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Author Topic: Dealing with Spiritual Warfare (Doubt)  (Read 783 times)

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Änσnymσus

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Dealing with Spiritual Warfare (Doubt)
« on: September 25, 2019, 03:53:03 PM »
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  • So recently I am truly experiencing some dark inner struggle or spiritual warfare as I mention in the title. As our lord said: "in the end times deception will be so great that even the ellect would be deceived if the times were not short". I mean so many attempts at relativizing the holy scriptures, the denial of God, the denial of even the objectivity of the morality, evolution, you name it. This attempt of liberation from God and the ten commandments truly puts our faith to a test, its like deep down the devil whispers me smoothly: "Why are you fasting? Why you pray? Why you go to Mass? Why do you abstain from the pleasures? Why you struggle in this modern world? Hop in! Have fun! Eat and Drink! Go for fornication! You are wasting your life in pursuit of this nonexistant idea." Truly is seducting the disease that the modern man caught, as Dostoievsky said: "If there is no God, everything is permitted", we can kill, we can rape, we can commit adultery, we can steal, you name it. I m just wondering is it normal to experience doubt? My reasonable answer would be to expect what you cant see, because that is what faith is, always bring doubt. But where was the doubt of the thousands of martyrs who gave their lifes, where was the doubt of the thousand of warriors who charged down the heathen lines for God, who left their homes, their money, their wifes, their family for God. I refuse to believe that these men died in pursuit of a fallacy and whoever holds this belief is truly a stupid man. Maybe this is a test from God like the parable of the sower who plants the seed in the middle of the thorns but the seed was chocked by them and didnt give fruit, I hope I am not one of those. I pray to God that he rids me of this tribulation and increase by faith and I make admonition to you brothers in Christ that you "pray for me, that my faith ceases not".


    Offline Matto

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    Re: Dealing with Spiritual Warfare (Doubt)
    « Reply #1 on: September 25, 2019, 03:57:57 PM »
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  • After belief comes doubt and after doubt comes stronger belief. First, the devil attacks by tempting them with illicit pleasures. But if one shows that they are willing to avoid pleasures for the sake of the faith, then the devil attacks the faith directly.
    R.I.P.
    Please pray for the repose of my soul.


    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Dealing with Spiritual Warfare (Doubt)
    « Reply #2 on: September 25, 2019, 04:23:56 PM »
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  • So recently I am truly experiencing some dark inner struggle or spiritual warfare as I mention in the title. As our lord said: "in the end times deception will be so great that even the ellect would be deceived if the times were not short". I mean so many attempts at relativizing the holy scriptures, the denial of God, the denial of even the objectivity of the morality, evolution, you name it. This attempt of liberation from God and the ten commandments truly puts our faith to a test, its like deep down the devil whispers me smoothly: "Why are you fasting? Why you pray? Why you go to Mass? Why do you abstain from the pleasures? Why you struggle in this modern world? Hop in! Have fun! Eat and Drink! Go for fornication! You are wasting your life in pursuit of this nonexistant idea." Truly is seducting the disease that the modern man caught, as Dostoievsky said: "If there is no God, everything is permitted", we can kill, we can rape, we can commit adultery, we can steal, you name it. I m just wondering is it normal to experience doubt? My reasonable answer would be to expect what you cant see, because that is what faith is, always bring doubt. But where was the doubt of the thousands of martyrs who gave their lifes, where was the doubt of the thousand of warriors who charged down the heathen lines for God, who left their homes, their money, their wifes, their family for God. I refuse to believe that these men died in pursuit of a fallacy and whoever holds this belief is truly a stupid man. Maybe this is a test from God like the parable of the sower who plants the seed in the middle of the thorns but the seed was chocked by them and didnt give fruit, I hope I am not one of those. I pray to God that he rids me of this tribulation and increase by faith and I make admonition to you brothers in Christ that you "pray for me, that my faith ceases not".
    It seems that your doubts are what are referred to as “negative doubts.”   That is, there is no reasonable basis for them; they simply ask the question, “What if...?” But supply no rationale to support them.
    The proof of this is that they most likely occur to you suddenly and randomly, and they are therefore also referred to as “intrusive thoughts,” which can be anxiety-inducing if you do not know how to counter them (which leads me to believe you are a younger person under 30).
    These types of torments almost surely diabolical in origin, and God permits most of the truly faithful to be tested in this way.
    It’s not just you.
    The primary technique in dealing with negative doubts and intrusive thoughts is to play a game with them, saying within yourself, “Oh yeah, that again,” then purposefully distracting yourself with brief acts of faith (“do the opposite” the saints say).
    One priest told me that every time such thoughts occur, to say within yourself, “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, save souls.”  This, because not only can man not consent to two thoughts at once (they blot each other out), but the devil is foiled each and every time he tempts you in this way, since you are gaining merit by his temptations.
    I would also highly recommend Josef Pieper’s book “The Cardinal Virtues,” paying particular attention to the sections on prudence and fortitude.

    Online Ladislaus

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    Re: Dealing with Spiritual Warfare (Doubt)
    « Reply #3 on: September 25, 2019, 05:04:16 PM »
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  • I pray to God that he rids me of this tribulation and increase by faith and I make admonition to you brothers in Christ that you "pray for me, that my faith ceases not".

    This suggests that you still believe.  True faith is a bit deeper down in the soul and isn't directly related to thoughts per se.  Some saints experienced very severe "doubts" but in fact this was a way for God to strengthen their faith.  Just keep making acts of the intellect and the will contrary to these intrusive thoughts of doubt, and your faith will grow.  Above all, ask God for faith and more faith.  He will not fail to give you what you seek.

    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Dealing with Spiritual Warfare (Doubt)
    « Reply #4 on: September 25, 2019, 05:50:48 PM »
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  • Ah, you are earning your crown.  Chapter 12 of Daniel, the Mass will come to an end for about 3 and half years.  Those in tribulation, will be remanat.  In the 2nd volume of the City of God, Our Lady explains we suffer and if not, then how do you get your crown?  Christ suffered, we suffer here or in purgatory.  

    Problem is some of us did not get 101 in our education about how to suffer.  Rosary!!  Try 3 times a day.  We are nearing Chapter 12 of Daniel.


    Offline Geremia

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    Re: Dealing with Spiritual Warfare (Doubt)
    « Reply #5 on: October 03, 2019, 09:31:20 PM »
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  • First, the devil attacks by tempting them with illicit pleasures.
    I think first he tries to make us settle for lesser goods or overindulge in licit pleasures.
    St. Isidore e-book library: https://isidore.co/calibre

    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Dealing with Spiritual Warfare (Doubt)
    « Reply #6 on: October 03, 2019, 09:51:23 PM »
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  • [ quote] Chapter 12 of Daniel, the Mass will come to an end for about 3 and half years. Those in tribulation, will be remanat. In the 2nd volume of the City of God, Our Lady explains we suffer and if not, then how do you get your crown? Christ suffered, we suffer here or in purgatory. [/quote]
    How do dogmatic sedes reconcile over 50 years of the Mass ending with the Scriptures saying it will be 3 1/2 years?

    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Dealing with Spiritual Warfare (Doubt)
    « Reply #7 on: October 03, 2019, 09:55:00 PM »
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    Chapter 12 of Daniel, the Mass will come to an end for about 3 and half years. Those in tribulation, will be remanat. In the 2nd volume of the City of God, Our Lady explains we suffer and if not, then how do you get your crown? Christ suffered, we suffer here or in purgatory.

    How do dogmatic sedes reconcile over 50 years of the Mass ending with the Scriptures saying it will be 3 1/2 years?


    Änσnymσus

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    Re: Dealing with Spiritual Warfare (Doubt)
    « Reply #8 on: October 03, 2019, 09:55:48 PM »
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    Chapter 12 of Daniel, the Mass will come to an end for about 3 and half years. Those in tribulation, will be remanat.


    How do dogmatic sedes reconcile over 50 years of the Mass ending with the Scriptures saying it will be 3 1/2 years?