Being an American who was not raised a Catholic I am constantly fighting against Jansenist tendencies which greatly impedes confidence in God. Please pray that I may be able to get out God's way and let Him act in my life more fully.

Thank you.

 

had flirts with that too, get some good books, good confessor....there is abook out there about scruples, may/may not be helpful......

for me, more struggle with the effects of being modern European American, militantly hetero-sɛҳuąƖ in this culture....

I agree with the Capt.  Jansenism is quite a complex subject. A lot of information has been lost. Some of it is difficult to understand from this late perspective.  In any case, Jansenism was condemned for certain violations of correct understanding of the operation of free will.

Some N.O. people regard going to Mass every Sunday and Holyday, or following rigorous rules of fasting, all of which is part of firm traditional Catholicism, as being unnecessarily rigorous
 
If you mean scrupulosity, then there are different ways of approaching this which should be advice coming from a well trained priest.  

In any case, I'll say a prayer for you. We all need that.

 

Thank you all for your prayers.

had flirts with that too, get some good books, good confessor....there is abook out there about scruples, may/may not be helpful......

I am most interested in any books that you recommend. I live too far from a chapel to get to confession regularly, but I am hoping to move closer to one as soon as I can.

for me, more struggle with the effects of being modern European American, militantly hetero-sɛҳuąƖ in this culture....

I agree. The more castrated our society becomes the more I get disgusted with it. It's no wonder women wear pants. Somebody has to.

Will   for you but what do you consider jansenist tendencies?

The thought that God will not act in my life until I have made myself worthy enough to have merited His help. But read on...

I agree with the Capt.  Jansenism is quite a complex subject. A lot of information has been lost. Some of it is difficult to understand from this late perspective.  In any case, Jansenism was condemned for certain violations of correct understanding of the operation of free will.

So I am learning. My introduction to Jansenism was from an article I read at TIA on the Sacred Heart. Here is the relevant passage:

The Jansenist doctrine was born from a spirit of pride and self-sufficiency. It suggested man could not receive anything from God without having first merited it morally or intellectually. It was an attempt to harness the infinite largesse of God to the small confines of justice and reciprocity within the finite limits of the understanding of man.

Essentially, inspired by St. Gertrude the Great and other stories of God's providence, I ask God for some spiritual or temporal favor and then either chastise myself for not being worthy of the favor (which of course I'm not) or for being greedy. Either way I, of my own free will, refuse the very favor I asked for.

Some N.O. people regard going to Mass every Sunday and Holyday, or following rigorous rules of fasting, all of which is part of firm traditional Catholicism, as being unnecessarily rigorous

Silly prots, the Mass is for saints.
 

If you mean scrupulosity, then there are different ways of approaching this which should be advice coming from a well trained priest.

I have always had a horrible case of scruples, but I have been dealing with them better of late.

In any case, I'll say a prayer for you. We all need that.

Thank you again. I appreciate it.

Whensoever doubts, scruples, terrors, temptations and other adversities assail your heart, have recourse to the Holy Name of Jesus, devoutly pronouncing it whilst abandoning yourself in filial confidence to the designs of Divine Providence, confiding not in your merits or efforts but upon the infinite clemency and charity of Our Lord God and the maternal patronage of His Blessed Mother and the wondrous tutelage of the glorious St. Joseph.

Thank you so much for that wonderful devotion. I received a Infant Jesus of Prague prayer card some years ago but I have made use of it too few times. More recently I have been thinking of making a novena, however, I make this excuse or that and haven't done so. I shall do so tomorrow. You can hold me to that.

Thank you all again. You are all in my prayers as well.

Thank you, poche. I appreciate it.