Would it be bad to go gambling on Ash Wednesday?

[RoseMary131]

I said before that i feel i being moderate because im not blowing all my money and although i may go very often ,i set myself a particular amount and thats it

How many people drink one beer or a glass of wine each night at dinner,just because they drink everyday does that mean their an addict?

i may play everyday but with a small amount,

but i see gambling ruins lives and families and when i lose i feel i want to die and think about ending my life although i dont think i would do such a thing but i think of the possibilty of not stopping and in the long run things like this do become a reality

If it ruins and ends so many lives i dont get how the church says its ok to gamble ,which only makes me feel that its okay to go and play and that im not sinning

The Church sees drinking alcohol and playing games of gambling - as okay provided, they do not cause a problem. Thinking you want to die because you lost playing a slot machine… is a problem. Thinking you’d like to end your life because you lost a bit of money that you planned to waste in the gambling game … is a problem.

Someone drinking a glass of wine each night and going about their day in a normal fashion…is not a problem. So you can’t compare what you are doing with someone having a glass of wine and feeling normal afterwards.

Go to the support group - even if they are happy and laughing … maybe they will lift your spirit.

Discuss this problem with your priest. Maybe God is calling you to step away from gambling.

The games are designed for you to lose… their also designed to lure you in with promises of the occasional win… but the gaming/gambling company only survives by winning your money.

Peace… and have a beautiful day on Ash Wed without the dread and sadness that comes when you lose money gambling…

 

[Paul_theApostle]

The Church sees drinking alcohol and playing games of gambling - as okay provided, they do not cause a problem. Thinking you want to die because you lost playing a slot machine… is a problem. Thinking you’d like to end your life because you lost a bit of money that you planned to waste in the gambling game … is a problem.

Someone drinking a glass of wine each night and going about their day in a normal fashion…is not a problem. So you can’t compare what you are doing with someone having a glass of wine and feeling normal afterwards.

Go to the support group - even if they are happy and laughing … maybe they will lift your spirit.

Discuss this problem with your priest. Maybe God is calling you to step away from gambling.

The games are designed for you to lose… their also designed to lure you in with promises of the occasional win… but the gaming/gambling company only survives by winning your money.

Peace… and have a beautiful day on Ash Wed without the dread and sadness that comes when you lose money gambling…

I can see there is a problem with wanting to die afterwards,thats why i must be more cautious with this whole thing,and try to play less and less maybe stop altogether,life is too precious to throw it away over gambling,

the catechism mentions not to play and use our money playing so we cannot provide for our needs or families needs,so i thought if im just playing with limited money then it would be okay

maybe being a sore loser and wishing i was dead doesnt happen to every gambler i dont know

but i see problem gambling does lead to suicide alot,

i will pray harder about this and to improve my lifestyle

i may go to the groups soon again and hope i can be strong tommorow because its just that a bit of money is coming my way tommorow and thats why the temptation is there

Thank you very much
Peace

 

[RoseMary131]

I can see there is a problem with wanting to die afterwards,thats why i must be more cautious with this whole thing,and try to play less and less maybe stop altogether,life is too precious to throw it away over gambling,

the catechism mentions not to play and use our money playing so we cannot provide for our needs or families needs,so i thought if im just playing with limited money then it would be okay

maybe being a sore loser and wishing i was dead doesnt happen to every gambler i dont know

but i see problem gambling does lead to suicide alot,

i will pray harder about this and to improve my lifestyle

i may go to the groups soon again and hope i can be strong tommorow because its just that a bit of money is coming my way tommorow and thats why the temptation is there

Thank you very much
Peace

Don’t let the money coming your way drive you to gamble. If the money is an excess and you don’t need it… and you would like to “take a chance on losing it tomorrow” at the slot machines, make a better gamble… bet on using it for good. You will win… give a portion to a favorite charity … you can only win in that situation. At the gambling machine - the odds for you to lose are high. When you use your money to serve others, you win.

You can also take this money you would have gambled away and save it. It is very wise to save money.

Don’t let temptation to get that high that you crave from gambling take away your money or your enjoyment. You aren’t concern about the money the gambling takes from you, but you are missing the joy that losing takes from your life.

When you justify your gambling by the Catechism, then you are only fooling yourself, no one else. I know you are not a fool and you don’t really buy the idea that your gambling is justified because you aren’t spending “beyond your means.”

Your increase prayers and decision to go to the support group will be a special gift to yourself. Blessings in your new outlook and courage to continue when tough times come along.

 

[Kathrin]

Maybe think of Ash Wednesday as an opportunity to turn away from gambling and more toward God and spirituality. As they say in AA, one day at a time.

This is just a suggestion.
Try it for that one day and then maybe you can try further to get away from the addiction. Try to unite your suffering with Christ’s. When the urge to gamble comes, PRAY, remember Jesus’ fear before His death or remember how He was tempted by the devil in the desert… know that HE, Who can do all things, is RIGHT WITH YOU.

I am going through so many fears right now and for personal reasons I have been practically DREADING Ash Wednesday. I suffer froms evere scrupulosity from anxiety and there are so many things I could do wrong… I also need to remind myself that JESUS IS RIGHT WITH ME in all of this I will say a prayer for you, will you say one for me?

Kathrin:thumbsup:

p.s. and think of how wonderful you will feel at the end of the day if you manage to do this?

 

[Paul_theApostle]

and you don’t really buy the idea that your gambling is justified because you aren’t spending “beyond your means.”

.

well ive always thought it was justifiable because im not spending the money i use to survive or to care for my needs and blowing it gambling,only a part of my money i use to play

the catechism says its bad when we can longer care for our needs because of gambling but thats not whats happening

but it also says it can become an enslavement which im beggining to worry about now and before i never cared how bad i felt afterward because it wears off in a few hours

but thoughts of death are getting worse afterwards because i feel there is no purpose for my life and when you live for gambling and frequently lose you feel all is hopeless

anyhow…there is purpose in Christ and the kingdom come but i dont work at all and dont know what to do anymore because i lack the desire to do anything besides gamble lately

yes alot of money i dont gamble with i save up,so normally tommorows money would go in the savings but temptation to now use this money also has come upon me so i see the habit is growing

charity is a good idea thanks
Peace

 

[Paul_theApostle]

Maybe think of Ash Wednesday as an opportunity to turn away from gambling and more toward God and spirituality. As they say in AA, one day at a time.

This is just a suggestion.
Try it for that one day and then maybe you can try further to get away from the addiction. Try to unite your suffering with Christ’s. When the urge to gamble comes, PRAY, remember Jesus’ fear before His death or remember how He was tempted by the devil in the desert… know that HE, Who can do all things, is RIGHT WITH YOU.

I am going through so many fears right now and for personal reasons I have been practically DREADING Ash Wednesday. I suffer froms evere scrupulosity from anxiety and there are so many things I could do wrong… I also need to remind myself that JESUS IS RIGHT WITH ME in all of this I will say a prayer for you, will you say one for me?

Kathrin:thumbsup:

p.s. and think of how wonderful you will feel at the end of the day if you manage to do this?

I feel im dreading it too i dont know why maybe its the ashes or the self denial that we should do and then with this gambling thing

i will mention you when i do my chaplets

Peace

 

[Jennifoo]

I said before that i feel i being moderate because im not blowing all my money and although i may go very often ,i set myself a particular amount and thats it

How many people drink one beer or a glass of wine each night at dinner,just because they drink everyday does that mean their an addict?

i may play everyday but with a small amount,

Even though you’re not in so deep as to be ruining your finances doesn’t mean it’s not an addiction. If you feel compelled to gamble all the time, can’t stay away, feel that it’s monopolising your time, and are unhappy, then, yes, it has most likely become an addiction. You may want to speak with your pastor.Besides, there are far better ways to spend your money. Or save it for that matter. You may want to ask yourself if you’re giving enough to the poor and your parish.
Pray and ask for the help of the Holy Spirit and the Saints. Observe Lent in deep prayer and fasting-GIVE UP GAMBLING FOR LENT! Cold turkey! You’ll be so glad you did. The Lord will be your strength and sustain you. Trust in the Lord always.

 

[Paul_theApostle]

Even though you’re not in so deep as to be ruining your finances doesn’t mean it’s not an addiction. If you feel compelled to gamble all the time, can’t stay away, feel that it’s monopolising your time, and are unhappy, then, yes, it has most likely become an addiction. You may want to speak with your pastor.Besides, there are far better ways to spend your money. Or save it for that matter. You may want to ask yourself if you’re giving enough to the poor and your parish.
Pray and ask for the help of the Holy Spirit and the Saints. Observe Lent in deep prayer and fasting-GIVE UP GAMBLING FOR LENT! Cold turkey! You’ll be so glad you did. The Lord will be your strength and sustain you. Trust in the Lord always.

Since ive been gambling ive hardly given a dollar to the church or poor which i wasnt like this before

i need a deeper appreciation of lent thats for sure ,i tend to give up the struggle of fasting seasons before it even begins,i dont know why,maybe i think its all too hard,or that good things or blessings are not meant for me

i dont know what to say about stopping completely for lent

ive only missed a day or two here and there in 18 months of playing

it wouldnt be easy

i should try not to go as much as possible though i agree

Cheers God Bless

 

[Kathrin]

Is there a chance you can talk with your pastor/priest? Is there a priest you trust, somebody preferably who has experience with addictions and other struggling people… and definitely talk to Jesus. He loves you SO SO SO very much. SOOO VERY much mabye you probably can’t even imagine how much. He wants to very best for you and just LOVES you. He wants you to be ok. Maybe He is giving you this Lent as an opportunity?

I can imagine that “totally stopping” may sound too hard. As I said, don’t they say in Alcoholics Anonymous that they do it “one day at a time”, because otherwise it would feel so overwhelming?

Would you like to eventually stop?

You say before you used to donate to the church, but now hardly anymore… so you would agree not gambling might make you a better person?

As somebody who has struggled with an adiction before (anorexia, which is also a sort of addiction) I remember that the worst thing about giving up an addiction is the emptiness it threatens to leave behind… like “who am I without that”? So one important thing would be to focus on the positive you could do INSTEAD. Something new… and exciting new start… and here also our Faith comes in again, because with God there IS no emptiness or meanignlessness… even though sometimes for our human minds it might seem that way. Because there is ALWAYS a purpose to be found in every little thing. Every little opportunity we have to share some love with somebody else, say a nice word, have an encounter… every prayer we can say…

One idea for you might be to try to cut down on your gambling or if you can stop it ( please talk to your priest first to find out if just cutting down is ok, it is above me to say whether or not a little addictive gambling is a sin, plus whether or not it is at all POSSIBLE to just completely stop it…so talk to your confessor…) and put what you save aside (that is, the first money you would have put in) and then at the end of some time (Lent?) you take that money and do something GOOD with it, or give it to the church, knowing you did something WONDERFUL… you COULD try that just for one day on Ash Wednesday…

I am so worried I might have written something wrong, I am very torn between thinking I need to tell you to stop because it might be a) unhealthy and b) sinful (but I am not sure), and on the other side knowing just HOW HARD it is to leave an addiction even just for one single day… argh, I would really strongly suggest you talk to a priest, maybe you can do that today still, you could just go to the local parish and ask to talk to somebody… or go to a mass tonight or tomorrow morning if you have time and gently ask the priest afterward…? Kathrin I really feel for you right now

 

[TarkanAttila]

Since ive been gambling ive hardly given a dollar to the church or poor which i wasnt like this before

i need a deeper appreciation of lent thats for sure ,i tend to give up the struggle of fasting seasons before it even begins,i dont know why,maybe i think its all too hard,or that good things or blessings are not meant for me

i dont know what to say about stopping completely for lent

ive only missed a day or two here and there in 18 months of playing

it wouldnt be easy

i should try not to go as much as possible though i agree

Cheers God Bless

I’ve been reading (and skimming) over your posts, Paul. I’m kind of in the same boat, too, when it comes to the computer. Computer is my life. I don’t have a job. I go to school and while I have a 3.0 GPA, I really could do way better if I got off this thing. I rarely get more than 6 hours’ sleep a day because when I’m not sleeping, eating, at Mass, or at school, I’m on here. I earn about $1000 quarterly with school (grants, thank God for grants!), but it’s not enough. My mother and sister and I, we all need me to go out and get a job.

So I’m giving the computer up for Lent. All the games, only schoolwork and job searches. Nothing else. Instead, I’ll study the Bible and religious writings I printed off newadvent, and I’ll read Flannery O’ Connor and Chesterton and Lewis and Tolkien. Donate some blood. Find a job, maybe. I haven’t decided on anything, 'cept that I have plenty of other, better things I could be doing than being on this here computer. And the less I do on here, the less I’ll need it.

Same goes for gambling. I have unhappy, self-loathing, depressing thoughts when I’m on here way too long. The loneliness causes me to violate commandment number six after so long, time that would be better used sleeping. Maybe instead I could use that time to play MTG (a card game) with some guys I met at school. Much better.

All I’m saying is, if you think gambling might be monopolising your time, as someone said above, like I think computer is monopolising mine, might be time to find more productive interests. Easier said than done. No one likes change. I’m twisted inside at the thought of abandoning my computer. But I think it will be productive.

 

[Paul_theApostle]

Thanks very very much for both of your kindness and thoughts

Im really tired today and wont speak much ans maybe i will try to talk soon

Kathrin you say nothing wrong and your posts are very nice and pleasant

and Tarkin thanks for sharing your problem,i spend daytime on the forum also but i am thankful i have this at least to communicate with other people and catholics

i do of course know and feel i should do other things but its not easy to change lifestyle with this habit i have and i have a sore back also which i had to stop my job and i think i am a big procrastinator when it comes to getting out looking for work or even voluntry work

i havnt been seeing my pastor much lately but am waiting to get to him at some stage when i can

I do plan on cutting gambling down and am trying to just limit playing to just weekends which will make my mother happier and less stressed also

ok im exausted bye for now
God bless :byzsoc: