can give me words of wisdom that you have gained through your trials and tribulations? Have you had moments of doubts? Did you leave the Church one time and came back years later? Why and what made you come back? Can you share one important life lesson about God and your faith that might help others thta are surrounded with secular temptations?
Thank you very much! God bless!
2007-05-22 17:10:31 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, I'm an older person, and I'm an observant Catholic ... but converted well into adulthood, so I can only answer the last part of your question.
It's not being surrounded by temptations that's the problem, it's wanting to give in here or there more than we want to please God. Sometimes we need a little Lent in our lives, regardless of the season. A little more fasting and abstinence offered up ... a little more frequent Reconciliation ... a little more Eucharist (becoming a daily communicant for a while, perhaps?) ... a LOT more prayer, especially the kind where we listen more than we speak.
We make commitments like these in the proper Lenten season but often lose sight of the graces we can receive when we need them the most, at any time, by getting back to a Lent frame of mind.
2007-05-22 19:05:22 · answer #1 · answered by Clare † 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
<
I once doubted the Church's absolute ban on abortion. I never believed in abortion on demand, but I could not understand why abortions could not be allowed under certain circumstances. I now know better than to question the Church's Wisdom when it comes to morality.
<
I was a long-time victim of the Sin of Sloth; spiritual sloth. I never really left the Church, I always attended mass regularly but it was more out of habit than a genuine devotion to God. It was just "what I did on Sunday mornings". While I was there in body, I was a million miles away in mind and spirit. I seldom had a remotely theological thought outside of a Church setting. This went on for some 15 years, never bothering to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for as long either.
<
I'm not sure. About five years ago, I remember slowly developing an increased interest in all things Catholic. My wife and son attended regular Bible study and I was amazed at what they were learning.
By this time, I had lost most of what I had once learned about the Catholic Faith. I began re-educating myself - starting with a Children's Bible, moving over to the Catechsim, and then the real Bible and whatever Catholic books pique my interest. I'm still reading up on Catholicism with no intent on slowing down. In five years I've learned more about Catholicism than I thought I could in a whole life-time of learning.
<
God's in control - especially when it doesn't seem like He is. To resist God's will, by giving in to secular-humanistic temptations, is to deny our very reason for being; our very purpose for existing.
It's dangerous to do that because, compared to the scope of eternity, we're only on this earth for the blink of an eye. From this, we should not assume that our time here is meaningless. Rather our lives are full of meaning because, how we choose to conduct ourselves here on earth, can greatly determine what the quality of our existance is going to be in the afterlife.
2007-05-23 11:05:48 · answer #2 · answered by Daver 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
St. John of the Cross wrote about the Dark Night of the Soul. It takes more faith to hold on when you don't have than "cloud nine" feeling with God than when you do.
I became a Catholic in 1960. I never expected a rose garden. Jesus said we are to take up our cross daily and follow him. I don't claim to be heroic but I have learned to ride the waves.
2007-05-23 13:05:52 · answer #3 · answered by Shirley T 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, trust your Mother Mary and pray the Rosary. She is the go between for you and the Lord Jesus much like the Ark of the Covenant stayed in the Jordan until every Israelite passed into the Promised Land , she is there ready to take our plead to Jesus, especially if we are not in such good shape spiritually but, we are repentant.
2007-05-23 01:01:57 · answer #4 · answered by Midge 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes I was very angry at God for a lot of things. (I can't get into them because someone that doesn't understand might flag my answer.) But, it's a long story anyways. I said sorry to God for a lot of things, and it was a instant feeling I got inside.
I never stopped believing in God, I was just very mad at him! It takes time to understand and have faith in God. It isn't over night and certainly noone can understand it all with someone taking them to church. It's in your heart that allows you to believe. If I could only share that feeling I had with people, I would.
2007-05-23 00:19:21 · answer #5 · answered by SDC 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
God is always here, the pope is only a man chosen by other men (you should still listen to him, there is no such thing as a dumb pope), not all priests are pedophiles
2007-05-23 00:16:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
The Catholic faith does not teach the truth. You should seek the Lord on your own through prayer, fasting and reading the KJV of the Bible, until the Lord leads you into all truth.
2007-05-23 00:30:42 · answer #7 · answered by wisdom 4 · 0⤊ 6⤋
resist temptation
2007-05-23 00:18:05 · answer #8 · answered by Roy 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋