What's the point of being a practicing Catholic as a 20-something, esp men?

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Estevao

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I could make a long post cataloging all the trials and curious predicaments that go along with being a young person and a practicing Catholic who is 100% faithful to the Magisterium, (particularly for the odd case such as myself, who is an atheist convert with no Catholic family to speak of, which goes contrary to the way that the faith is normally passed on through family, schooling and tight-night communities) but really, I’ll just get down to it and you can guess what I mean by that:

Why shouldn’t I just live as a practical atheist for the next 10 years?

Odds are I won’t die before I’m 35, and I’ve got an eternity to get closer to God anyways. It just seems it would be a lot easier to be a practical atheist, in employment, dating, socializing, sex, than it is for someone such as myself, an atheist convert with no Catholic family or circle of friends (which usually form in elementary school anyway).

I guess I’ve found it difficult and not tried, but just for a while.

But then again, so have about 99% of other people my age according to this book, summarized in the video below:
amazon.com/gp/product/B00HWWPAXG
youtube.com/watch?v=myGzvGCgnsc

Thoughts?
 
If you are Catholic because you love God, then you live to please Him because you love Him.

If you are Catholic because you think it is the best way into heaven, and your desire is heaven rather than God, I guess you could take that risk. Remember, though, that it IS a risk. First, the risk you already stated, that you could die before developing a relationship with God. Second, the more a person lives a lifestyle away from God, the more difficult it is to turn back to God. We tend to find it easier and easier to continue the path we are walking. If a person decides to live a life they think they would enjoy better because they don’t expect to die soon, they are already turning from God.

Life a life away from God for 10 years, and when you reach 35 you could easily find yourself saying, “What are the odds I will die before I’m 45? I’ll just wait 10 more years.”

Mostly, though, it’s about loving God. To love Him brings a desire to serve Him. To decide to live a life away from God indicates lack of love for Him.
 
Well… for one thing you would not even be a “atheist” Assuming you are a Baptized Catholic, you would just be living a secular lifestyle and you would be a Apostate Catholic. Friend, you don’t play with God. If you believe in him, you do not play with him… That is what the situation you described would be. You cant “trick” God.

Yes, chances are you will not die before 35. But, you would have to live with the memories of all the wrong you did while living a secular life. Imagine 10 years worth of fornication… Now imagine trying to be faithful and not dwell on those thoughts as a practicing Catholic should not… It would be torturous. I still struggle with fighting off the thoughts of every impure thing I have ever did with a woman before Baptism, and a couple times after Baptism… It is terrible and I wish I never did them so I would not have those memories stuck in my head.

I know it is rough to be faithful to our Lord and our vows at Baptism, but He is our Father and we are his Children. Better to suffer for the faith in this life, then to take the easy way and suffer for it in the next life. Don’t you think? That is the way I see it for myself. I get tempted to just be secular sometimes. It would be easier. But I took my Baptism vows seriously. God bless brother.
 
To live according to your own worldly desires ignoring God’s will out of free choice and expect God to save you only when you decide is the sin of presumption.
It is a sin against the First Commandment to love God above all

vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a1.htm

2092 There are two kinds of presumption. Either man presumes upon his own capacities, (hoping to be able to save himself without help from on high), or he presumes upon God’s almighty power or his mercy (hoping to obtain his forgiveness without conversion and glory without merit).

It is the case that death can come suddenly and unexpectedly.
You can presume that you have a long time to live. You can easily be wrong about that. Accidents and unexpected illness…you cannot be certain that someone won’t drive out of a side-street and kill you etc.

In Luke 12: 16-20, Jesus said:
‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”
But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”
 
Hi Estevao,
Your thread reminds me of Saint Augustine wanting the Lord to make him holy, but not quite yet.🙂
It seems to me that the sooner you start working on your relationship with God the further you will get if you keep at it.
Try not to be too hard on yourself. Remember that great saints such as Mother Theresa, Saint Augustine and Saint John of the Cross has challenges as they worked to build their relationship with our Lord.
You can offer up your struggles for the sake of many needy souls.🙂
May you receive the Holy Spirit’s gift of fortitude and persevere through the trials of life and may Our Lord bless you and keep you.
Amen.
 
Hey Estevao, as you might remember, I’ve been living as an agnostic since that girl broke up with me last year.

I can tell you that it doesn’t really make a difference in your everyday mood whether you go to church or not. You’re still the same person regardless, with the same struggles.

The only difference being, you no longer need to feel guilty about sex, drugs, and partying. (laughs)

You should do what you’re happier doing.
 
“Do not, I implore you, delay your conversion to God, for you know not the day appointed to carry you off.
You tell me that God has given His grace to be converted to some when they have reached to extreme old age.
Does it follow from this that He will grant you the same favor?
Perhaps He will grant it to me. Why add perhaps?
Because it has sometimes happened. What!
Does the question of your salvation depend on a perhaps?”
(St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church)
 
Thanks for the replies folks, this is probably the 3rd time that this forum has helped me out in a tough time while I’ve been here. Hopefully it won’t happen much more.
CaliLobo said:
Hey Estevao, as you might remember, I’ve been living as an agnostic since that girl broke up with me last year.

I can tell you that it doesn’t really make a difference in your everyday mood whether you go to church or not. You’re still the same person regardless, with the same struggles.

The only difference being, you no longer need to feel guilty about sex, drugs, and partying. (laughs)

You should do what you’re happier doing.
Click to expand...
Hey man I remember you. I like your posting style despite our differences in beliefs. Honestly I’m more happy being Catholic, nothing beats Sunday mass with a clean conscience. It would be better if there were some more devout young people around though to go to pancake brunch with though.
 
Estevao said:
Thanks for the replies folks, this is probably the 3rd time that this forum has helped me out in a tough time while I’ve been here. Hopefully it won’t happen much more.
Honestly I’m more happy being Catholic, nothing beats Sunday mass with a clean conscience. It would be better if there were some more devout young people around though to go to pancake brunch with though.
Click to expand...
It can be hard to soldier on ahead in the church militant without the encouragement and support of others. May Our Lady watch over you.
Are there other parishes in your area which might have a young adult group or a theology on Tap?
Any FSSP parishes with large families and priest led formation? You might find also that there are some older adults with whom you have much in common who will make good friends and mentors.
Are there ways to be active in local parish communities which might help you to form friendships as you continue to grow in faith?
May God bless you and your family.
jt
 
Estevao said:
I could make a long post cataloging all the trials and curious predicaments that go along with being a young person and a practicing Catholic who is 100% faithful to the Magisterium, (particularly for the odd case such as myself, who is an atheist convert with no Catholic family to speak of, which goes contrary to the way that the faith is normally passed on through family, schooling and tight-night communities) but really, I’ll just get down to it and you can guess what I mean by that:

Why shouldn’t I just live as a practical atheist for the next 10 years?

Odds are I won’t die before I’m 35, and I’ve got an eternity to get closer to God anyways. It just seems it would be a lot easier to be a practical atheist, in employment, dating, socializing, sex, than it is for someone such as myself, an atheist convert with no Catholic family or circle of friends (which usually form in elementary school anyway).

I guess I’ve found it difficult and not tried, but just for a while.

But then again, so have about 99% of other people my age according to this book, summarized in the video below:
amazon.com/gp/product/B00HWWPAXG
youtube.com/watch?v=myGzvGCgnsc

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
It is easy to become entrenched in sinful ways and then find it very difficult to love God again, and so have no salvation. Secondly, the state of the person in heaven varies depending upon merit, so then even if one reestablishes a state of grace and final repentance, this degree of merit will be lessened.
 
I know how you feel. It’s the pull of the world. It’s nothing more than temptation to jump on the secular bandwagon.

There’s this idea that you can be a “good person” without being particularly virtuous. Imagine someone saying, though- “I can be healthy and still have fast food every day. I’ll just stop before my arteries are too clogged.” Sure, you could count on an emergency bypass later, but it really isn’t worth it. You’ll be happy you stayed true later.

It’s not just being Catholic that’s hard anymore- it’s just living a decently moral life. Better to go all the way and stay true than to clog your spiritual arteries with all the junk out there!
 
What’s the point of being a practicing Catholic? I think that you answered your own question: a clear conscience. Even if you attempt to modify your beliefs to accommodate what you know to be sinful behavior, in the recesses of your conscience you still know that it is wrong. Sooner or later this will cause you great distress. When you get to be my age, you will undoubtedly have learned this from experience.
 
You are obviously a gambling man and your “gamble” may allow you a few pleasures that are out of bounds for a practising catholic- illicit drugs; complete sexual freedom without love; ignoring the plight of others whilst you look after yourself, greed, selfishness. Lucky devil!

But if you have ever read the picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde you may realise there is a price. You change, you become hard where you should be soft, soft where you should be hard.
And for what? So many people out there are so happy, right? Watch them live their sad little lives squandering their birthright. You eventually wake up with the pigs.
So you win the “gamble” and return to the Father. We don’t gamble with the love of those we want in this life. You return, not as a man of honour; not a man who carries himself well holding his own self respect. But as a beggar, with nothing to offer the glory of your Father, but a gamble that he will take you back. He may lovingly do so. But does He return your honour? Does he endower you with the self-respect that you lost so many years ago? Only you can find that. Do you win with forgiveness His respect? No, you have to earn that.
You don’t gamble with the love of God.
From your posts I know you believe this too. You are just challenging the sacrifice. But you won’t take up the gamble, will you? You will plod on, out of step with the world like the rest of us, earning the wage, saving, till we can buy the plot where is buried the pearl of great price. You are a wise man.
 
The replies you have received are full of excellent encouragement to continue the path of a faithful Catholic and I would like to add just one more thought. If you could possibly surround yourself with others who share this journey you would find it a lot easier to do so. There are many, many young people out there who are practicing Catholics and spending time with each other, dating each other will help you stay the course and enjoy doing so. I will pray for you to find your way.

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.
 
CaliLobo said:
Hey Estevao, as you might remember, I’ve been living as an agnostic since that girl broke up with me last year.

I can tell you that it doesn’t really make a difference in your everyday mood whether you go to church or not. You’re still the same person regardless, with the same struggles.

The only difference being, you no longer need to feel guilty about sex, drugs, and partying. (laughs)

You should do what you’re happier doing.
Click to expand...
Dangerous advice CaliLobo. You may be able to convince yourself that you do not "feel " guilty about sex, drugs and partying etc. but the fact remains that you ARE guilty in the eyes of God. Even more so when you know the truth but reject it. Being lukewarm about God and religion was never pleasing to Christ. No one ever said that it was easy to follow Christ. In fact it is very hard at times. But it is what we must do even when faith eludes us for a period of time. That is where Trust in Christ comes in. Keep the faith even when you feel alone by attending Mass. Better yet try to find others to help you along in your faith. Join Catholic young adult groups, attend Theology on Tap lectures, join the Knights of Columbus, join Catholic Match to find a truly Catholic girlfriend. Check your archdiocese website for other activities. Be pro-active and start your own Catholic meet up groups! Volunteer! It is easy to become defeated but when that happens Satan is delighted with your despair. Don’t give up because there are others in the same situation as you and they may benefit from your efforts to bring people together. God has a job for you.
 
If you are a Catholic, were called to the faith, accepted the faith etc, then I don’t think it would be easier to live as an Atheist or what you refer to as the secular life style. It’s hard to live a sham for any length of time and I believe it eats at the soul.

My understanding is that all are sinners and no one perfectly follows the teachings of the church, so you would not be alone if you chose to live a life that was not spot on with Church teachings.

In the end I think it’s always better to live one’s faith.
 
Estevao said:
I could make a long post cataloging all the trials and curious predicaments that go along with being a young person and a practicing Catholic who is 100% faithful to the Magisterium, (particularly for the odd case such as myself, who is an atheist convert with no Catholic family to speak of, which goes contrary to the way that the faith is normally passed on through family, schooling and tight-night communities) but really, I’ll just get down to it and you can guess what I mean by that:

Why shouldn’t I just live as a practical atheist for the next 10 years?

Odds are I won’t die before I’m 35, and I’ve got an eternity to get closer to God anyways. It just seems it would be a lot easier to be a practical atheist, in employment, dating, socializing, sex, than it is for someone such as myself, an atheist convert with no Catholic family or circle of friends (which usually form in elementary school anyway).

I guess I’ve found it difficult and not tried, but just for a while.

But then again, so have about 99% of other people my age according to this book, summarized in the video below:
amazon.com/gp/product/B00HWWPAXG
youtube.com/watch?v=myGzvGCgnsc

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Firstly, while admittedly your odds are good of living 10 more years, I know of many young people who died suddenly and unexpectedly. Is it worth the gamble?

The second reason is that practicing your Catholic faith should not be just a matter of getting a toe hold into salvation before you die–as, for one reason, you will still owe atonement for any sin you committed, even if at the end you got the time factor to make a good confession and receive the Last Sacraments–again, no guarantee!. Knowing and believing as you say you do and still living an unholy life, makes you more guilty than someone who just doesn’t know!

Lastly, living a good Catholic life is less about us than our love for Jesus and our Father. If you–just as an example–went to a bar, picked up a girl and had sex with her, would you do so if Jesus were in the room watching you? Because quite simply, He is! We practice our faith out of love for our gracious, kind and caring God–not just so when we die, we can fall short of going to hell!
 
Indulgence in sin does not lead to happiness, but to emptiness, since sin is the opposite of what we were created for. Moreover, the more we cast Jesus aside and pursue things which are deadly to our souls, the more difficult it will be to ever return to Him. To live in darkness is to develop an aversion to light.

Don’t presume to think that you may do as you please because you are guaranteed such and such an amount of time on earth. Likewise, don’t assume that this or that activity is utterly pleasurable without any real consequence, and, come what way, you will always be able to master your weaknesses. “When I’m ready” may be a state you eventually arrive at, but it may be beyond your strength to be able to do the things you’re “ready” for.

Following Christ is like doing anything else worthwhile: finding the laziest and most cowardly ways to accomplish something will only lead you to becoming a failure and a loser.
 
Estevao said:
I could make a long post cataloging all the trials and curious predicaments that go along with being a young person and a practicing Catholic who is 100% faithful to the Magisterium, (particularly for the odd case such as myself, who is an atheist convert with no Catholic family to speak of, which goes contrary to the way that the faith is normally passed on through family, schooling and tight-night communities) but really, I’ll just get down to it and you can guess what I mean by that:

Why shouldn’t I just live as a practical atheist for the next 10 years?

Odds are I won’t die before I’m 35, and I’ve got an eternity to get closer to God anyways. It just seems it would be a lot easier to be a practical atheist, in employment, dating, socializing, sex, than it is for someone such as myself, an atheist convert with no Catholic family or circle of friends (which usually form in elementary school anyway).

I guess I’ve found it difficult and not tried, but just for a while.

But then again, so have about 99% of other people my age according to this book, summarized in the video below:
amazon.com/gp/product/B00HWWPAXG
youtube.com/watch?v=myGzvGCgnsc

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Yes, it can be hard at times. But let’s focus in on the actual question: “Why shouldn’t I just live as a practical atheist for the next 10 years?”

The answer is because of that word “should.” You might be able to do this and avoid hell, although that is not guaranteed, but “avoiding hell” is not the definition of should. You should do what is right, and you should not do what is wrong. That is what “should” means. Sinning because it’s easier and because we hope we might be able to stop later (“I can stop any time I want” sound familiar, by the way? It’s not always so easy as that) in time to avoid hell is wrong, by definition of “sinning”. Do what is right because it is right.
 
CaliLobo said:
I can tell you that it doesn’t really make a difference in your everyday mood whether you go to church or not. You’re still the same person regardless, with the same struggles.

The only difference being, you no longer need to feel guilty about sex, drugs, and partying. (laughs)
Click to expand...
Ah! But if someone isn’t living their faith, but outwardly professes it, then they’re merely being a hypocrite. Such a hypocrite, of course, will not “feel” different once they stop going to Church altogether. They may even feel better. After all, they’ve decided to follow their own desires rather than what they pretended to believe, and therefore, cognitive dissonance has certainly eased.

It is one thing to indulge in sex, drugs, and parties, and to then lie to yourself that you think such things are moral evils that are destructive to a serious Christian life. It is another thing to take your faith and yourself seriously enough to distance yourself from passions and intellectually and spiritually examine the Church and its truth claims, “holding fast to that which is good.” The former category is shallow and easily influenced. The latter is serious, and is rewarded with the sort of “feelings” the former category thinks is impossible in “organized religion” as opposed to “real life.”

Not taking a medicine, or only taking it on rare occasions and without following other rules of health, does not prove the medicine is worthless.
 
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