Spiritually Confused

[Holly3278]

Holly, are you constantly ‘trying’? If you’re always thinking “I cannot do this, I cannot think that, it is sinful,” then you miss out on the joy of being Catholic, and the peace of Christ.

If this is what you’re doing, and you find you’re happier as a ‘liberal’ because you can just do whatever you want, then perhaps an adjustment is in order. Don’t think about what you can’t do, often (as was in my case) about things that don’t even really effect what you’re doing right now. Instead practice short prayers, like “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you! Save Souls!” and just the Sign of the Cross, without an additional prayer afterwards.

Be orthodox, not ‘conservative’ or ‘liberal’. Those are too limiting, as, if we’re honest, we have policies in our church that are in both ‘camps’.

I’d also suggest staying away from debates about moral issues for a while. Just take comfort in your relationship with Our Lord and Lady. Don’t be on the forefront of the battle, in other words.

I’ll pray for you as well. God be with you.

Thanks Rawb. I will consider your helpful advice.

 

[PraRFLEsEkHm]

Hi everyone. I am spiritually confused right now. I want to be a faithful Catholic because I know it is the true faith and I am afraid of Hell. However, I want to be a liberal in a way because I want to satisfy my best friend, Darrell. He would be happy with me either way but he wants me to be happy and he thinks that I am the happiest when I am a liberal. Which that is sort of true. I feel restricted and judged when I am Catholic. I hate feeling that way but I honestly feel that way. I don’t know why but I do. I need some serious prayers everyone. I want to be happy in the Catholic faith, not fearful. What should I do? Please pray for me.

Hi Holly

IMO, you feel happiest when you are thinking ‘liberal’, and feeling restricted and judged when following or thinking Orthodox - is because the the evil one - who is called the accuser - is accusing you, constantly, of all the sin in your life, both real and imagined…the large sin and the tiny. He is happy and quiet when you stray from the True Church, and down on you when you desire to follow Christ.

The Holy Spirit also shows us our sins, and the pitfalls of the world - but the Holy Spirit will never be oppressive. He is the still small voice within us that warns but never judges. It is our conscience that sends us to confession true - but when we are in a state of grace the Loving Wise Holy Spirit does not make us feel guilt, He only guides…and He guides us into all Truth.

Mother Church - who is Christ Jesus, is here to guide us to heaven. All of the teachings of the Church are Truth, and the Truth cannot be diluted. If the Truth is diluted - it is no longer Truth - but a mixture. It may be easier to swallow - but water mixed with poison, is still poison. If you drink it long enough - you will die.

Please keep in mind the words of Jesus - “He who is not with me is against me” - and - “He who does not gather, scatters”. Even the most well meaning person, if they aren’t telling you the Truth you need to hear, is leading you astray.

I went through many of the same problems you are concerning guilt and feeling overwhelmed by my sinfulness. That too is a trap of evil. The only sins you need to be constantly on guard for are the Mortal sins. The rest will not condemn you, but the Mortal ones will. Once you have successfully overcome not committing Mortal sin, then you can begin to tackle evicting the venial sins. Our Blessed Virgin Mother helps you, in all things. She never ceases to obtain for us the Graces we need to overcome. Likewise God the Holy Spirit is always near, as is our Guardian Angel, waiting for us to ask so that He may give.

Our lives are all about struggle - Paul said “Let us run with patience the race set before us”. Taking on too much is overwhelming, because everything we do, everything around us, we ourselves - are sinful. We will never overcome everything - certainly not in one day, or even a lifetime. But run the race with patience, start with the worst of the sins in your life, and don’t worry about the rest. God will guide you, put your Faith in Him, first and always. He desires you to come live with Him, and He will see to it that you do - all you need to do is follow, and be not deceived.

Hope this makes some sense, and you are included in my Rosaries Our Lady is a most Powerful Advocate…if you don’t already - start praying Her Rosary. “It is a most effective tool against evil” (paraphrased) Our Pope John Paul II said.

Peace and Blessings

John

 

[kage_ar]

I was walking by a pond. In that pond, I saw a beautiful fish - how sad, that beautiful fish is judged and restricted to that tiny pond, he should be free in this world to go where he wants and do whatever he wishes!!! I scooped him out of that pond, and sat him free on the shore. He flopped around, and died.

Then I saw a train, it was sleek and silver and moving so fast - the saddest thing, it was bound in the legalism of a train track. This train cannot be happy, shackeled to such a repressive thing as a track. I took out my tools and I broke that track, and sat and watched as the train would break free from these bonds. The train left the track, it traveled in freedom for a bit, then, it crashed into twisted buring metal.

Freedom is not about lack of restraint, freedom comes from the liberty Christ and His Church.

 

[Holly3278]

I was walking by a pond. In that pond, I saw a beautiful fish - how sad, that beautiful fish is judged and restricted to that tiny pond, he should be free in this world to go where he wants and do whatever he wishes!!! I scooped him out of that pond, and sat him free on the shore. He flopped around, and died.

Then I saw a train, it was sleek and silver and moving so fast - the saddest thing, it was bound in the legalism of a train track. This train cannot be happy, shackeled to such a repressive thing as a track. I took out my tools and I broke that track, and sat and watched as the train would break free from these bonds. The train left the track, it traveled in freedom for a bit, then, it crashed into twisted buring metal.

Freedom is not about lack of restraint, freedom comes from the liberty Christ and His Church.

Hmmm, I like your analogies. Thank you.

 

[AveSantaMaria]

*God and the Blessed Virgin Mary love you very much Holly and are always willing to forgive you for all of your sins. Thank you for coming to this forum to seek help and encouragement. And kaga_er - What great metaphors!!

For wisdom in decision-making (discernment) and strength against falling again and again into mortal sin, why don’t you make a daily practice of saying the rosary every day? One mystery out of the 4 mysteries is only 20 minutes and even the smallest Hail Mary helps Reading St. Maximilian Maria’s biography, or the Secret of the Rosary and True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort might even convince you to say the whole thing daily (all the mysteries) because of how enormously powerful the rosary is as a prayer after the Eucharist. The blessed mother is the one who crushes the devil with her foot after all.*

For courage in the hardships of life
“… a powerful means of renewing our courage will undoubtedly be found in the Holy Rosary…” – Pope Leo XIII

For final perseverance and decrease of sin, particularly mortal sin
"Those who say it fervently and frequently will gradually grow in grace and holiness and will enjoy the special protection of Our Lady and the abiding friendship of God.
“No one can live continually in sin and continue to say the Rosary–either he will give up sin or he will give up the Rosary.” – Bishop Hugh Boyle

As a powerful means of obtaining graces from God
“Among all the devotions approved by the Church none has been favored by so many miracles as the devotion of the Most Holy Rosary.” – Pope Pius IX

For success in one’s vocation in life
“I think that I did not miss a single day in reciting it, including the most terrible times of battle when I had no rest night or day. How often did I see her manifest intercession in the decisions which I made in choosing a precise tactic. Take, then, the advice of an old soldier seasoned by experience: Do not neglect the recitation of the Rosary for any reason.” – Marshal Foch, great military leader of W.W.I.

A means for preserving the home
There is no surer means of calling down God’s blessings upon the family…than the daily recitation of the Rosary." – Pope Piux XII

15 Promises Our Lady gave for praying the Most Holy Rosary

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve Me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise My special protection and the greatest graces to all who shall recite the Rosary
3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5. The soul which recommends itself to Me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
6. Whoever shall recit the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in his justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are faithful in reciting the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
9. I shall deliver from purgatory, those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of Me by the recitation of the Rosary.
12. All those who propagate the holy Rosary shall be aided by Me in their necessities.
13. I have obtained from My Divine Son, that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors, the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the Rosary are My sons, and brothers of My only son Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion to My Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

“The rosary is the weapon!” – St. Padre Pio

Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen

 

[Holly3278]

• For discernment and strength against falling again and again into mortal sin, why don’t you make a daily practice of saying the rosary every day? One mystery out of the 4 mysteries is only 20 minutes and even the smallest Hail Mary helps Reading St. Maximilian Maria’s biography, or the Secret of the Rosary and True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort might even convince you to say the whole thing daily because of how powerful the rosary is as a prayer after the Eucharist*

For courage in the hardships of life
“… a powerful means of renewing our courage will undoubtedly be found in the Holy Rosary…” – Pope Leo XIII

For final perseverance and decrease of sin, particularly mortal sin
"Those who say it fervently and frequently will gradually grow in grace and holiness and will enjoy the special protection of Our Lady and the abiding friendship of God.
“No one can live continually in sin and continue to say the Rosary–either he will give up sin or he will give up the Rosary.” – Bishop Hugh Boyle

As a powerful means of obtaining graces from God
“Among all the devotions approved by the Church none has been favored by so many miracles as the devotion of the Most Holy Rosary.” – Pope Pius IX

For success in one’s vocation in life
“I think that I did not miss a single day in reciting it, including the most terrible times of battle when I had no rest night or day. How often did I see her manifest intercession in the decisions which I made in choosing a precise tactic. Take, then, the advice of an old soldier seasoned by experience: Do not neglect the recitation of the Rosary for any reason.” – Marshal Foch, great military leader of W.W.I.

15 Promises Our Lady gave for praying the Most Holy Rosary

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve Me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise My special protection and the greatest graces to all who shall recite the Rosary
3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5. The soul which recommends itself to Me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
6. Whoever shall recit the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in his justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are faithful in reciting the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
9. I shall deliver from purgatory, those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of Me by the recitation of the Rosary.
12. All those who propagate the holy Rosary shall be aided by Me in their necessities.
13. I have obtained from My Divine Son, that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors, the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the Rosary are My sons, and brothers of My only son Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion to My Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

“The rosary is the weapon!” – St. Padre Pio

kaga_er - What great metaphors!!

Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen

Ok thanks! I will definitely try to start praying the rosary every day.

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

There really isn’t anything about being a liberal Catholic. Don’t be afraid of Hell; be hopeful for Heaven. You seem like a good person, so there should be little to no worry.

Just rely on your beliefs, whether they are based off of the Catholic Church or the bottom of your heart.

Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood

 

[AveSantaMaria]

Thank Jesus Christ and Blessed Virgin Mary!! I will pray for you right now that you will persist in pursuing God, prayer, and holiness. When you are tempted: Just say: Jesus, Mary help me!!

*Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. *

 

[Holly3278]

Thank Jesus Christ and Blessed Virgin Mary!! I will pray for you right now that you will persist in pursuing God, prayer, and holiness. When you are tempted: Just say: Jesus, Mary help me!!

*Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. *

Ok thank you AveSantaMaria.