Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => Catholic Living in the Modern World => Topic started by: Caminus on June 26, 2025, 04:46:21 PM
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My son is suffering from depression, doubt, anxiety and temptations to despair. He says his mind is in a fog and he is questioning reality as he has known it up to this point. He was raised a traditional catholic and graduated from a traditional catholic school. He admitted he's struggling to even attend mass on Sundays. I could really use some advice on how to help him if there's any others who have dealt with this. I should also add that he struggles with same sex attraction which is probably causing him much sorrow and torturing his conscience.
I was hoping to collect direct quotes from saints on their struggles with temptations to doubt, depression, confusion of mind, etc. Please share a quote if you have any. For example, I recall one saint who was so tempted to doubt the faith that he clasped the creed to his chest and repeatedly said it when the temptation struck. I've heard St. Therese of the Child Jesus was tempted by doubt and even thoughts of taking her own life.
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My son is suffering from depression, doubt, anxiety and temptations to despair. He says his mind is in a fog and he is questioning reality as he has known it up to this point. He was raised a traditional catholic and graduated from a traditional catholic school. He admitted he's struggling to even attend mass on Sundays. I could really use some advice on how to help him if there's any others who have dealt with this. I should also add that he struggles with same sex attraction which is probably causing him much sorrow and torturing his conscience.
I was hoping to collect direct quotes from saints on their struggles with temptations to doubt, depression, confusion of mind, etc. Please share a quote if you have any. For example, I recall one saint who was so tempted to doubt the faith that he clasped the creed to his chest and repeatedly said it when the temptation struck. I've heard St. Therese of the Child Jesus was tempted by doubt and even thoughts of taking her own life.
I'm sorry to here that he is going through that. I had the opposite problem, before becoming traditional Catholic I was questioning reality due modern lies by the jews and co and conspiracy theories trying to make sense of it. The Catholic faith has allowed me to become grounded (Christ is the rock/cornerstone).
It can be very difficult to do things when depressed. I think the Saints said that depression is extreme sadness. Scripture says that when you are sad you should pray.
Is any of you sad? Let him pray. Is he cheerful in mind? Let him sing.
[James 5:13]
This may be a cross he will need to carry, just keep in mind God does not send us anything we can't handle (if not by ourselves then by acquiring the grace to do so by prayer). He will just need to continue going to mass and saying his prayers even if he forces himself. Better to pray poorly than not at all.
As for same sex attraction. There is a difference between lust and love that the modern world does not distinguish. David and Jonathan loved each other but they weren't abominable in their love. It can be caused by; parasites, vaccines, past sɛҳuąƖ abuse and brainwashing among other things. Also admiring a man's beauty is not the same as wanting to do evil things with him.
Also the age of your son is important. Is he a child, teens or adult? A guy might also mistake being attracted to men if women have never been kind to them, only receiving kindness/empathy from other guys. (Communication styles from women is also different from men so ignorance on this can cause all kinds of misunderstandings).
Finally it's important to keep in mind that temptations are not sins. So being tempted by same sex attraction is not the same as being gαy. That temptation is a cross some people are given. What matters is consenting to it or not.
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It’s not a sin to be depressed: What St Philip Neri and St Thomas Aquinas have to say
Telling someone depression is a sin is like telling a paralysed man to get up and walk, but without any of Christ’s power to make it happen.
https://www.wmreview.org/p/depression-aquinas-neri
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I'm sorry to here that he is going through that. I had the opposite problem, before becoming traditional Catholic I was questioning reality due modern lies by the jews and co and conspiracy theories trying to make sense of it. The Catholic faith has allowed me to become grounded (Christ is the rock/cornerstone).
It can be very difficult to do things when depressed. I think the Saints said that depression is extreme sadness. Scripture says that when you are sad you should pray.
Is any of you sad? Let him pray. Is he cheerful in mind? Let him sing.
[James 5:13]
This may be a cross he will need to carry, just keep in mind God does not send us anything we can't handle (if not by ourselves then by acquiring the grace to do so by prayer). He will just need to continue going to mass and saying his prayers even if he forces himself. Better to pray poorly than not at all.
As for same sex attraction. There is a difference between lust and love that the modern world does not distinguish. David and Jonathan loved each other but they weren't abominable in their love. It can be caused by; parasites, vaccines, past sɛҳuąƖ abuse and brainwashing among other things. Also admiring a man's beauty is not the same as wanting to do evil things with him.
Also the age of your son is important. Is he a child, teens or adult? A guy might also mistake being attracted to men if women have never been kind to them, only receiving kindness/empathy from other guys. (Communication styles from women is also different from men so ignorance on this can cause all kinds of misunderstandings).
Finally it's important to keep in mind that temptations are not sins. So being tempted by same sex attraction is not the same as being gαy. That temptation is a cross some people are given. What matters is consenting to it or not.
Well-said Anthony!