St. Paul in Rom 7, and of all the saints. If there is any fault, it is that we take our eyes off Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith.

Heb 12:1-2
“…let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2** looking to Jesus **the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

We tend to look at ourselves and our shortcomings, rather than to Him, who is the Mover of the grace that saves us. The devil is happy to help us in this, because he loves to steal our joy.

 

[dcdurel]

Maybe someone out there can straighten me out.

I sometimes wonder how I can be ever worthy enough to be able to obtain salvation. I don’t feel like I can’t be forgiven, but I feel guilty over letting our Lord down so often.Like a child would feel ashamed to let down his own parents.

While I know everyone sins, what if one repeats certain sins over and over. I am truly remorseful and try to be pure. But at times I relapse and commit the same sins again. I have been to confession and tried to keep pure but it is difficult.

It’s like I don’t want to be a hypocrite but when I say my act of contrition in confession I intend to be pure but seem to fail often.

I know while being Catholic and practicing the faith is a wonderful gift, it can also be difficult at times a burden , if one truly examines their conscience. It is a constant battle to work for ones salvation.

Maybe its just the way it is. Am I being to hard on myself or maybe being a bit scrupulous?

I constantly say the Jesus prayer (an Eastern prayer which I like) to remind me to ask the Lord for mercy.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

 

[dcdurel]

Actually, salvation really means that Jesus died to free us from the inclination to sin. That is why we pray at mass, “by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free, you are the savior of the world”.

The main way we receive the grace to free us from the inclination to sin is through the sacraments, especially through the Eucharits. Thus we need to prepare for mass ahead of time and ask God’s grace , especially during the consecration and during communion, to overcome our sins. Since the mass is so powerful, we should go daily if possible. When I started going daily my sins went down considerably.
Next we need private prayer, because Jesus does not give us all the grace through the sacraments, but also through private prayer. That is why the saints prayed constantly. They learned from experience that lots of prayer is necessary to overcome our will, and do God’s will. At least one rosary per day, and usually more are necessary. I find it helpful when I am home with free time, during times of temptation, to pray one decade every half hour. That is only 5 minutes out of 30 minutes, during my free time, when I am not working.
Then also study the Church’s teaching about whatever sin is your problem, so that you can learn how bad sin is, because the devil will try to do the opposite. He will make you think that it is not bad at all. We need to study the teachings Jesus handed down through His Church.
Then practice self denial and mortifications. These practices also make available more grace to help overcome our sins.

         This will help a lot.

You WILL FAIL. But, keep on confessing, receiving the sacraments, praying, self-denial, study, and gradually you will fail less often. If you don’t improve, then MORE PRAYER. Most saints prayed about 5 hours a day, because they found it necessary. They did not pray because they were already good. They prayed because they realized they were NOT good, but sinners." So they had to pray that much to even get close to where they needed to be. I don’t think anyone is born with less tendency to sin than the saints, thus we all need to pray as they did. The bible does not say “pray always” for nothing. It is not merely a good saying, it is necessary, or God would have not said it.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Armenian,

I sometimes wonder how I can be ever worthy enough to be able to obtain salvation.

God loves us irrespective of our worth, its a non-issue for Him.

His mercy is beyond our understanding, but we must always trust in His mercy.

Jim

 

[Armenian_cpa]

Thank you moderator for moving my post. I realized I was in the wrong forum right after I posted.

And thank you to everyone for sharing their feelings with me. I know I am not alone, but sometimes it’s nice to get reminded the Lord is always with us and we all struggle the same way, and there are also many kind compassionate people out there.

How do I know, well it’s because you all took some of your time to help me out.

I know it’s not easy being Catholic but since I have moved closer to God I now know I would not have it any other way.

God bless everyone.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Quoting Armenian_cpa

I sometimes wonder how I can be ever worthy enough to be able to obtain salvation. I don’t feel like I can’t be forgiven, but I feel guilty over letting our Lord down so often.Like a child would feel ashamed to let down his own parents.

As The Holy Father said this week during WYD “Faith opens up a new dimension to us and we can fly!” There is that human dimension, where I may feel great guilt and doubts…then there is the dimension of Faith which tells us that we are sinners but that God’s Mercy is far greater than any sin any human being could ever commit, no matter how serious. No matter how constantantly repeated!
Success is a gift of The Lord…it is ours to labour and pray hopefully for the gift of success. We need to be able to leave the reasons why perhaps The Lord does not grant us success as Mystery. “My ways are not your ways, nor your thoughts, my thoughts”

While I know everyone sins, what if one repeats certain sins over and over. I am truly remorseful and try to be pure. But at times I relapse and commit the same sins again. I have been to confession and tried to keep pure but it is difficult.

You are fighting probably the same battle that most of us are fighting. Going to Confession with the same sins over and over again. And as much, if it was in our power, we would love to overcome those sins, we just don’t seem to be able. Probably even Father who hears our Confession is waging that same battle which goes on lifelong on some level or other. St Paul shares with us “why is it that it is the very things I have made my mind up not to do, that I find myself doing?”. Even St. Paul had the same problem!

It’s like I don’t want to be a hypocrite but when I say my act of contrition in confession I intend to be pure but seem to fail often.

As I said, that same battle we are all fighting on some level or other.

I know while being Catholic and practicing the faith is a wonderful gift, it can also be difficult at times a burden , if one truly examines their conscience. It is a constant battle to work for ones salvation.

If I am striving to be sinless and expect to effect it, then I am in for a shock. If I am striving to be under God’s Mercy despite all my sins and failings, then I am in for a great surprise and a happy one. We all will enter Heaven not through our own merits, but through the Mercy of God
to which we have appealled lifelong. This Mercy will grant us righteousness and salvation as a free and undeserved gift. And “free and underserved” means what they state!

Maybe its just the way it is. Am I being to hard on myself or maybe being a bit scrupulous?

Never be hard on yourself, for The Lord treats us all with great concern, understanding and gentleness - qualities of Mercy…should I do other than with myself?..and indeed with others. Scrupulosity is to imagine sins where there is none - to imagine my faults and failings are sins. For any thought, word or deed to be sinful I need to be conscious that it is sinful and perform it anyway. To fight against one’s particular sins will reduce the seriousness of them.

I constantly say the Jesus prayer (an Eastern prayer which I like) to remind me to ask the Lord for mercy.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner

Great habit! This will lead you to the harbor of Peace and Mercy…“come to me all ye who labour and I will give you rest”.
Our faults and failings and our sins constantly remind us of who we are and this can be a real step towards true humility…and knowing who I am, my reliance is on God’s Mercy. This I can praise and thank endlessly simply because I appeal and need it endlessly. Hence all our faults and failings, our sinfulness and continual striving even in constant failure, has a happy side. It will lead to true humility if I never despair of battles - and battles lost perhaps…and hence to praise and proclaim, thank, God’s Endless Faithful Mercy.

We need never fear - ever - of presuming on God’s Mercy if Love is the driving force in our lives and Love of God will drive us to strive against sin …and in failure, to never despair. Love will drive us to offer to The Lord the very best we can including in repentance.

Blessings and regards…Barb