What if i choose to live a non catholic life?

  • Thread starter Thread starter pwlj_christ87
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

pwlj_christ87

Guest
i am fully aware of the precepts of the church, and what catholicism requires in terms of going to the sacraments, and such. i studied the bible and the catechism for a very long time and became involved in the church, my question is, what if i chose to ignore the church for the rest of my life, be a “believer” but simply not attend mass, and not go to the sacraments when needed? it sounds terrible which is why i probably will not stray, but would i be in fear of condemnation at death

jay
 
I can’t comment on the question of condemnation at death — it’s above my pay grade — but you would be missing out on many of the benefits prior to death.
 
pwlj_christ87 said:
i am fully aware of the precepts of the church, and what catholicism requires in terms of going to the sacraments, and such. i studied the bible and the catechism for a very long time and became involved in the church, my question is, what if i chose to ignore the church for the rest of my life, be a “believer” but simply not attend mass, and not go to the sacraments when needed? it sounds terrible which is why i probably will not stray, but would i be in fear of condemnation at death

jay
Click to expand...
Depends on your motivation surely?WHY?

I have spent literally years living in isolated places with no physical access to the sacraments etc etc etc. And now my illness, with immune system down, and other aspects, means I do not go to mass…

In these years, I have learned that the church is surely the earthly physical manifestation of the love of God in Jesus Christ.

If you cannot access church then He will fill that space.

So now I am planning and hoping to return to physical isolation but God will be with me as my earthly life winds slowly down, in Silence and Solitude and Persevering Prayer with the work of my hands feeding the hungry and clothing the naked.

If you are planning an act of isolationist rebellion? Shunning? Living a busy life out there in the world?

Different kettle of fish altogether my friend! Please explain;or is this just a theoretical theological exercise?
 
Isn’t it written in Scripture, “To whom much is given, much will be expected?”
I would think long and hard before I turned my back on Christ in the Eucharist.

Long and hard.
 
pwlj_christ87 said:
i am fully aware of the precepts of the church, and what catholicism requires in terms of going to the sacraments, and such. i studied the bible and the catechism for a very long time and became involved in the church, my question is, what if i chose to ignore the church for the rest of my life, be a “believer” but simply not attend mass, and not go to the sacraments when needed? it sounds terrible which is why i probably will not stray, but would i be in fear of condemnation at death

jay
Click to expand...
I guess then that you would choose to be on your own.

This world is a dangerous place.

Why would anyone choose to cut himself or herself off from the church established by Jesus Himself.

The Catholic Church has had its ups and downs, but has been a continuous force for good for 2000 years.

Why deny yourself those benefits.

I have friends who have said “well, the Church changed the translation a couple of years ago … or the Church criticized a movie about wizards.”

But minor word changes didn’t change the essentials. And some simple entertainment may not have been worth wasting a homily.

Read the prayers in the back of the missalette in the pew in church.

These are prayers that go back many centuries.

Subscribe to one of the monthly Mass text magazines.
 
pwlj_christ87 said:
i am fully aware of the precepts of the church, and what catholicism requires in terms of going to the sacraments, and such. i studied the bible and the catechism for a very long time and became involved in the church, my question is, what if i chose to ignore the church for the rest of my life, be a “believer” but simply not attend mass, and not go to the sacraments when needed? it sounds terrible which is why i probably will not stray, but would i be in fear of condemnation at death

jay
Click to expand...
What is your heart of hearts telling you? I am guessing a very different story. Jesus gave us His church and His sacraments to follow…it’s up to us if we want to listen and be soldiers of Christ.
Being a “believer” isn’t enough to secure eternal life and I think you already know this. Like I said Christ left us His church and His church is the way to heaven.
 
pwlj_christ87 said:
i am fully aware of the precepts of the church, and what catholicism requires in terms of going to the sacraments, and such. i studied the bible and the catechism for a very long time and became involved in the church, my question is, what if i chose to ignore the church for the rest of my life, be a “believer” but simply not attend mass, and not go to the sacraments when needed? it sounds terrible which is why i probably will not stray, but would i be in fear of condemnation at death

jay
Click to expand...
On an objective level, you would be committing a mortal sin every time you chose to skip mass, and ignored the precepts for reception of the sacraments. Since you fully understand that this would be wrong, then you would be placing your soul in grave peril, and based on everything that has been revealed to us through Christ’s Church you would almost certainly wind up in Hell.

It’s true that we cannot judge your heart on these matters, only God can do that; but we can certainly look of the objective reality of what you’re proposing, and that consists of a knowing and willful abandonment of Christ’s Church and teaching, which is basically the easiest way to send yourself to Hell.

I encourage you to reconsider this path and remain steadfast to the Faith and the Sacraments our Lord left us. He died for our sins, to reopen the gates of Heaven and grant us access to the wonders of an eternal loving God. He physically comes to us every day during the mass, and allows us to consume His flesh for our sanctification. The least we can do is give him some of our time and live as He has asked us to. If we do that, it can only lead us to peace.
 
Rosebud77 said:
Depends on your motivation surely?WHY?

I have spent literally years living in isolated places with no physical access to the sacraments etc etc etc. And now my illness, with immune system down, and other aspects, means I do not go to mass…

In these years, I have learned that the church is surely the earthly physical manifestation of the love of God in Jesus Christ.

If you cannot access church then He will fill that space.

So now I am planning and hoping to return to physical isolation but God will be with me as my earthly life winds slowly down, in Silence and Solitude and Persevering Prayer with the work of my hands feeding the hungry and clothing the naked.

If you are planning an act of isolationist rebellion? Shunning? Living a busy life out there in the world?

Different kettle of fish altogether my friend! Please explain;or is this just a theoretical theological exercise?
Click to expand...
Surely you are not saying that making crafts or donating to the poor is a good substitute for Mass? :confused: If one can go to market, one can go to Mass I would think, easily enough. 🤷
 
pwlj_christ87 said:
i am fully aware of the precepts of the church, and what catholicism requires in terms of going to the sacraments, and such. i studied the bible and the catechism for a very long time and became involved in the church, my question is, what if i chose to ignore the church for the rest of my life, be a “believer” but simply not attend mass, and not go to the sacraments when needed? it sounds terrible which is why i probably will not stray, but would i be in fear of condemnation at death

jay
Click to expand...
In Jesus and his Church is true life. What your asking is can a person knowingly walk away from that life and still be a “believer”?

Sounds like trying going to your doctor and asking - hey I know what is needed for biological life - but can I like stop eating food and stop drinking water and taking care of myself and still be alive?

What do you think the doctor will say?

Invite you to ask for the grace of a more filial love and less servile love based more on fear - come to know Jesus Christ more deeply - come to know more deeply his love for you and more deeply the realities of the Sacraments and the of the Church.

In Jesus and his Church is true life.
 
“I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day.”

~ Pope Francis (The Joy of the Gospel)

“Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.”

~ Pope Benedict XVI Deus Caritas Est

“Faith opens us to knowing and welcoming the real identity of Jesus, his newness and oneness, his word, as a source of life, in order to live a personal relationship with him. Knowledge of the faith grows, it grows with the desire to find the way and in the end it is a gift of God who does not reveal himself to us as an abstract thing without a face or a name, because faith responds to a Person who wants to enter into a relationship of deep love with us and to involve our whole life.”

~ Pope Benedict XVI (Sunday, 14 August 2011)
 
Actually, on reflection, your post brings up kind of a “pet peeve” of mine.
Many students (and their parents even) think that Church is for when you really need God…only when you have a problem, you need a “favor” or a blessing, or an excuse for a party after your Sacraments…I could go on and on. 😦

I wish people would come to know that when we worship in community, when we give God His due, when we come to visit Christ Jesus in His earthly home…that it’s not only something we do for ourselves, we do it for love of Him.
If one can say they are a believer, and they love God, one would certainly have to participate in the Sacramental and ministerial life of the Church.

One doesn’t show a kindness to their spouse only on their anniversary, or when they need an errand run, or when they are sick.
It’s all day, 24-7, 365.

Actively loving becomes your life.
 
pianistclare said:
Actually, on reflection, your post brings up kind of a “pet peeve” of mine.
Many students (and their parents even) think that Church is for when you really need God…only when you have a problem, you need a “favor” or a blessing, or an excuse for a party after your Sacraments…I could go on and on. 😦

I wish people would come to know that when we worship in community, when we give God His due, when we come to visit Christ Jesus in His earthly home…that it’s not only something we do for ourselves, we do it for love of Him.
If one can say they are a believer, and they love God, one would certainly have to participate in the Sacramental and ministerial life of the Church.

One doesn’t show a kindness to their spouse only on their anniversary, or when they need an errand run, or when they are sick.
It’s all day, 24-7, 365.

Actively loving becomes your life.
Click to expand...
What a great post! It is so very right and true!
 
Deliberately ignoring what the Church and most importantly what God expects of you is sinful. For example, missing your Mass obligation on a Sunday without a legitimate reason is a mortal sin. If you live outside of the US where eating meat on Friday is banned for Friday penance and eat meat, it is also a mortal sin.

And without the sacraments of the Eucharist, reconciliation and regular prayer you will really start to go downhill become lukewarm and lose the Catholic faith.

The Church teaches if you die with one unrepented mortal sin you will go to hell. I’m not the decider on this one however, cmon, you don’t want to risk that right? 😃

Just pray the rosary everyday to give you strength, increase your faith, go to Mass etc. and most importantly speak to your priest if you need some help!!! 👍
 
pianistclare said:
One doesn’t show a kindness to their spouse only on their anniversary, or when they need an errand run, or when they are sick. It’s all day, 24-7, 365. Actively loving becomes your life.
Click to expand...
I’m married and I am usually the one to run errands when I’m sick.
I don’t know if this is bad luck or what but I usually get burned by hypocrites safely protected by organized religion so much that it impacts my credibility with my children.
I can’t cover up in front of them all the hurt I received (the last one being physically attacked by a nun where I was teaching in music school run by a famous Catholic order 11 years ago, after which was fired) and make credible excuses for these abusers. In other words, telling my kids, it’s not the Church but those who work the system.
Although the school is one of the nastiest places I have ever worked in, it enjoys an international sterling reputation to the extent it attracts money big time.
I pray EVERY DAY for their fakery and downright lies to be confounded.
Having been involved with them as an adult was a chance for me to pick up the threads of a Catholic upbringing, thinking that things would be better, but turned out worse than ever. The Catholic branch of my family similarly is hypocritical and also abusive.
I lived a non Catholic life from adolescence, drifting into Protestantism that never really fit. I had great hopes for my coming back but these were dashed to the ground.
There are credible reasons why good and honest people leave the Church.
I prefer though to take the higher moral ground and point out that those who abuse their authority are not doing what they should, in fact, are on a very low rung of the ladder.
I don’t think Jesus would approve of them as much as he did the Pharasees of old.
 
zamyrabyrd said:
I’m married and I am usually the one to run errands when I’m sick.
I don’t know if this is bad luck or what but I usually get burned by hypocrites safely protected by organized religion so much that it impacts my credibility with my children.
I can’t cover up in front of them all the hurt I received (the last one being physically attacked by a nun where I was teaching in music school run by a famous Catholic order 11 years ago, after which was fired) and make credible excuses for these abusers. In other words, telling my kids, it’s not the Church but those who work the system.
Although the school is one of the nastiest places I have ever worked in, it enjoys an international sterling reputation to the extent it attracts money big time.
I pray EVERY DAY for their fakery and downright lies to be confounded.
Having been involved with them as an adult was a chance for me to pick up the threads of a Catholic upbringing, thinking that things would be better, but turned out worse than ever. The Catholic branch of my family similarly is hypocritical and also abusive.
I lived a non Catholic life from adolescence, drifting into Protestantism that never really fit. I had great hopes for my coming back but these were dashed to the ground.
There are credible reasons why good and honest people leave the Church.
I prefer though to take the higher moral ground and point out that those who abuse their authority are not doing what they should, in fact, are on a very low rung of the ladder.
I don’t think Jesus would approve of them as much as he did the Pharasees of old.
Click to expand...
Blessings and thanks for this heartfelt and sincere post

This is what so many here in ireland know and endure. I touch it but rarely; often deeply thankful for my illness that limits my active physical involvement with the Church and indeed with the world as I age.

Our life in Christ is more than active involvement with the Church. Far more …

There is Prayer. Solitaries are specialists in prayer, as were the Desert Fathers

I honour your perseverance and courage. Bless you! Here for you,
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top