Author Topic: Please help out a Catholic who is honestly struggling (Read 3529 times)

angel123 · « **on:** July 10, 2016, 02:53:43 AM »

Hi all,

I am a born Catholic and from time to time praying. I don't really question my belief growing up since my Baptism happened since childhood, instead now I am in my 20s I really want to build up a proper relationship with God. I have seen how truly beautiful and just so happy how people have full faith in God are and I want to be like one of them.

I really don't know what to say. I feel like my life is half cursed and half blessed. I do grow up in a loving family-now- and what the world would consider having a start of a 'successful career' that I can't stress how grateful I am- but after a really sad 5-7 years of struggles that I finally have it now. There were so many failures, struggles, pain, countless nights of crying till 3/4am because of failures in the past years that still haunt me today. Part of it involved an occasion of child abuse by a house keeper. In a way I feel blessed and proud that I have honestly, truly forgiven that person and I am enjoying life for the most part (the only part might be a bit of bullying maybe due to jealousy of how truly amazing my current life/achievement is), but I also feel cursed as I am extremely afraid that I would lose great things I am enjoying now. At times I feel upset at the bullying and lonely like nobody would probably understand my past leading to my insecurity. That fear and that past is starting to consume me.

In a few days the result of something I have worked so hard for will be out-but my confidence was a bit wrecked think of it like right before an important exams I was facing death of someone very close to home. I don't know how messed up my performance would be because of that, and equally I honestly don't know if I will be able to handle a possible failure from it after so much past failures. I came across online spells or magic or whatever people saying they work, but then my intuition tells me my religion probably wouldn't allow this. I have been praying but I am honestly struggling so much that I would start sweating and feel completely overwhelmed. I am beyond tempted to do whatever crazy things 'might' make it work. I need any reassurance that the result would be great.

I did counselling a bit in the past but you know, the councillor isn't necessarily catholic and would probably not do anything more than guiding me thinking more 'positively'-which yes I do realise that I am blessed in a way- but my interior struggles I talked about still wake up with me.

In a way I am never a person who would give up on life or anything. I don't know if it is the most appropriate forum to post this but I feel very powerless and I just want these struggles to go away. I don't want to talk to my family about this because I don't want them to worry. I also think I will 'come out' stronger if I can overcome these struggles. Thoughts?

Mark 79 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 10, 2016, 05:30:46 AM »

You need a holy priest and our prayers. You have mine.

MyrnaM · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2016, 09:40:03 AM »

Your cross seems to be heavy right now, but in the passing years you will look back and see the truth that God only gives us a cross we can carry.

My advice for you would be to sit back and think about which of these crosses are sent by God and which ones did you cause yourself by the choices you made. There is a difference. What is past is past, and those crosses you created by wrong choices are lessons learned now, and you can turn those lessons into a positive instead of always thinking of the negative. Don't do it again!

There is this quote from Abe Lincoln, that I enjoy. "The best thing about the future; it comes one day at a time".

Mark79 advice was the best, you need a holy priest, not one of the mainstream modernist ones to talk to; also you need to ask Our Lady for help, wear her scapular and pray her rosary daily. The 5 decades of the rosary when prayed, does not take that much out of your day, and it is very powerful.

mw2016 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 10, 2016, 02:41:51 PM »

I second the rec to find a good priest to talk to. They can often be the best counselors!

OBrien · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2016, 04:01:59 PM »

Avoid opening up the door to spells or magic at all costs. Nothing good or holy can come from them.

Visit Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and lay everything at His feet. The world around us is too busy and we cannot hear God speaking to us with all the chaos.

Bless yourself daily with holy water, wear the Scapular, pray the Rosary, pray daily the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel.

Speak to a good priest. I am sure if you share a vague location many here can help you find a good priest.

Make a retreat at a Traditional Catholic retreat house. Perhaps, visit a convent.

But do not open the door to any more failures or evils by resorting to Magic or spells.

You are in my prayers,
OBrien

nctradcath · « **Reply #5 on:** July 10, 2016, 04:09:22 PM »

I also recommenced that you become enrolled in the brown scapular by a traditional priest and commit to the daily rosary and all the the scapular responsibilities. I also recommend going to him for guidance. It seems that guidance from a true priest is what you need.

songbird · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2016, 04:52:05 PM »

A valid priest/valid ordination so that you can receive sacraments. The Power is in the Precious Blood which is in ALL of the sacraments. Take Our Lady with you in all your needs. Many Rosaries and we will keep you in prayer.

angel123 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 11, 2016, 07:47:24 AM »

Thank you so, so much everyone. Reading all these make me tear up a bit :)
I never thought about talking to a priest but not it seems like an option. I will definitely do so!
I really hope that I can find that strength in God.

Geremia · « **Reply #8 on:** July 11, 2016, 11:19:41 AM »

God is infinitely merciful, and we're closest to him when suffering. His sending us crosses is an act of mercy. Mercy isn't about making us feel all fuzzy like Antipope Francis makes it seem; His mercy enables us to cooperate with His grace to avoid sin.

Degrelle · « **Reply #9 on:** July 13, 2016, 02:53:25 PM »

You did very well to listen to your intuition -- it was telling you the right thing! Spells and magic are extremely dangerous, because when they work, it is because of the intervention of the Devil and they can easily lead to demonic possession or oppression. So thank God for your good intuition thanks to a Catholic upbringing and grace.

It sounds like you have lots of crosses -- you have my sympathy and prayers. But I think all of us could look back on our lives and see many many many failures and -- like you -- say that we see both blessings and curses in our lives.

I have always found that in dark times, the book "Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence" has been very helpful to me.

I think that what others have suggested, making contact with a good priest, would be the best thing you could do to help yourself out. They are not only trained and experienced to help with precisely these difficulties, but they also have the grace of their office as priests.

The flag next to your name is small, but it looks to be the Australian flag. I would recommend that you look up Fr. Julian Gilchrist who I have met and everything I have heard about him is that he's a wonderful priest:

Fr. Julian Gilchrist
Chateau de Carmel
F Grid 040494
Kersbrook, Adelaide
5231
Email Form
Ph - 0475790212

poche · « **Reply #10 on:** July 21, 2016, 03:08:21 AM »

Why not start a regular daily routine of prayer. Pray the rosary every day. Do the Stations of the Cross. Read some good books like "The Story of a Soul" by St Therese of Lisieux, or the "Glories of Mary" by St Alphonsus Ligouri.

Cato · « **Reply #11 on:** July 23, 2016, 02:29:57 AM »

It sounds like you are suffering from simple depression. Take a step back and realize that.

You have your health, family, an education, and most importantly God's love. Your soul is bound for Heaven.

Failure is a part of life; you are a whole lot more fortunate than most people, even with your traumas.

You have to keep your spirits up. Go to mass often and do things that you enjoy. Don't let these petty issues depress you.

poche · « **Reply #12 on:** August 12, 2016, 11:20:56 PM »

Remember that success in the eyes of the world is different from success in the eyes of God.

Marlelar · « **Reply #13 on:** August 13, 2016, 12:31:58 AM »

You might also consider praying the Litany of Humility.

Litany of Humility

nctradcath · « **Reply #14 on:** August 13, 2016, 05:19:37 AM »

Songbird pointed out that 15 daily decades of the rosary was a great aide for her against sadness, but it would probably be good to start out with 5 fervent decades daily.