This is how im feeling

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pwlj_christ87

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hey guys hopefully as some of you noticed i have been pretty active on this site for a while and I am a devout catholic… but this is how i am feeling lately,

im having this strong desire to not go to church as often, i dont know why that is… im backsliding for some reason… i sometimes feel im overly religious… sometimes i get lonely because ive lost many friends because of my faith… its a long hard journey, and i would like some direction from you all

alot of my friends i dont hang out with anymore because they swear, dont go to church, party alot etc. (is it bad to avoid them)
 
i feel frustrated with habitual sin and it makes me think that living the catholic life is impossible… all which i know is not true… i lack friends, i dont know where im going with this… just facing a tough hurdle
 
pwlj_christ87,
Sin is our plight. God’s mercy is our freedom.
You can never be “overly religious”. Overly demanding of yourself, maybe.
Can I be your friend?
:console:
 
sure you can be my friend,

i know of the freedom you speak of… i am over demanding… when i get right with god i buy a million books and expect myself to be so righteous if thats the right word…

should i pace myself?
 
Many of us struggle with the ups and downs of our faith life which for me generally manifests itself by missing Mass. If you were to go back and look at the threads posted here just this week alone you will see several people who feel similarly to what you have posted. The best way for me to stay healthy in my spiritual life is to feed my soul with everything that helps me stay strong and avoid that which drags me away, people included. Try hard to continue to go to Mass and practice your faith even when you don’t feel like it and you will find that these periods gradually come less and less as you grow older. I will pray for you to be sustained through this time with the knowledge that God is always there waiting patiently for you!

Memorare

REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
 
Yeah, I could have been quite popular actually,
if I would have followed the crowd.
Thing was, I’m pro-life …
the crowd, not so much.
So you’re not alone.
And I encourage you to keep
putting God first.

:blessyou:
 
thank you, i have had enough and i am going to have a great god filled weekend… no more of this battle, christ is with me, you are right i need to get back to mass… i am fed up and its because this filth and satan is making me this way
 
i think this is one of those situations where certain aspects of my life are coming together… sadly with tears of repentance but i need to admit im weak… that is my biggest problem that i think im something im not… and it is a huge weight to carry to feel that you are invincible… i need to be sinless with humility and leaning on the LORD… i want to be a child of God again
 
pwlj_christ87 said:
i think this is one of those situations where certain aspects of my life are coming together… sadly with tears of repentance but i need to admit im weak… that is my biggest problem that i think im something im not… and it is a huge weight to carry to feel that you are invincible… i need to be sinless with humility and leaning on the LORD… i want to be a child of God again
Click to expand...
G. K. Chesterton, in his book, ‘Orthodoxy’, replied to a friend who remarked that an acquaintance of theirs would go far because “he believed in himself”.
Chesterton said that " believing in himself" might, quite possibly, be his downfall. 😃
God bless you.
 
It sounds as if the devil is attacking you because you are so devout. Stay strong, my friend! I’ll be praying for you!!
 
Hang in there. Those of us who are really trying to live the faith do understand what you are going through. I have been dismissed by family in the past as a fanatic, I have had “friends” fade from my life due to my faith, known public humiliation, slandered; you name it. It is part of the price of our faith.

Remember you are not alone, though you may have little direct contact with anyone who believes. Sometimes we are on our own in our journey, and other times God will provide someone to join us. But He never deserts us. Use this time to grow closer to Him with a little extra prayer every day, or reading about some of the Saints.

I think you are wise to not hang around with others who may be leading less spiritually sound lives. You need to keep up your efforts to know God better. Maybe some volunteer work at a hospital, animal shelter or your parish will help boost your efforts.
 
pwlj_christ87 said:
i feel frustrated with habitual sin and it makes me think that living the catholic life is impossible… all which i know is not true… i lack friends, i dont know where im going with this… just facing a tough hurdle
Click to expand...
Living the Catholic life PERFECTLY is impossible, but you are only considering one aspect of that life- sin. You are leaving out the source for our hope- God’s gift of mercy. We can never be “good enough” to merit or earn heaven. But. we can be assured that we can be saved through God’s all-encompassing Love.

We all reach times when we feel doubt. It is at thise times that our faith is being tested. Continue to go to Mass, pray, read the Scriptures, and attend devotions, even if it feels mechanical. Don’t give in to those feelings.

If your faith life has become mechanical change things up a bit. Instead of your normal activities, volunteer at a food bank, help out at your church, select different prayers that you don’t know “by heart” which will help your focus.

One of the greatest books I have ever read on the subject is the collection of Blessed Mother Teresa’s letters. It is called Come Be My Light!

amazon.com/Mother-Teresa-Private-Writings-Calcutta/dp/0307589234

Unknown to almost anyone during her life she went through “the dark night of the soul” for the entire time of her publuc ministry. She felt the “absence” of God (Not actual, part of her suffering) after previously enjoying an incredibly intimate relationship in which He communicated directly with her. Despite this, she kept her ministry, prayed, and smiled bringing enormous joy and help to everyone.
**Eventually, Mother Teresa grew accustomed to her condition and wrote: “I do not know how deeper will this trial go—how much pain and suffering it will bring to me. This does not worry me any more. I leave this to Him as I leave everything else.”
Click to expand...
Despite her loss of interior solace: “…there is such a deep loneliness in my heart that I cannot express it…” She wrote: “I want it to be like this for as long as he wants it.”**
Click to expand...
If this modern saint suffered such a trial, so will we. Pray that she will inercede for you and gain courage, increased faith, and blessed hope from the Holy Spirit.

O Holy Spirit,
descend plentifully into my heart.
Enlighten the dark corners
of this neglected dwelling
and scatter there
Thy cheerful beams.

–Saint Augustine
 
Cricket2 said:
Hang in there. Those of us who are really trying to live the faith do understand what you are going through. I have been dismissed by family in the past as a fanatic, I have had “friends” fade from my life due to my faith, known public humiliation, slandered; you name it. It is part of the price of our faith.

Remember you are not alone, though you may have little direct contact with anyone who believes. Sometimes we are on our own in our journey, and other times God will provide someone to join us. But He never deserts us. Use this time to grow closer to Him with a little extra prayer every day, or reading about some of the Saints.

I think you are wise to not hang around with others who may be leading less spiritually sound lives. You need to keep up your efforts to know God better. Maybe some volunteer work at a hospital, animal shelter or your parish will help boost your efforts.
Click to expand...
Very good response! 👍
 
pwlj_christ87 said:
hey guys hopefully as some of you noticed i have been pretty active on this site for a while and I am a devout catholic… but this is how i am feeling lately,

im having this strong desire to not go to church as often, i dont know why that is… im backsliding for some reason… i sometimes feel im overly religious… sometimes i get lonely because ive lost many friends because of my faith… its a long hard journey, and i would like some direction from you all

alot of my friends i dont hang out with anymore because they swear, dont go to church, party alot etc. (is it bad to avoid them)
Click to expand...
Praying to the Holy Spirit to give you guidance, direction, strength & fortitude back to the Church.
 
Cricket2 said:
Hang in there. Those of us who are really trying to live the faith do understand what you are going through. I have been dismissed by family in the past as a fanatic, I have had “friends” fade from my life due to my faith, known public humiliation, slandered; you name it. It is part of the price of our faith.

Remember you are not alone, though you may have little direct contact with anyone who believes. Sometimes we are on our own in our journey, and other times God will provide someone to join us. But He never deserts us. Use this time to grow closer to Him with a little extra prayer every day, or reading about some of the Saints.

I think you are wise to not hang around with others who may be leading less spiritually sound lives. You need to keep up your efforts to know God better. Maybe some volunteer work at a hospital, animal shelter or your parish will help boost your efforts.
Click to expand...
Like SnowAngels, I also think this is an excellent response! 🙂

…
 
chefmomster2 said:
Living the Catholic life PERFECTLY is impossible, but you are only considering one aspect of that life- sin. You are leaving out the source for our hope- God’s gift of mercy. We can never be “good enough” to merit or earn heaven. But. we can be assured that we can be saved through God’s all-encompassing Love.

We all reach times when we feel doubt. It is at thise times that our faith is being tested. Continue to go to Mass, pray, read the Scriptures, and attend devotions, even if it feels mechanical. Don’t give in to those feelings.

If your faith life has become mechanical change things up a bit. Instead of your normal activities, volunteer at a food bank, help out at your church, select different prayers that you don’t know “by heart” which will help your focus.

One of the greatest books I have ever read on the subject is the collection of Blessed Mother Teresa’s letters. It is called Come Be My Light!

amazon.com/Mother-Teresa-Private-Writings-Calcutta/dp/0307589234

Unknown to almost anyone during her life she went through “the dark night of the soul” for the entire time of her publuc ministry. She felt the “absence” of God (Not actual, part of her suffering) after previously enjoying an incredibly intimate relationship in which He communicated directly with her. Despite this, she kept her ministry, prayed, and smiled bringing enormous joy and help to everyone.

If this modern saint suffered such a trial, so will we. Pray that she will inercede for you and gain courage, increased faith, and blessed hope from the Holy Spirit.
Click to expand...
Great post!
And it makes you take a second look about how Mother Teresa
said that the worst poverty was the spiritual poverty
of feeling lonely, unwanted, unloved.

…
 
well i went for a bike ride and set my mind free so to speak, looking back there is only one way for me and that is the life of the church, i have come to realize that otherwise is nothing but destruction sadness and complete cut off from God…

my problem is that i have to start finding God “cool”… i love god, i think all the time and pray all the time at work in my heart etc. but sometimes when you think God you dont think cool… sometimes when i think Church, only old people come to mind… but… your responses have been graces in themselve,s and at this point i am alone… but i look forward to graces
 
pwlj_christ87 said:
well i went for a bike ride and set my mind free so to speak, looking back there is only one way for me and that is the life of the church, i have come to realize that otherwise is nothing but destruction sadness and complete cut off from God…

my problem is that i have to start finding God “cool”… i love god, i think all the time and pray all the time at work in my heart etc. but sometimes when you think God you dont think cool… sometimes when i think Church, only old people come to mind… but… your responses have been graces in themselve,s and at this point i am alone… but i look forward to graces
Click to expand...
:hey_bud: Just what’s wrong with old people?! 😃
And God is as “cool” as it gets. :cool:
Have a good one.
 
pwlj_christ87 said:
well i went for a bike ride and set my mind free so to speak, looking back there is only one way for me and that is the life of the church, i have come to realize that otherwise is nothing but destruction sadness and complete cut off from God…

my problem is that i have to start finding God “cool”… i love god, i think all the time and pray all the time at work in my heart etc. but sometimes when you think God you dont think cool… sometimes when i think Church, only old people come to mind… but… your responses have been graces in themselve,s and at this point i am alone… but i look forward to graces
Click to expand...
It is good to hear you went for a bike ride. Physical exorcise can be our miracle wand at times.
God made us both body and soul. Even tho we need to control our body and its appetites, non the less God did give us one, and we need to pay attention to it and give it what it needs.

Exorcise and good food are two things that help us feel alert and good.

And then there is also a good hobby that gets our mind refreshed to handle the harder things we need to deal with. Like a rubber band, we need to let go once in a while and relieve the pressure.
This is always to improve ourselves so we are in condition and to prepare ourselves for doing God’s will.

The library is a gold mine for finding interesting books to lose ourselves for a while.

May God bless and keep you. May God’s face shine on you. May God be kind to you and give you peace.
 
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