Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => Anσnymσus Posts Allowed => Topic started by: Änσnymσus on September 13, 2019, 03:42:49 PM
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I'm an 18 year old young man who has recently returned to the Catholic faith by the grace of Almighty God. This happened about 2 years ago. It wasn't until around the beginning of 2019 that I started to discover tradition. However, it took me a while to adjust, and I had already applied by then. I had doubts about going to college in general before, but these concerns were less about the spiritual dangers, but rather the question of "do I really need to go?". I was shut down by my parents. My mother is in the Novus Ordo and my dad is a lapsed Greek Orthodox. As the end of this summer approached, I had to wake up and smell the coffee.
I quickly realized that this school isn't Catholic. One of the presenters for our freshman orientation talked about the glories of "diversity", going so far as to mention the time he saw two sodomites "lovingly" hold hands! :barf:
Another promoted the use of some kind of new age mediation. In all of this, not a mention of Our Lord Jesus Christ! We had a convocation in which a priest called down God's intercession, which gave me some temporary relief. However, I ended up feeling scandalized by all of this and close to despair. I never stopped trusting in God. I go exclusively to the TLM. I say 15 decades of the rosary, which no doubt keeps my mind from absorbing the pollution of the place. There are other things I can mention too. Immodestly dressed women everywhere, a flyer for a sodomite club, etc. After about 3 weeks of this clown show, I decided to confront my parents. I told them about the dangers of this place, that it was driving me crazy. I told them I wanted to drop out. Did nothing. They said I had to be "more positive". Just yesterday, I had to read a short story in which degenerate sɛҳuąƖ behavior was being referenced. I think God's allowed all of this to show me that I need to get out.
I have no job, no money. I'm being forced to go to this school by my parents. I don't live on campus. What can I do? Can I bring this up in my next confession? Prayers and advice would be greatly appreciated. I'll pray for all you too.
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Count on being added to my prayers. No matter what, keep praying that 15+ decade rosary, keep it in your pocket at all times no matter what, wear the scapular and tell God, respectfully and with however much faith you can, to "get me out of here, I will never make it to heaven living this way, put me where I need to be." You may need to do this daily for a bit.
Please, after however long, let us know how well this worked for you.
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You sound very maturr to your age.
I hope you will find a job soon.
One question. What are you studying? Its a career that will give you a job or its something related to Social Sciences and you will be a future unemployed?
If its a career that will give you the oportunity to have better jobs to provide for your future family maybe you can sacrifice for some years.
"Maybe" because the only who knows if you can survive there without losing your soul is you.
Inmodest women, lgbtxcgrr propaganda, etc, its everywhere if you are and adult. You will have to work with non christians, etc. Except you move to a rural area ...
What if you study a short career? Or learning a trade.
Of course your parents will scream. But its your life and your soul...
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This thread reminds me of a moral dilemma that I thought about. I was an English major but I graduated from school two years before my conversion. But what would happen if one was taking a course in college that one was required to pass to graduate. And in that class one had to read a book on the Index of Forbidden Books? What then? Of course that is probably one of the reasons Catholics used to be forbidden from going to non-Catholic schools. I know I read bad books in school and after I converted I threw many of them away.
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One question. What are you studying? Its a career that will give you a job or its something related to Social Sciences and you will be a future unemployed?
OP here. I'm studying Secondary Education. Just to clarify for all, I'm studying at a "Catholic" university.
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Count on being added to my prayers. No matter what, keep praying that 15+ decade rosary, keep it in your pocket at all times no matter what, wear the scapular and tell God, respectfully and with however much faith you can, to "get me out of here, I will never make it to heaven living this way, put me where I need to be." You may need to do this daily for a bit.
Please, after however long, let us know how well this worked for you.
OP here. Thanks so much! I started wearing my scapular daily back in the summer, glad I've done so. I'll do what you said and keep you all updated.
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Count on being added to my prayers. No matter what, keep praying that 15+ decade rosary, keep it in your pocket at all times no matter what, wear the scapular and tell God, respectfully and with however much faith you can, to "get me out of here, I will never make it to heaven living this way, put me where I need to be." You may need to do this daily for a bit.
Please, after however long, let us know how well this worked for you.
That's excellent advice.
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That's excellent advice.
I did it again. That's me! Alexandria
OP, have you consecrated yourself to Our Lady yet? If not, get the True Devotion book and do it.
Stay as close as you can to Our Lady and beg Her to protect your purity. You do your part too by practicing custody of the eyes. If some female scantily clad happens to catch you unawares, do not, at any cost, look back.
I will keep you in my prayers, young man. God be with you every step of the way, and may Our Blessed Mother protect you.
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OP, if you get to teach in a secondary school it will be a nest of vipers.
Is this your choice to teach?
If you are under your parents' authority you are bound to obey them. Once you no longer are under their authority, you can ask for their advice but are not bound to take it. Always you must respect them.
So attempt to prepare for independence asap, follow the wisdom of Stubborn and Alexandria and you cannot go wrong.
God will bless you!
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How are you being forced? You have freewill.
Have you read St. Thomas Aquinas's story (https://www.bartleby.com/210/3/071.html)? His aristocratic mother wanted him to become a political leader, but St. Thomas wanted to become a Dominican. To try to dissuade him, his brothers locked him in a tower for a year, even hiring a prostitute to tempt him, whom he drove out with a fiery brand.
His Summa question on whether one needs his parents' permission to enter religious life (Summa Theologica II-II q. 189 a. 6 (https://isidore.co/aquinas/summa/SS/SS189.html#SSQ189A6THEP1)) can be applied to your situation, too.
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I did it again. That's me! Alexandria
OP, have you consecrated yourself to Our Lady yet? If not, get the True Devotion book and do it.
Stay as close as you can to Our Lady and beg Her to protect your purity. You do your part too by practicing custody of the eyes. If some female scantily clad happens to catch you unawares, do not, at any cost, look back.
I will keep you in my prayers, young man. God be with you every step of the way, and may Our Blessed Mother protect you.
OP here. Thanks very much for the prayers and advice! I've said a short consecration prayer to Our Lady before, but I really do want to do the 33 day consecration. I currently don't have True Devotion, but I'll likely get sometime next month.
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Our Lady of Sorrows
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OP, if you get to teach in a secondary school it will be a nest of vipers.
Is this your choice to teach?
If you are under your parents' authority you are bound to obey them. Once you no longer are under their authority, you can ask for their advice but are not bound to take it. Always you must respect them.
So attempt to prepare for independence asap, follow the wisdom of Stubborn and Alexandria and you cannot go wrong.
God will bless you!
OP here. Thank you for the sound advice. It was my choice initially, but that was when I under pressure to pick a major and was just getting back into the faith. I realize now this wasn't a good move. I'm in the education program for 2 years as a part of a scholarship. Parents won't let me back out.
I'm definitely following the guidance of Stubborn and Alexandria. Just reading what they've written has been a great consolation to me.
God bless you too!
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OP here. Thanks so much! I started wearing my scapular daily back in the summer, glad I've done so. I'll do what you said and keep you all updated.
Did you just start wearing one or have you been enrolled in the scapular?
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How are you being forced? You have freewill.
Have you read St. Thomas Aquinas's story (https://www.bartleby.com/210/3/071.html)? His aristocratic mother wanted him to become a political leader, but St. Thomas wanted to become a Dominican. To try to dissuade him, his brothers locked him in a tower for a year, even hiring a prostitute to tempt him, whom he drove out with a fiery brand.
His Summa question on whether one needs his parents' permission to enter religious life (Summa Theologica II-II q. 189 a. 6 (https://isidore.co/aquinas/summa/SS/SS189.html#SSQ189A6THEP1)) can be applied to your situation, too.
OP here. I've heard of his story. This clears a lot of things up, thanks!
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Did you just start wearing one or have you been enrolled in the scapular?
OP here. Unfortunately, I haven't been enrolled yet.
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You should transfer to a better college.
Many went Christendom college in Virginia.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christendom_College (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christendom_College)
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Catholic University is not good. Yes, leave ASAP. Or you will lose your soul.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christendom_College (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christendom_College)
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A lot depends upon you. Form friendships off-campus with people other than college students. Find at least part time work unrelated to school. Engage in at least one leisure activity or club you enjoy that is not connected to school. Study the true faith under a traditional priest or, if you can’t find one, an older, wiser man. Try to gain a marketable trade of some sort, not just an academic degree. Pray the Rosary daily, other prayers, too. The more you do on your own, the better. Telling your parents after the fact is one way to cut the apron strings without showing them disrespect. Traditional dogma states that parents must not force their children into a particular state of life.
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A lot depends upon you. Form friendships off-campus with people other than college students. Find at least part time work unrelated to school. Engage in at least one leisure activity or club you enjoy that is not connected to school. Study the true faith under a traditional priest or, if you can’t find one, an older, wiser man. Try to gain a marketable trade of some sort, not just an academic degree. Pray the Rosary daily, other prayers, too. The more you do on your own, the better. Telling your parents after the fact is one way to cut the apron strings without showing them disrespect. Traditional dogma states that parents must not force their children into a particular state of life.
OP here. Thanks very much for this solid advice!
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Our Lady of Sorrows
OP here. Good suggestion. Heard a lot about this devotion but know much about it. How can I start?
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You should transfer to a better college.
Many went Christendom college in Virginia.
OP here. Good suggestion, though my parents probably wouldn't approve because of distance.
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Felt pretty bad at school today. I used to suffer a lot from depression and suicidal thoughts before I reverted, and I noticed that they came back today. I rejected them, I resisted the temptation to despair. After I prayed 10 decades in the chapel, I felt genuinely better. God will help me through this, no doubt. I'll pray another 5 after this post.
Something I thought about today was the possibility of me taking a leave of absence. I got the list below from Mental Health America. These reasons are listed as considerations for taking a leave. Reason number 2 applies to me.
Should I take a leave? My parents are against putting me on drugs by the way.
God bless all of you.
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Sorry, new to this forum. Here's the list:
Your mental health is disrupting your ability to participate in academic and campus life, even with supports and accommodations.
You feel you are in crisis or that your level of distress is becoming intolerable.
You believe the stress and pressure of college is seriously disrupting your ability to focus on recovery.
You feel you need an increased level of care.
You are not able to access the services you need at your college or university.
You feel that time away from classes would be beneficial for your long-term wellbeing.
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You do not state your age. If you are 21, I do not see how your parents can compel you to pursue a particular course of study or to enter a certain profession. Of course, they CAN cut you off financially and in any other way they please, ie. no contact. Unless you've had an adversarial relationship all along, I doubt they will sever all ties. I think it is up to you to establish yourself as an adult, making your own decisions and taking full responsibility for yourself.
Let me give you an example from my life. I had completed my freshman year of college on a scholarship, my own savings, and a part time job. The classes were going well; my GPA was 3.95. The living conditions in the dormitories, however, were horrid. The legal status, "in loco parentis" had been abolished, leaving the logical conclusion of tossing together about 300 unsupervised young people, ages 17-22 to their own devices. I was not a practicing Catholic, but I found it a moral cesspool, to put it mildly. My roommate felt the same way. Without consulting our parents, we calculated our living expenses and signed a one year lease on a run-down apartment over a hardware store. We moved our belongings in and then told our parents. Mine were not thrilled, but there was nothing they could do or say, since I had secured a full time job in town. My roommate's mother was much more easy-going since this was her youngest child, the other seven being married, moved out, etc. She even came up for a week to help us paint, fix up old furniture, etc. She sent her daughter a monthly stipend to help with the cost. My parents took a harder line. If you're on your own, you support yourself. In retrospect, they admit it was a good move. They haven't agreed with all my life choices, but so what? I'm answerable to God first, then parents. May I suggest you take same attitude?
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Dear O.P.
You are not mentally unwell. You're experiencing normal confusion and temptation from the devil because you've clearly moved over to the right side! Medications are of little benefit except as in the case of organic brain disease or a true emergency, such as one who shows up at a facility and is suicidal or dangerous to himself or others. If you can write, this is not you! It doesn't negate how you FEEL, but realize it's a temptation and a test, both of which are temporary.
If you can, look up the rules of St. Ignatius for making decisions according to the various states of one's soul. In general, make no major change when you are unsettled. Go to your classes, pray to hear God's Word in what you are taught. Do your assignments. Pray the Rosary daily, in a chapel, if possible. If you are in Washington D.C., go downstairs in the crypt chapel, or pray, if you can, outdoors at the Franciscan Monastery. Is there any way you can get to Mass in Vienna, VA? It's right off the Beltway near Dulles. Fr. Ringrose is a good resource. I believe there is also an SSPX chapel in the area. Unfortunately, you will find some discord among traditional Catholics, but don't allow that to deter you from seeking God. (If you aren't in D.C. area, please ignore!)
Get into a routine. That will help very much with feelings of despair or anxiety. Don't be alone all the time. If you can't find fellow traditional friends right away, do something on a casual basis, have coffee, watch anow outdoor sports event, go for a walk or to a museum. Have patience with yourself. If God is for you, who can come against you?
I will keep you in my prayers!
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Exactly as Seraphina says.
What ever you do, don't fall for the mental "health" trap. It will lead you nowhere, or in the wrong direction. Keep your mind focused on your studies, praying the Rosary and having a good social life as needed. Pray for good companions.
Your feelings are a natural outcome of your changing circuмstances and very natural. However...
The devil will use them to snare you. Simply don't allow it. :pray:
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You do not state your age.
I stated that I am 18 in my first post.
I think it is up to you to establish yourself as an adult, making your own decisions and taking full responsibility for yourself.
Very true. Sadly I'm too used to depending on my parents.
I'm answerable to God first, then parents. May I suggest you take same attitude?
Absolutely agree. This whole situation has forced me to do so.
"He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:37)
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Dear O.P.
You are not mentally unwell. You're experiencing normal confusion and temptation from the devil because you've clearly moved over to the right side! Medications are of little benefit except as in the case of organic brain disease or a true emergency, such as one who shows up at a facility and is suicidal or dangerous to himself or others. If you can write, this is not you! It doesn't negate how you FEEL, but realize it's a temptation and a test, both of which are temporary.
If you can, look up the rules of St. Ignatius for making decisions according to the various states of one's soul. In general, make no major change when you are unsettled. Go to your classes, pray to hear God's Word in what you are taught. Do your assignments. Pray the Rosary daily, in a chapel, if possible. If you are in Washington D.C., go downstairs in the crypt chapel, or pray, if you can, outdoors at the Franciscan Monastery. Is there any way you can get to Mass in Vienna, VA? It's right off the Beltway near Dulles. Fr. Ringrose is a good resource. I believe there is also an SSPX chapel in the area. Unfortunately, you will find some discord among traditional Catholics, but don't allow that to deter you from seeking God. (If you aren't in D.C. area, please ignore!)
Get into a routine. That will help very much with feelings of despair or anxiety. Don't be alone all the time. If you can't find fellow traditional friends right away, do something on a casual basis, have coffee, watch anow outdoor sports event, go for a walk or to a museum. Have patience with yourself. If God is for you, who can come against you?
I will keep you in my prayers!
OP here. Thank you very much, Seraphina, for the prayers and advice! I don't live in D.C. You're right. This whole thing feels like a period of purification/temptation. Thanks be to God, I've found some other Catholics on campus, and we'll be praying together tomorrow. I'll pray for you too!
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Exactly as Seraphina says.
What ever you do, don't fall for the mental "health" trap. It will lead you nowhere, or in the wrong direction. Keep your mind focused on your studies, praying the Rosary and having a good social life as needed. Pray for good companions.
Your feelings are a natural outcome of your changing circuмstances and very natural. However...
The devil will use them to snare you. Simply don't allow it. :pray:
Thanks, Nadir! I'll follow your advice for sure. I too must "watch and pray".
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OP here. Today was much worse and a little better.
Had a class in which we had to read from an "Ecuмenical" Bible, the New Oxford Edition to be specific. The teacher taught us the false docuмentarian lies (That Moses didn't write the first five books) and used derogatory language for God. Some of this included the typical atheistic drivel about how "mean" God was in the OT. People today can't understand that in order for God to be merciful, he must be just. Really put me in a bad mood. Seeing my classmates fall for it made it even worse.
She also taught us that people didn't take Genesis literally until modern times :jester:. I stood up at least twice in class, saying that Abraham didn't lie about Sarah and how Abraham had compassion for the sodomites. Also spoke about how it wasn't cruel for God to ask Abraham to sacrifice Issac, as it was a foretelling that Christ would be crucified. Felt good about that. I thank the Holy Ghost and my Guardian Angel for helping me to speak up.
Told my parents about this, they want me to talk to my professor about it privately. Is this a good idea?
My parents still don't want me to drop out. They say I will have to put up with these types of people in the world, which is true. But why should I be subjected to going to a place where they seemingly have free reign to teach me their nonsense? It doesn't make sense.
Also, does anyone know any good Biblical Apologetics site apart from the Kolbe Center?
I thank you all again for your prayers. I'll pray for all you.
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OP, if you get to teach in a secondary school it will be a nest of vipers. Is this your choice to teach?
If circuмstances make finishing the "secondary education" degree your best immediate options, try not to take its name so literally. It can be considered among compelling qualifications for a job in what is commonly called the "education department" of museums, and even for the jobs known as "park ranger". But all of those exercises in degree leverage require extra experience, as you might get from an extra major in history, or find in college "outdoors clubs".
Keep in mind that it's the professors (e.g., of history), or faculty-advisors for student clubs, who might be your best sources of leads to jobs related to their fields. Plus sources of personal recommendations that you are the best candidate for such a job.
Such jobs carry their own risks: In many places, museums are funded substantially by local governments, and may be bundled with "arts" funding that's vulnerable to the local political winds. And you might encounter oppressive political correctness, so you ought to ponder whether you can endure threats to your faith that might result from such jobs (e.g., "sodomite-pride-month" programs).
If you are under your parents' authority you are bound to obey them. Once you no longer are under their authority, you can ask for their advice but are not bound to take it. [....] So attempt to prepare for independence asap [....]
Despite my warning(s) above, keep in mind that 1 crucial short-term goal for you is to untangle yourself from your parents' purse-strings.
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I feel like sharing my experience will help you. I am in a public university not a "Catholic" one so my problems can be slightly different but I found that spending all the time locked in my room which is outside of campus either reading / studying or praying helped me get through the 5 days of the week I am here. This place is like sodom and gomorrah I never found one single catholic not even novus ordus, everyday I see drunkeness and depraved customs of these students. Usually at night I go for a walk to relax my thoughts, meditate and talk to God. The first weeks will be very dificult I wont lie but one has to carry his own cross and with the help of almighty God later find eternal rest.
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OP here. Today was much worse and a little better.
Had a class in which we had to read from an "Ecuмenical" Bible, the New Oxford Edition to be specific. The teacher taught us the false docuмentarian lies (That Moses didn't write the first five books) and used derogatory language for God. Some of this included the typical atheistic drivel about how "mean" God was in the OT. People today can't understand that in order for God to be merciful, he must be just. Really put me in a bad mood. Seeing my classmates fall for it made it even worse.
She also taught us that people didn't take Genesis literally until modern times :jester:. I stood up at least twice in class, saying that Abraham didn't lie about Sarah and how Abraham had compassion for the sodomites. Also spoke about how it wasn't cruel for God to ask Abraham to sacrifice Issac, as it was a foretelling that Christ would be crucified. Felt good about that. I thank the Holy Ghost and my Guardian Angel for helping me to speak up.
Told my parents about this, they want me to talk to my professor about it privately. Is this a good idea?
My parents still don't want me to drop out. They say I will have to put up with these types of people in the world, which is true. But why should I be subjected to going to a place where they seemingly have free reign to teach me their nonsense? It doesn't make sense.
Also, does anyone know any good Biblical Apologetics site apart from the Kolbe Center?
I thank you all again for your prayers. I'll pray for all you.
Young man, I have decided to call you John.
John, it is my understanding that if you cause too many waves in these institutions of higher brainwashing, your intelligentsia professors will give you a failing grade.
With all due respect, your parents sound naive. Are they democrats?
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The above is me - Alexandria. :) :ready-to-eat:
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My parents still don't want me to drop out. They say I will have to put up with these types of people in the world, which is true. But why should I be subjected to going to a place where they seemingly have free reign to teach me their nonsense? It doesn't make sense.
Tell your parents, "although it is true we will have to put up with these types of people in the world, BUT we do not have to give them money for it nor waste or time listen to them."
You would be better off dropping out of that college and go learn to be a truck driver!
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Truck driver. My son tried that with Swift and left. Good. BUT he works for a family operated business that delivers items for building homes and large buildings. He is not wide loads. He is very much into it and much happier. Sundays off! They will teach on the job!
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Sorry, the above post is Songbird.
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[....] to teach in a secondary school it will be a nest of vipers. [....]
If you are under your parents' authority you are bound to obey them. Once you no longer are under their authority, you can ask for their advice but are not bound to take it. [....] So attempt to prepare for independence asap
In this instance, embedding the quote from ‘Nadir’ above does indicate my endorsement.
[...] keep in mind that 1 crucial short-term goal for you is to untangle yourself from your parents' purse-strings.
Using the Internet, it's vastly easier than ever to acquaint yourself with the academic interests and leanings of your school's faculty, and gravitate toward those who provide the most congenial fit. If it's a school in which faculty are required to publish research as a condition of career advancement, descriptions of research interests can not only help identify the faculty with whom you'd be most compatible, but also the faculty that might have on-campus paid assistantship jobs to offer to undergrads[*]. I was blessed or fortunate to arrange one, decades ago; it was formally only 1/2-time, its hours officially limited by the school so it didn't use up all of an undergrad's potential studying time. But it was adequate to pay my minimal state-U. tuition, housing, and frugal living expenses (with only a bicycle for transportation, not a car).
Don't overlook adjunct faculty, many of whom have "real jobs" off campus, although they might only be able to offer barely-paid or unpaid internships[**].
Alas, college costs have reportedly risen so disproportionately (relative to currency inflation) that money that sufficed for frugal undergrads in my generation might only put a dent in costs for your generation.
Footnotes follow. As a student at a university, you need to stop fighting them like the typical adult United-Statesian (assuming that you haven't already stopped doing so), and embrace them for the additional information & commentary they provide.
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Note *: Asssuming that the school provides or allows assistantships to undergrads. Beware that work assigned to paid undergrad assistants might be so tedious that it evokes tears (because by definition, you're not expected to have the knowledge of your field that'd be necessary to apply any actual judgment or make decisions on your own initiative), but it would get you a regular paycheck. How this would fit in with the scholarship I believe you claimed, I have no idea. Nowadays, I'd expect your school's Dept. of Student Financial Aid to have the necessary info on the Internet, but if not, visit its office. Useful info about how things really work in your major dept. might also become available by socializing with the clerical staff in its main office, at least eventually[†], and then maybe only when the chair of that dept. is out of the office[×]. Altho' I confess that undergrads are at a substantial social disadvantage with faculty & staff, so undergrads might be more effectively advised to seek a sympathetic grad student, and then take care to heed their office hours.
Note #: An internship off-campus might unavoidably incur expenses (e.g., off-campus commuting) that eats up all of whatever financial compensation it provides, which over at least the short term, would be counterproductive to "untangl[ing] yourself from your parents' purse-strings". Be that as it may, it could eventually be a great source of useful contacts for short-term jobs, or maybe even an agreeable career.
Note †: Success might require you to develop your social skills to include a sociably gregarious & genuinely charming personna. I suspect that I'm not the only CathInfo reader who's perceiving the anonymous writer to be a loner most comfy inhabiting a Catholic chapel enclosed by a bunker. Perhaps adopting the personna of the stereotypical confused freshman would be an unchallenging but effective first step.
Note ×: Except that the "nest of vipers" quoted farther above might also be a fitting metaphor for the departmental environment in which you train for teach[ing] in a secondary school". I'm imagining a modernist "Catholic" university at which its education faculty, including its dept. office, is disproportionately populated by feminist "nuns on the bus". Without divine intervention, prospects might be quite grim for extracting practical info by socializing with them.
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I feel like sharing my experience will help you. I am in a public university not a "Catholic" one so my problems can be slightly different but I found that spending all the time locked in my room which is outside of campus either reading / studying or praying helped me get through the 5 days of the week I am here. This place is like sodom and gomorrah I never found one single catholic not even novus ordus, everyday I see drunkeness and depraved customs of these students. Usually at night I go for a walk to relax my thoughts, meditate and talk to God. The first weeks will be very dificult I wont lie but one has to carry his own cross and with the help of almighty God later find eternal rest.
OP here. Thanks for sharing! I found that spending time praying in my university's chapel has been very calming. I think things are getting better for me overall. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I've befriended some fellow Catholics, even they may not understand the problems with the NO. They still seem to be on a similar wavelength to me. It seems like your surroundings are worse than mine. I don't live on campus, so I don't see that stuff go on. Keep up the good fight. Keep the faith. I'll pray for you.
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OP here. These past few days have been better overall. I still don't like university, but it's gotten more manageable. The only class that really poses a problem is the one I mentioned the teacher telling us about the false docuмentarian theory. The class is only a first semester class for freshmen, but it screams of liberalism. I utterly despise it. The other classes and teachers are far more tolerable in comparison. I've made some friends on campus, including a seminarian in my education class.
There wasn't a meeting on Wednesday, I'll actually be meeting with the young men's group this upcoming Wednesday.
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Tell your parents, "although it is true we will have to put up with these types of people in the world, BUT we do not have to give them money for it nor waste or time listen to them."
You would be better off dropping out of that college and go learn to be a truck driver!
OP here. I've told them that, but they tell me that it would be worse to send to me to a public university. I've tried telling them that perhaps look into another kind of job, but they won't listen. They'll say that training for a trade would be stressful, but I argue that college is more stressful. I'm better off talking to a wall than my own parents. Sadly, they've been too brainwashed by modernity.
I still love them though.
Maybe I should look into that! I've heard that, although stressful, being a truck driver pays well in return.
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Young man, I have decided to call you John.
John, it is my understanding that if you cause too many waves in these institutions of higher brainwashing, your intelligentsia professors will give you a failing grade.
With all due respect, your parents sound naive. Are they democrats?
OP here, thanks for the nickname. That's true. I have to be careful. Unfortunately, it seems that they are naive. They're republicans, which makes things a bit more confusing. But then again, conservatives don't conserve anything in this country. They gave up doing so when they started shilling for Israel. One of the reasons why I have a deep hatred of democracy.
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Truck driver. My son tried that with Swift and left. Good. BUT he works for a family operated business that delivers items for building homes and large buildings. He is not wide loads. He is very much into it and much happier. Sundays off! They will teach on the job!
OP here. Thanks for the info, Songbird!
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Using the Internet, it's vastly easier than ever to acquaint yourself with the academic interests and leanings of your school's faculty, and gravitate toward those who provide the most congenial fit.
Don't overlook adjunct faculty, many of whom have "real jobs" off campus, although they might only be able to offer barely-paid or unpaid internships[**].
Note †: Success might require you to develop your social skills to include a sociably gregarious & genuinely charming personna. I suspect that I'm not the only CathInfo reader who's perceiving the anonymous writer to be a loner most comfy inhabiting a Catholic chapel enclosed by a bunker. Perhaps adopting the personna of the stereotypical confused freshman would be an unchallenging but effective first step.
Note ×: Except that the "nest of vipers" quoted farther above might also be a fitting metaphor for the departmental environment in which you train for teach[ing] in a secondary school". I'm imagining a modernist "Catholic" university at which its education faculty, including its dept. office, is disproportionately populated by feminist "nuns on the bus". Without divine intervention, prospects might be quite grim for extracting practical info by socializing with them.
OP here. Thanks for the lengthy responses. It's true that I could be described as a loner, though I'm working on being more social. I have a melancholic personality. Though with the world today being as awful as it is, I wouldn't mind inhabiting that kind of bunker! I'll take your advice, Dicax.
I've learned very quickly that my education professor (who also is the dept. chair) is a liberal Jєω. So your last bit of advice may very well apply in this case.
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I've been adjusting to university over time, and I think the situation has improved. I'm making good friends with other Catholics on campus, as I mentioned. I still feel trapped, but still have not given into despair. God will get me out of this. I see two potential options in the future in regards to dropping out:
1) Wait until the end of the semester (early December), talk to my parents yet again and explain that I've given this a try, but that this isn't for me at this time. Promise to get a job and to pay for most of my expenses. State that this is an important part of being an adult that I have not experienced yet, and that I want this level of independence. (I turned 19 yesterday, so I'm really feeling the need for more agency in my life).
2) During my break, secure a minimum wage job and move into an apartment in another town. Then, I will make the phone call to drop out. I see this as a defensive maneuver, as I feel my parents might physically abuse me if I drop out under their roof. I'll probably need one or several roommates for this, seeing as my area has a high cost of living.
But again, perhaps God will allow me to stick out much longer under my current condition to bring about a greater good. Any advice here would be very much appreciated. Thanks again for all your prayers.
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If I were your parent, I wouldn't like the fact that you plan to drop out of college and get and minimum wage job. That's not going to pay for an apartment, food and transportation. You'd eventually have to move home. Is that any better than the environment on a college campus? Is there ANYWHERE today that you can go (outside of a monastery) that is protected from the immorality today? I don't think so.
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Can you not continue to go to college and do so with the attitude of "living like a monk"? For example, spend most of your time in class or at the library, or walking outside, or somewhere away from technology or whatever is your worst temptation? I certainly think this is possible. Going to class, even if your professors are raging Marxists, is not a proximate occasion of sin. I don't see why you can't go to college...especially since you recognize the evil influences. Most of the time, this is half the battle. College is more dangerous for those who don't realize it's dangerous.
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You have to think long-term here. If you don't go to college, what are you going to do for work? Are you interested in learning a trade (plumber, electrician, carpentry, masonry, etc)? Are you going into factory work? Are you going to get certified as an IT tech of some type? Are you going to join a monastery or become a religious? If you want to get married someday, you need skills. You have to have a long-term plan for work.
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The world is evil everywhere - inside and outside of college. Inside and outside of business environments. We are called to live in the world, so Our Lord will make it possible. You can't run away from the world; outside of a monastery, that's not possible.
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Can you not continue to go to college and do so with the attitude of "living like a monk"? For example, spend most of your time in class or at the library, or walking outside, or somewhere away from technology or whatever is your worst temptation?
You have to think long-term here. If you don't go to college, what are you going to do for work? Are you interested in learning a trade (plumber, electrician, carpentry, masonry, etc)? Are you going into factory work? Are you going to get certified as an IT tech of some type? Are you going to join a monastery or become a religious? If you want to get married someday, you need skills. You have to have a long-term plan for work.
Fair enough. The thing is, this is sort of a last resort meant to buy me time to think things through. I feel like my life is too "planned" at times. I can't let this get to my head. Over time, I think I've grown more attracted to the monastic life. I'm using my time now to discern this. I don't want to feel like I'm wasting time. I really appreciate what you said about having the attitude of "living like a monk". I think that I should do more of that. Thanks for the advice.
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The thing is, this is sort of a last resort meant to buy me time to think things through. I feel like my life is too "planned" at times.
Well, if you trade college life for a 40 hour a week job (minimum wage or even higher) you will have LESS time to think/pray about the issue, not more. You'll never have more free time/energy than in your college days. Further, if you think that college life feels "planned" wait till you work 40 hours a week and your only free time is a few hours a day and then weekends.
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A lot of this depends on how you're paying for college. I can't advise you to continue college if you're getting into major debt. I would say go to a vocational/trade school rather than load up on student loans, which you can never get away from. However, if you have some sort of scholarship or your parents are helping you with tuition, then college might be advisable.
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Here's some advice from a fellow melancholic. You can't "figure out" your life, no matter how much time you think about it. You're probably prone to "analysis paralysis" and this never works. You need to just worry about the next 6 months to a year. You're too young to try to figure out your vocation now (unless you are absolutely sure and you have a clear option). But you have no options at the moment. Quitting college isn't an option that has any good outcomes.
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Since the semester is still going on, apply yourself to your studies 1,000%. Give it all you got. Take your free time and say some extra rosaries. Spend time having fun and exploring hobbies that interest you. Hang out with decent friends (there's still plenty of decent people out there...most of them are "nerds" but that's a good thing. It means they aren't "popular" and aren't obsessed with superficial wastes of time). Many times God speaks to us when we're busy doing things. Over analyzing never solves anything. Make the best decision based on the info you have on hand, be bold, and go forward! God will not let you go off the path He has for you, when you have a pure intention. Many times we find what we're looking for when we trust in Him and just go with our gut.
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I've been adjusting to university over time, and I think the situation has improved. I'm making good friends with other Catholics on campus, as I mentioned. I still feel trapped, but still have not given into despair. God will get me out of this. I see two potential options in the future in regards to dropping out:
1) Wait until the end of the semester (early December), talk to my parents yet again and explain that I've given this a try, but that this isn't for me at this time. Promise to get a job and to pay for most of my expenses. State that this is an important part of being an adult that I have not experienced yet, and that I want this level of independence. (I turned 19 yesterday, so I'm really feeling the need for more agency in my life).
2) During my break, secure a minimum wage job and move into an apartment in another town. Then, I will make the phone call to drop out. I see this as a defensive maneuver, as I feel my parents might physically abuse me if I drop out under their roof. I'll probably need one or several roommates for this, seeing as my area has a high cost of living.
But again, perhaps God will allow me to stick out much longer under my current condition to bring about a greater good. Any advice here would be very much appreciated. Thanks again for all your prayers.
You needn't have a university degree in order to make a decent living. One of my three sons has a university degree, and he has a very good income as an accountant. But my other two sons have good jobs, and they don't have any degrees at all. They were nerdy homeschoolers, so of course they chose careers that are a little nerdy and off-beat. One of them works with stained glass - mostly repairing old stained glass windows. He makes about $27.00 a hour. He loves it. The other son who didn't go to college works in a computer-based job, in which he formats comic books for online use, such as cell phones. It pays about $25.00 an hour. He was offered the job after a six-month apprenticeship, in which he worked for free; but that's still cheaper than college.
I'm sorry to see that you are worried that your parents might be physically abusive if you drop out of school under their roof. Is there another family member somewhere with whom you can live, if you do drop out?
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As long as someone else is paying the room/board and tuition, go to this secular university and make the most of it.
Get a good degree and see what happens afterwards.
Look for a Traditionalist chapel near the university and go there for Mass and Adoration.
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OP here. Things have calmed down and gotten better with school in general. I think that I may have a religious vocation. I feel genuinely drawn to it. I want to be devoted entirely to Our Lord, and I think that He is calling me. I could be wrong in this discernment. However, if it’s correct, than what good is it (practically) to waste 4 years of my life and my parents’ money at this rotten institution? I’m thinking about withdrawing after the end of this semester, which is soon approaching.
At this point, I don’t really care what my parents will say or do about this. I would still be living with them in this scenario, but would get a job to start paying for my own stuff, and would even offer to help pay off the loans. I feel the need to stand up for myself. I don’t know if this is of God or not. Any advice would be appreciated, as always.
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Absolutely do not withdraw unless you have a clear plan to enter seminary right after, if following a religious vocation is your intention. Quitting college to go work as a cashier while you "work things out" is a recipe for disaster.
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I think that I may have a religious vocation. I feel genuinely drawn to it. I want to be devoted entirely to Our Lord, and I think that He is calling me. I could be wrong in this discernment. However, if it’s correct, than what good is it (practically) to waste 4 years of my life and my parents’ money at this rotten institution? I’m thinking about withdrawing after the end of this semester, which is soon approaching.
At this point, I don’t really care what my parents will say or do about this. I would still be living with them in this scenario, but would get a job to start paying for my own stuff, and would even offer to help pay off the loans. I feel the need to stand up for myself. I don’t know if this is of God or not. Any advice would be appreciated, as always.
What enquiries have you made regarding a religious vocation?
Make the enquiries first before you even think of stopping your studies. If you get an interview I beleve you will be advised to come back when your study is completed. If you complete your teacher training you will not have wasted time, but you may have matured a little.
Keep up your prayers and respect your parents. You are dependent and depending on them. What are you doing now to help pay off the loans? Are you working weekends / holidays? What do you do to pull your share around the home. I could be wrong but you come across a bit arrogant in this last post.
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Why do Catholics send their children to liberal colleges?
Corinthians states that Christians shouldn’t go near such establishments of evil or hang out with those in mortal sin.
You never see too many Catholics groups on campuses anymore. Catholic colleges such as Notre Shame promotes sɛҳuąƖ promiscuity and sodomy.
Many people have degrees but don’t have jobs because they refuse to work. Do the math. People who are now in their 50’s and 60’s are still paying off student loans because college is a money scam being used to brainwash students to be communists.
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Change your major to something practical. Go to class and get your credits and avoid the social life of the college. Stay at least one year so you have something to put on a resume. and then leave. Get a job. Everyone of my family members who had a job during college got permanent offers before graduation. You are a man now and need to stand on your own two feet. Don't just have a tantrum. Make plans and don't say anything to your parents until you are ready to leave their house.
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OP here. I’d like to share an update. Thanks for all the advice since my last post.
On All Saints Day I had to take a field trip to a middle school in an inter-city area to observe public school teachers. Watching some of these teachers doing their job well made me think that this might be the career for me. I don’t think that this is naive, since one of the teachers I observed had a classroom full of disruptive students, but it turns out that this was his first year teaching. But, seeing the more experienced teachers do their job inspired me. Since then, I think that I might just end up continuing this major, and get a job in this field, even with the all the garbage I’m going to have to put up with. If I become a teacher, I would prefer to get a job in a decent Catholic school rather than a public school for obvious reasons. Please pray for me.
Any further advice would be greatly appreciated.
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I wouldn’t waste my money on a teaching degree. You don’t need that to teach at a catholic school (or you shouldn’t...find a school that does t require it). You won’t get paid much and you’ll never be able to pay off the debt. Either get a degree in something that pays well, or if you want to be a teacher, still get a degree in a “back up” plan (ie engineering or business or IT).
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I wouldn’t waste my money on a teaching degree. You don’t need that to teach at a catholic school (or you shouldn’t...find a school that does t require it). You won’t get paid much and you’ll never be able to pay off the debt. Either get a degree in something that pays well, or if you want to be a teacher, still get a degree in a “back up” plan (ie engineering or business or IT).
You absolutely do need a teaching degree to work as a teacher. I don't know about pay, that varies wildly from place to place(as does the amount of debt you'll have after college), but the working conditions are very good. Just about the shortest working days and longest holidays you can possibly get.
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You absolutely do need a teaching degree to work as a teacher. I don't know about pay, that varies wildly from place to place(as does the amount of debt you'll have after college), but the working conditions are very good. Just about the shortest working days and longest holidays you can possibly get.
Presuming you are the OP, would you go in for teaching to get "Just about the shortest working days and longest holidays you can possibly get"?
Are you really interested in nurturing children?
Have you checked with teachers just how much time you would have to spend n lesson preparations, staff meetings, parent-teacher meetings etc etc. And are you prepared to deal with all sorts of obnoxious topics like "gender identity" etc etc. even in "Catholic" schools. I don't think that teaching in a school would be just a bowl of cherries as your post paints it.
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Presuming you are the OP, would you go in for teaching to get "Just about the shortest working days and longest holidays you can possibly get"?
Are you really interested in nurturing children?
Have you checked with teachers just how much time you would have to spend n lesson preparations, staff meetings, parent-teacher meetings etc etc. And are you prepared to deal with all sorts of obnoxious topics like "gender identity" etc etc. even in "Catholic" schools. I don't think that teaching in a school would be just a bowl of cherries as your post paints it.
Not OP, sorry for the confusion.
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You absolutely do need a teaching degree to work as a teacher.
You do if you are going to work for public schools or novus ordo/private schools. If you want to teach at a Trad school, you probably don't (or shouldn't need one).
I don't know about pay, that varies wildly from place to place(as does the amount of debt you'll have after college), but the working conditions are very good. Just about the shortest working days and longest holidays you can possibly get.
Words of caution: As it is now, catholics in public schools (especially teachers) are being forced to compromise their Faith to keep their jobs. All teachers have to promote/allow all manner of immoral filth in the classrooms. I've heard stories where this goes on all the time. A TX district just ignored a bunch of angry parents, and will allow children to be taught all manner of LGBT and other immoral practices during "sex ed" classes. I don't know how any catholic could save their soul and be a teacher these days. (Again, that's assuming we're talking public / novus ordo / private school).
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OP here. I’d like to share an update. Thanks for all the advice since my last post.
On All Saints Day I had to take a field trip to a middle school in an inter-city area to observe public school teachers. Watching some of these teachers doing their job well made me think that this might be the career for me. I don’t think that this is naive, since one of the teachers I observed had a classroom full of disruptive students, but it turns out that this was his first year teaching. But, seeing the more experienced teachers do their job inspired me. Since then, I think that I might just end up continuing this major, and get a job in this field, even with the all the garbage I’m going to have to put up with. If I become a teacher, I would prefer to get a job in a decent Catholic school rather than a public school for obvious reasons. Please pray for me.
Any further advice would be greatly appreciated.
There are no decent Catholic schools, there hasn't been one anywhere in the country, probably the world for the last 50 years at least - unless you are talking about one of the trad group's / non-dioscean Catholic schools, which pay about the same as what you would make flipping burgers - if you're lucky.
Take 5 minutes and listen to what he has to say.
Watch this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SWFXkjuDsQ)
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Sin and insanity is EVERYWHERE! Once you leave the Catholic Cacoon of your own home (or bedroom?). You can’t escape all you can do is limit your exposure, stay close to the Sacraments, Rosary, and scapular.
It doesn’t matter if your in college, working on a job site, or even own your own business, Satan will pop up to temp you and mislead you.
You don’t live on campus so go to class and get out. Steal the “pearls” that you need to achieve your goal and leave the junk behind. God will send good people your way, not everyone on campus is a snaggled toothed monster.
I’m a doctor who spent 4 years in undergrad, 4 years in doc education, and 2 years in post-doc training. Sure there is a lot of sin and temptation on a college campus but I see just as much at the hospitals I work in and clinics where I provide care.
As St Padre Pio says...PRAY, HOPE, and DONT WORRY!
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OP here. Thanks for all the info. I’ve thought about my situation again with this new advice in mind. There is another factor I should mention to clarify things. As of now, I can’t drive by myself to this university since I’m not good at driving in highways, which make up the majority of the route to this school. This results in me having to be driven and getting picked up by my dad. Because of this, I spend way more time at the university than I should. I think this influences my attitude severely because I feel emasculated by this arrangement. It makes me feel “trapped” since I could easily leave earlier on some days or come in later on others due to my class schedule. This also prevents me from potentially getting a job/internship, since I would not be able to provide transport for myself to get to this place of work. Even a job on the campus grounds would be tough, since I probably would not have enough flexibility on my schedule for it.
I brought up my desire to start driving to this university by myself to my mom, who said that I would not be able to do so until this summer. Humanly speaking, I don’t think I can wait until sophomore year to start driving there by myself. Also, on considering the advice given by several posters here, I don’t really desire to be a teacher anymore. I didn’t know that Trad schools don’t require a degree. I may want to teach in one of those someday. Also, switching majors might cause me to lose my scholarship money, so that option not be worth it.
I think I’m going to withdraw after this semester. No point in me going to this place to blow my parents’ money studying for a job I don’t even want anymore. I’m going to look into getting a blue-collar job in the near future. I’m not too sure which one, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to whoever linked the Mike Rowe video by the way. However, I would also like to know about any good religious orders to
make enquiries about a vocation. Can anyone provide any info on traditional religious orders?
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OP here. Thanks for all the info. I’ve thought about my situation again with this new advice in mind. There is another factor I should mention to clarify things. As of now, I can’t drive by myself to this university since I’m not good at driving in highways, which make up the majority of the route to this school. This results in me having to be driven and getting picked up by my dad. Because of this, I spend way more time at the university than I should. I think this influences my attitude severely because I feel emasculated by this arrangement. It makes me feel “trapped” since I could easily leave earlier on some days or come in later on others due to my class schedule. This also prevents me from potentially getting a job/internship, since I would not be able to provide transport for myself to get to this place of work. Even a job on the campus grounds would be tough, since I probably would not have enough flexibility on my schedule for it.
I brought up my desire to start driving to this university by myself to my mom, who said that I would not be able to do so until this summer. Humanly speaking, I don’t think I can wait until sophomore year to start driving there by myself. Also, on considering the advice given by several posters here, I don’t really desire to be a teacher anymore. I didn’t know that Trad schools don’t require a degree. I may want to teach in one of those someday. Also, switching majors might cause me to lose my scholarship money, so that option not be worth it.
I think I’m going to withdraw after this semester. No point in me going to this place to blow my parents’ money studying for a job I don’t even want anymore. I’m going to look into getting a blue-collar job in the near future. I’m not too sure which one, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to whoever linked the Mike Rowe video by the way. However, I would also like to know about any good religious orders to
make enquiries about a vocation. Can anyone provide any info on traditional religious orders?
It's not 1950. You're not just going to walk in to some factory, shake a hand, and get yourself a nice blue-collar job just like that. Almost every job that doesn't require a degree or an apprenticeship these days is minimum wage. All those good blue-collar jobs in the past have either been automated or require some sort of apprenticeship/training now. It's a very, very bad and naive idea to withdraw before you have a plan in place for what comes after, other than "oh I'm sure I'll find a job somewhere".
And while a Trad school's requirements might be different to a normal school, they still aren't going to recruit some random unqualified guy off the street just because he's Catholic. Maybe you should research what sort of qualifications/experience/what have you that they do require.
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It's not 1950. You're not just going to walk in to some factory, shake a hand, and get yourself a nice blue-collar job just like that. Almost every job that doesn't require a degree or an apprenticeship these days is minimum wage. All those good blue-collar jobs in the past have either been automated or require some sort of apprenticeship/training now. It's a very, very bad and naive idea to withdraw before you have a plan in place for what comes after, other than "oh I'm sure I'll find a job somewhere".
And while a Trad school's requirements might be different to a normal school, they still aren't going to recruit some random unqualified guy off the street just because he's Catholic. Maybe you should research what sort of qualifications/experience/what have you that they do require.
Alright, I’ll look into that. I have the time to make a proper plan anyways.
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Is your scholarship only related to teaching? No other degree?
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Can you take some driving classes to get more comfortable? This is a necessary skill that you need ASAP. You might need it for your blue-collar job...which I don’t advise...not yet.
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I think I’m going to withdraw after this semester. No point in me going to this place to blow my parents’ money studying for a job I don’t even want anymore. I’m going to look into getting a blue-collar job in the near future. I’m not too sure which one, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to whoever linked the Mike Rowe video by the way. However, I would also like to know about any good religious orders to
make enquiries about a vocation. Can anyone provide any info on traditional religious orders?
That was me who posted the video and if it were me, I think I would go for heavy equipment operator. For whatever it's downfalls, i.e. seasonal (depending on where you live) weather days off and etc., it is a field that can pay very well for a long time. Play your cards right and get some of your own equipment and go into business for yourself, you can do really, really well. Same goes for HVAC work - I could go on and on, but whatever field you pursue, give it time. Plan to "earn while you learn" which means don't plan to make good money for the first year or so until you know what you're doing and can get paid for being experienced.
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Manual labor jobs are not for everyone. My uncle is an amazing pharmacist. He can rattle off drugs, drug interactions, and molecular compounds that will make your head spin...truly brilliant! But don’t ask him to change a lightbulb, swing hammer, or change the oil in your car.
Only you know you! You’re young. Try a little bit of everything....academics...laborer...apprentice...waiter...cook....eventuallyy something will click. You’ll feel a certain contentment that only comes when you are doing what God wants you to do.
Always pray to know and follow Gods will. He won’t let ya down.