Today I decided I will no longer identify as Catholic

[Annie]

When I read your post yesterday, I thought about what St John of the Cross (iirc) said about spiritual experiences, which is to kind of ignore them, because they are not a main part of following Christ.

I also thought of St Louis de Montfort, a priest who was in trouble with Church authorities for several years.

Most of what you experience is not out of line with Church teaching. I remember when acupuncture was considered akin to magic, (among medical professionals), and now it is quite respectable, so I wouldn’t worry too much about the chakras (as far as I know!!!).

The experiences of reincarnation could easily be not of yourself in a previous life but of others which you are permitted to sense or something along those lines.

Nowadays priests are so overwhelmed with so much that it is hard for them to be spiritual directors as well. It is very hard to find a priest who is experienced enough in that area to be able to help someone having experiences like yours. It’s like going to an electronics expert when you have questions about your car, iyswim.

If I were you, I would live more in accord with the Church, especially attending Mass insofar as you are able at this time. Accept but do not seek out these experiences, thank God for them when they happen, and never treat them as more than a sort of sideline, definitely not the main focus.

One day you may be able to find someone to discuss these experiences with.

In the meantime, discuss these experiences with God and ask for His advice. It will come, perhaps not in the way or form you expect.

 

[Nononony]

Living a fully Catholic life means you did reject reincarnation and all the other new age stuff.
Why cant you reject it again now?

Thank you for showing me how to do this. I was baptized at birth, so I see it as my parent’s rejection and not really mine. But I do see what you’re saying. I started talking about it at a very young age, probably as young as I could talk. Certainly freaked my parents out. We’d argue about it when I was five. And we’d argue about other aspects of the church as well. The same aspects that are being discussed today.

I’m not just accepting chakras and the like, I KNOW they’re a thing and have since I was born. The only way I have to explain it is that you have this beautiful faith in Catholicism where you just KNOW (my assumption.) that it is the realest most pure form of anything. That’s faith. It’s blind and wonderful.

That is how I was born about these aspects of my life. KNOWING it. Usually when I say this people they will try to tell me that I was exposed to it somehow and I just think I was born this way. It is highly unlikely as I was an only child at home with my very Catholic mother until I was in school. The mother who would argue with me and tell me these things weren’t real.

But they are.

Then I was in Catholic schools. As a second grader I tried to memorize things for tests and I’d be doing “weird things.” When questioned, I’d respond that in order to remember it forever I had to get it into the brain under my brain. As an adult I realize I was talking about my subconscious mind, but that certainly wasn’t something I was exposed to in my home or at school. And it wasn’t a case of my friends telling me about it because I’d try to talk to them about it and they’d be like, “what are you talking about? You’re weird.” And because I was weird, I wasn’t allowed to watch much television because they were afraid it would make me weirder.

And in a way, this whole thread is probably just an extension of those childhood arguments. All of you fine folks represent my parents. Whom I continue to argue with. When really, I should just go off and be who I am.

The theory is that if I put the Catholic Church aside as an adult when my parents are no longer around to tell me I am terrible for being who I am, I might be able to rest for a bit and then explore the option of full communion as an autonomous adult. Fully realizing that would be a gift from God.

I realize from reading what I’ve written this could simply boil down to the sin of pride. And believe me when I say I’ve wrestled with the sin of pride. However, when you add in the nuance of my existence I would hope that God would see that this isn’t abandonment but an attempt to clear the path to finding the truth if I’m wrong. It simply can’t be done any other way… and since it is difficult to make this decision, how do we know this isn’t the narrow rocky path and that I’m not on it barefoot? (Not a challenge, more of a musing.)

Either way, thanks for reading all of that, “mom.”

 

[LeonardoArruda]

Can someone please tell me how to reply and get the gray highlighted text? I can’t figure it out, try as I might… thank you.

sure, just hold your mouse button on the text you want to reply and it will turn blue, then the option to “reply” will apear, just click it and it will automatically open the reply-thingy you want.

It makes me really sad that you want to leave, i did not read your other post but i want you to know that everyone is welcome in the Church, no exception, whatever your problem is, think about the possibility of the problem not being the Church but some specific priest, or the problem migth be you, think about what kind of acceptance you want and reflect if there isnt something narcissistic going on.

 

[Nononony]

You said “it seems” which implies that all possibilities have not been explored.

I used the word “seems” as a verbal cushion. I’ve learned that, when broaching this subject, it is best to imply that I realize it’s possible that it’s not real because to do otherwise kills all hope for actual conversation. I know it’s real.

I didn’t respond because the thread was closed before I woke up the next morning, but I did read it. I’ve read abut charisms before and am open to this possibility. In fact, they are so congruent they’re essentially the same thing in my mind.

Yes, I am willing to give up the Sacraments. My reasoning can be found in my response to umamibella if you would like to read it. It’s just very long, so I don’t have time to write it all out again. But it’s all there. It is a hopeful sacrifice.

Thank you.

 

[Nononony]

Thank you Leonardo! You are very kind. But then I didn’t use what you taught me… ha! I will.

 

[Nononony]

Most of what you experience is not out of line with Church teaching. I remember when acupuncture was considered akin to magic, (among medical professionals), and now it is quite respectable, so I wouldn’t worry too much about the chakras (as far as I know!!!).

Thank you, Annie. Yes, this is how I feel about chakras. That they’re real and created by God but as a people we just don’t know it yet.

I wouldn’t say this is the main focus of my life, just the main focus of this topic that we’re on today. I mean, it is a big part of my life, but faith issues are a big part of life for anyone who has faith in anything. You’ve given very good advice, thank you.

 

[Nononony]

@Nononony, the majority of the time, when people make claims like yours, it because of some mental illness or quirk of their psychology. I’m not saying it’s not possible that you are having genuine supernatural experiences, but you can’t really blame people for going with the most likely explanation.

It does seem a bit like you’re peeved that you’re not widely recognized as “special.”

Thank you for your insight.

 

[Nononony]

Limoncello4021:

The OP is announcing he’s leaving the church founded by Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, because no one on earth regards him as “special.”

Yeah. OP, please prayerfully consider whether this is an issue of the sin of pride.

It should not be important to you whether other people think you are “special”.

Ridicule is never a beautiful reflection of anyone —neither he who ridicules nor he who is ridiculed. It is and often-thrown, but seldom a productive stone to choose. However if, in this case, you are living out God’s will, thank you for the kind gesture. We can’t know.

I do address my sin of pride in a comment to umamibella. You can read it if you wish.

 

[Margaret_Ann]

(post removed by author)

 

[Margaret_Ann]

@Nononony, to add what @umamibella posted:

Whoever told you all your wordly battles will go away is dreaming. There will always be something. Even for the greatest saint.

St. Francis de Sales says that we will not be free of certain faults until 15 minutes before death. You, me and all of us can’t do this without the grace of God and the strength He gives us through the sacraments. Trust me, I thought I could do it without God. However, to paraphrase Churchill, it took a lot of prayer, blood, sweat and tears to learn:

John 15: 5: I am the vine: you the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.

And the other side of the coin:

Philippians 4: 13: I can do all these things in him who strengtheneth me.

As Our Lord told St. Catherine of Siena:

“Daughter, thou art she who is not. I am He Who Is.”

Today is the Feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. He lost his head for speaking the truth. May he intercede for you and all of us.

 

[Nononony]

The OP is announcing he’s leaving the church founded by Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, because no one on earth regards him as “special.” Ok then. I suspect you will realize your error in due time. In the meantime, I have said a prayer for you.

Thank you for your prayer and loving response.

 

[Nononony]

Thank you!

 

[umamibella]

Either way, thanks for reading all of that, “mom.”

I am not your parent.

When we are truly following God, He comes first and we put self , ourselves , last.

I was baptized at birth, so I see it as my parent’s rejection and not really mine

You are an adult, it is your responsibility whether you reject Catholicism or not.

 

[Nononony]

Thank you for your kind words, Justin_Mary!

 

[Nononony]

I am not your parent.

Yes, I know. It was just a joke. My knowledge of you not being my parent, but me speaking to you as if you were was the punchline. It is hard to convey these things via text and I had to delete many characters because my post was too long to begin with, so apparently the meaning was lost. That’s what the emoji was for but sometimes they don’t accomplish all we hope for either. Sorry for the confusion or if I offended.

 

[MarkRome]

St. John Vianney, pray for Nononony.

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

Thank you for your insight.

Don’t take it the wrong way. I’m not saying “you’re crazy.” I’m just saying that when someone makes the claims you’re making, usually it’s something in their own head and not an external spiritual cause. Given that that is by far the more common situation, you can’t really be annoyed at people, Catholic or otherwise, for thinking along those lines.

 

[Nononony]

You are an adult, it is your responsibility whether you reject Catholicism or not.

Yes. Thank you. I do take full responsibility. This is part of the process.

I want to fully communicate that I, in no way, take our conversation as a way to put responsibility on you or anyone else. I have chosen. I will face the consequences. I take full responsibility. If I am putting myself before God I will eventually see that and face the consequences. I do not see it now. Now I see it as the path.

Thank you for your concern.

 

[Nononony]

Don’t take it the wrong way. I’m not saying “you’re crazy.” I’m just saying that when someone makes the claims you’re making, usually it’s something in their own head and not an external spiritual cause. Given that that is by far the more common situation, you can’t really be annoyed at people, Catholic or otherwise, for thinking along those lines.

Yes, I agree with you. It is a natural response and the safest as well. I do understand why it happens, and have even had the same reaction to other people talking about it! So, I’m not annoyed with the “people” who do it as much as I am by the existence of the situation. The situation is a difficulty which I am slowly and faithfully working on. It doesn’t even make sense to me, so I never expect it to make sense to others, but there are times when the frustration of the reality hit critical mass. This is just one of those times as I am making a choice. It will all be ok. Thank you!

 

[Margaret_Ann]

I am not your parent.

Yes, I know. It was just a joke. My knowledge of you not being my parent, but me speaking to you as if you were was the punchline. It is hard to convey these things via text and I had to delete many characters because my post was too long to begin with, so apparently the meaning was lost. That’s what the emoji was for but sometimes they don’t accomplish all we hope for either. Sorry for the confusion or if I offended.
[/quote]

Yet ~ 15 minutes ago you posted:

[/quote] Ridicule is never a beautiful reflection of anyone —neither he who ridicules nor he who is ridiculed. It is and often-thrown, but seldom a productive stone to choose. However if, in this case, you are living out God’s will, thank you for the kind gesture. We can’t know.

I do address my sin of pride in a comment to umamibella. You can read it if you wish."
[/quote]

Please be careful what you post.

Also, in a previous post you stated that you are “willing to give up the Sacraments”. I’m sorry but that makes me boiling mad. Tell that to the people whose churches are closed because of the crisis. Tell that to the sick and dying who want to make their peace with God and receive Him one last time. There are a lot of people who would give their right arm just to be able to go to church, let alone receiving the Sacraments. I only got to church 3 times - on Pascha/Easter and 2x more - before our Archeparchy opened up our churches again. I was all alone and afraid that I’d die without the Sacraments. Now our parishes are open and we follow the guidelines.

I have to stop and calm down before I post something I’ll regret.