The morality of giving up giving up

[McatholicN]

First, I’d like to give a little background.

In 6th grade I started taking my faith more seriously which led to severe scrupulisiosity, which unfortunately comes very natural to me. It’s a different kind of scrupulisiosity. I feel a crippling need to constantly on my knees praying, fasting and enduring suffering, doing works (picking up trash, evangelizing, etc.) along with moral scrupulisiosity. I felt heavy guilt any time I had any kind of worldly pleasure. I can’t help feeling as if I’m called to live this way.

That went on for over a year, and I got help from my parish priest who emphasized overcoming compulsion. I got over it over time. I just got confirmed and it’s coming back strong. I don’t know if I’ll be able to seek out much help this time.

I was just wondering if it would be okay if I give up sacrificing pleasures for a year or so to get away from this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[FidesSpesCarita]

First, I’d like to give a little background.

In 6th grade I started taking my faith more seriously which led to severe scrupulisiosity, which unfortunately comes very natural to me. It’s a different kind of scrupulisiosity. I feel a crippling need to constantly on my knees praying, fasting and enduring suffering, doing works (picking up trash, evangelizing, etc.) along with moral scrupulisiosity. I felt heavy guilt any time I had any kind of worldly pleasure. I can’t help feeling as if I’m called to live this way.

That went on for over a year, and I got help from my parish priest who emphasized overcoming compulsion. I got over it over time. I just got confirmed and it’s coming back strong. I don’t know if I’ll be able to seek out much help this time.

I was just wondering if it would be okay if I give up sacrificing pleasures for a year or so to get away from this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

The point of “giving up” things, IMHO, is to do that for God. If your scrupulosity drives you away from God, then by all means give up giving up. But do it for God.

Again, just MHO

FSC

 

[IntegraCatholic]

I would like to give you advice about this in particular, but the only advice I think I can unequivocally give is to find a spiritual director who is remarkable for his personal holiness but above all for his knowledge in guiding souls. All of the saints assume this as a terminus a quo for any sort of interior life or growth in virtue. You are certainly at an age now, I would say, where this would be more beneficial than ever. I very much hope you will be able to find such a priest. I can recommend from personal experience both the priests of the Fraternity of St. Peter and Institute of Christ the King as being the most qualified, though even in these two communities, not all of the priests are necessarily qualified for such an important duty. I would be happy to help you with any other questions you may have via private message, and I promise you my prayers for this cross in your life. God bless.