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Hi, guys —
I feel I'm never good enough to follow the
Catholic Church and her teachings, though
I know they are right. My priest thinks I
have Religious (OCD) Obsessive–Compulsive
Disorder.
- I'm always doubting my Confession
- I feel I'm never good enough to be a Catholic
- I'm constantly having evil, impure, sexual
thoughts, and
when I try to block them they only
increase.
I pray, but it usually
gets worse.
I thought I should just leave the Church
and just study the Word on my own, but I love
the RCC (Roman Catholic Church) community
and Holy Communion; I just never feel good
enough.
I have even written you before acting like I
didn't believe in the Church, just to get answers
I was craving to find out about, but it gets
so overwhelming that I honestly feel that
I can't follow all the Church's teachings. I constantly question myself.
I seek not only
your advice but If you could put me in contact
with a group, website, etc; that could help
me, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you, and God Bless you!!
Shawn
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Paul
replied:
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Shawn,
Nobody can follow all the teachings
of the Church; everyone struggles
with them. The pope does. The last
two that didn't were Jesus and Mary . . . and
the Church wasn't even yet established
then.
My suggestion is a regular regimen
of the Sacrament of Confession. Once
a week if needed; perhaps more or
less. The grace that comes from that
sacrament is amazing. Keep persevering.
Some sins can be obsessive or addictive
and might take much time get past
them but keep confessing, keep resolving,
and keep attempting to do whatever
you can in your life to lessen the
temptation to sin . . . and continue
to persevere.
Also, look into getting a good spiritual
director.
- Maybe you could call your
diocese and ask who does spiritual
direction?
That too can be a great
help and inspiration. Finally, try
to find good Catholic friends to
hang out with and be supported by.
Perhaps some kind of group on the
parish or diocesan level will have
people like yourself who are a similar
age (and/or) have similar struggles.
I'm sure there are other good suggestions.
Perhaps my colleagues will add to
these.
And remember, pray as if everything
depends on God, work as if everything
depends on you.
Seeking grace and
cooperating with it are essential
in remaining in God's friendship and
don't give up! He who
gets up after falling must elicit
a prolonged applause from the angels
in Heaven.
Paul
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Shawn
replied:
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Hi, Paul —
Thank you so much.
Your words were
very encouraging.
Shawn
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