Today I decided I will no longer identify as Catholic

[Annie]

I have chosen.

So many people have done the right thing in staying in the Church, because this is the way mandated by Jesus Himself.

I feel like there is an idea in our society that if one feels comfortable, one is doing the right thing, but a lot of times, we must be uncomfortable.

Doing the right thing so often leads to different feelings of discomfort, from other people if we are truly doing the right thing. And yet, we should put Jesus, Who suffered and died for us, in the primary place in our lives, and not allow the discomfort induced by other people to sway us (which is very hard to do!!!).

So I hope you will prayerfully reconsider your decision.

 

[umamibella]

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.

Ok, read back this entire thread and the other.
Ask , are you discussing what you want, what you want to hold onto,
OR
are you discussing what God wants.
What does God want you to do to grow into spiritual maturity?
So many of us go through the new age phase , and other phases in the search for God.

Ever had Communion? That right there is God. Nothing else needed, how much more supernatural can it ever get then that.

God is mercy,

 

[Nononony]

Yet ~ 15 minutes ago you posted:

"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."

I am very sorry if you see my joke about my inner workings as ridicule. I was laughing at myself because I found myself in a situation with a stranger on the internet where I realized that, on a psychological level, I was arguing with my mother. And that is is kind of absurd. I was not laughing at you or my mother. I was laughing at myself and the situation. It was purely laughter at myself. Not you. I am very sorry if I offended, and I hope I was able to explain myself in the aftermath. I guess in my mind it is ok to self-ridicule, but not to do it to others. I am very sorry, if I had known this would be the the outcome I would have chosen different words.

I am very sorry that I’ve made you boiling mad. I hope you feel safe and get what you need.

 

[umamibella]

@Margaret_Ann I think you misquoted me.

I have only been able to attend mass twice since March. We are only allowed streamed mass. No Confession since March either.
One day things will be normal again.

 

[Margaret_Ann]

I was trying to get 3 quotes in one reply. If you look at my post I also quoted the OP’s reply to you. I’ll try to fix it so it looks right.

 

[Nononony]

@Margaret_Ann I think you misquoted me

Hi all, I’m very confused that the moment… I’m not sure who I made boiling mad. These forums are still confusing to me. I’m still very sorry I made someone boiling mad.

 

[Margaret_Ann]

I’m the one that’s boiling mad, and what makes me is that you’re willing to give up the Sacraments when so many people would willingly do anything to get to confession and Holy Communion, especially the sick and dying.

 

[Margaret_Ann]

I quoted your comment “I am not your parent.” It doesn’t look right but I’m trying to fix it. ( your posts, btw. You are much more charitable than me.)

 

[umamibella]

Thanks , no worries if you cant. The stuff I had to give up for God was vety challenging at times but well worth it.

I have really just started to realise how much I miss Mass

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I’m not seeing any ridicule on this thread. It seems like you interpret disagreement, or a suggestion that you take a step back and look at what you’re doing in relation to God’s teachings, as ridicule.
It also seems from all your posts that you’re basically looking for Catholics to affirm your views and sympathize with you.

I don’t think you’re on the right path here and I don’t want to be wimpy about saying that.

Again, good luck to you. I am muting this thread now because I don’t think it’s productive to give this any more attention other than saying a prayer for you.

 

[Nononony]

I’m the one that’s boiling mad, and what makes me is that you’re willing to give up the Sacraments when so many people would willingly do anything to get to confession and Holy Communion, especially the sick and dying.

Thank you. I am less confused now. I didn’t mean to offend, though I see that I did. I agree with the admin dude who says this is growing unproductive. I don’t even know if you’ll see this response because I’m not sure what muting does.

I admire your passion and dedication. Hopefully someday I will think as you do. I’m not sure what else I can say. Just that I did not mean to offend. Have a good day.

 

[Margaret_Ann]

I know how you feel. The worst thing about lockdown was not being able to go to Liturgy. Now that I’m able to attend Liturgy again I’m much happier.

What is your first name so I can burn a candle for you in church?

 

[Nononony]

I’m not seeing any ridicule on this thread. It seems like you interpret disagreement, or a suggestion that you take a step back and look at what you’re doing in relation to God’s teachings, as ridicule.
It also seems from all your posts that you’re basically looking for Catholics to affirm your views and sympathize with you.

I don’t think you’re on the right path here and I don’t want to be wimpy about saying that.

Again, good luck to you. I am muting this thread now because I don’t think it’s productive to give this any more attention other than saying a prayer for you.

You may be right. I may be finding ridicule where there is none. I appreciate that you would be caring enough to solidly state your stance to me. I know it is out of love.

Though my decision is solidly made, perhaps it is temporary. I can’t predict what God will do in my life.

Thanks to everyone who provided links, there are many I will be exploring. After I’ve made a note of them all I will likely delete this post and the original and I do not want it to cause unintentional harm to others.

 

[Margaret_Ann]

There’s a link at the bottom of my OP re the Feast:

Aug. 29th Feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist Eastern Catholicism

A blessed Feast of St. John the Baptist to all! [ef62dd2cb8c0a8b1f73a416122967f35] Excerpt from Great Vespers: O John the Baptizer and preacher of repentance,* you sanctified the earth when you were beheaded.* You made plain to believers the law of God,* abolishing disobedience to the law.* Therefore, since you stand by the throne of Christ the heavenly King,* beseech Him to have mercy on our souls.

St. John the Baptist was beheaded because he spoke the truth (c.f. Mark 6: 14-30). Everyone here is trying to help you. It’s lunch time now and I have to get ready for Liturgy. What is your first name so I can pray for you?

 

[Nononony]

St. John the Baptist was beheaded because he spoke the truth (c.f. Mark 6: 14-30). Everyone here is trying to help you. It’s lunch time now and I have to get ready for Liturgy. What is your first name so I can pray for you?

Thank you for this comment, I’m sure I’ll be hunting down links for a while as this got quite long and there were many I found compelling and now I already have one.

My name is Dan.

 

[OddBird]

I have lived a fully Catholic life in the past. I did all of the things you suggested. I rejected, rejected, rejected. Begged for it to go away. This was still my experience. And it continued to develop in breadth and depth of experience. There is always the assumption that I “use” these things for “power” or somehow seek them out. I don’t “use” the chakras. They just do their thing. Not “using” them would be impossible, like not breathing. They’re a natural a part of my existence, like speaking a language. I didn’t seek it out. It simply happens.

You’ve received plenty of good advice already, @Nononony.

I’ll just add that : I think part of the issue is a question of interpretation – how do you interpret all these phenomena you’re experiencing ? It seems (forgive me if I’m wrong) that you more or less take them at face value. But a good part of Christian spiritual tradition warns against taking visions and such at face value, because they can be deceptive, even if we’re persuaded they’re good. Our tradition encourages trying to make sense of them inside a tried and true interpretative framework.

That’s not a pronouncement on whether what you’re experiencing is good or not, God-given or not. I just think it’s not the best idea to ditch the framework of the Church which will help you sift through all that – which, I think, is the only one that may give you a sure assessment of your situation. Put in other words, I believe you won’t see clearly into your own situation unless you wear the interpretative glasses of the Church.

But maybe the main issue is whether or not you’re willing to go through that sifting process at all.

 

[Nononony]

St Louis de Montfort

Hi, thank you for your response. I will be deleting the post after I retrieve all the links, but I see I didn’t respond and I wanted to. This was food for thought. Thanks!

 

[Dan_Defender]

Hope you will reconsider. I’m also not sure why it’s so important that you get some kind of affirmation from other Catholics about your choices in life. If you truly think in good conscience you can carry on like you’re doing then it should be between you and God, not you and God and other Catholics.

I second this. The saints we know of who had supernatural gifts were not announcing them or seeking validation, on the contrary out of humility would keep to themselves and only exercise the gift when it was for the good of others. Some good must come out of every gift of God. For the OP to seek the status of ‘special’ by others is in itself, a red flag IMO.

 

[Vico]

Vico:

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.

I did not see a reasoning there but no matter.

Well, I too have had profound spiritual experiences, even since I was an infant (and I was baptized at about three months), but they are not something that I discuss with people, however I have mentioned them a few times.

I realize that no person can be absolutely certain of salvation, but there could be reasonably certain of it. Just the act of not remaining in communion with the Catholic Church for one baptized into it, is reason enough to doubt salvation, but even if restored before death, there can be no merit accumulated without a state of sanctifying grace, and that is what will increase the degree of Beautific Vision later in heaven. So I learned that one that seeks the short term desires, may foreit the goods in the long term.

 

[Nononony]

Hi OddBird -

Yes, I use the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes and many of the thing I learned in Catholic school as the framework for my daily life. I have also read The Discernment of Spirits as a guide.

I do understand the problem lies with me. It is my responsibility to figure out what I am doing wrong and right it. I am seeking God in the way that I can, though I understand it seems I am abandoning Him. Try as I might, I have never been able to articulate what I mean by that and it always causes problems, like it has this morning.

If you have a book I could read beyond Discernment of Spirits I would be willing to hear about it, but I will also be deleting this thread soon, so thank you either way!