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Post by stjosephprayforus on Apr 10, 2021 7:19:15 GMT
The title is self explanatory. It's been a little over two years since I've last been to confession. During that time, I fell away from the church, spent some time recuperating/healing spiritually in an Eastern Orthodox Church, and have since come back to the Catholic Church for my wife's sake (and now I see, for my own). While I am still a tangled up mess, theologically speaking, I know that I'm not doing myself any favors by delaying going to confession any more. For anyone who happens to read this who, for whatever reason(s), hasn't been to confession in a long time, all I can say is go. Ignore your doubts, fears, anxieties, etc. Just go and do it. I won't promise you that you will walk out of the confessional feeling renewed (this is a spiritual consolation from God that we don't always get to experience after every confession). I've only felt that way a couple times coming out of confession. But even if you feel absolutely nothing. Even if you feel the same, as I did tonight. I still have the confidence to know that my sins are forgiven. Were I to die tonight, God forbid, I can face my Lord. I won't say with confidence, as I will likely have to spend the rest of time (meaning ALL time) in Purgatory or something akin to it. But I have the assurance that, at some point, I would see God in the Beatific vision. Go to confession as often as you need it and it's available. Partake of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist as often as you are able! Don't take these gifts for granted. They are literally the difference between eternity in Heaven and eternity in Hell for so many souls!
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Post by homeschooldad on Apr 10, 2021 14:21:01 GMT
The title is self explanatory. It's been a little over two years since I've last been to confession. During that time, I fell away from the church, spent some time recuperating/healing spiritually in an Eastern Orthodox Church, and have since come back to the Catholic Church for my wife's sake (and now I see, for my own). While I am still a tangled up mess, theologically speaking, I know that I'm not doing myself any favors by delaying going to confession any more. For anyone who happens to read this who, for whatever reason(s), hasn't been to confession in a long time, all I can say is go. Ignore your doubts, fears, anxieties, etc. Just go and do it. I won't promise you that you will walk out of the confessional feeling renewed (this is a spiritual consolation from God that we don't always get to experience after every confession). I've only felt that way a couple times coming out of confession. But even if you feel absolutely nothing. Even if you feel the same, as I did tonight. I still have the confidence to know that my sins are forgiven. Were I to die tonight, God forbid, I can face my Lord. I won't say with confidence, as I will likely have to spend the rest of time (meaning ALL time) in Purgatory or something akin to it. But I have the assurance that, at some point, I would see God in the Beatific vision. Go to confession as often as you need it and it's available. Partake of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist as often as you are able! Don't take these gifts for granted. They are literally the difference between eternity in Heaven and eternity in Hell for so many souls! You did the right thing. I'm a bit overdue myself, because of the COVID lockdown, and need to stay close to home to care for my disabled parents. They are deathly afraid of COVID and are fearful that I will get infected at church and bring it back home to them. I will go when I can.
You are probably not in as bad a spiritual shape, regarding time accrued in purgatory, as you think you may be. Nonetheless, staying in purgatory until the end of the world, painful as it might be, is not nearly as bad as going to hell for all eternity. Seek to love God perfectly in this life, and start working right now on getting plenary indulgences. I know that is a Latin/Roman/Western Christian concept, but even Eastern Christians speak of one's eternal fate being determined in the next life, the "toll houses" phenomenon, and so on. Not sure how much I buy into that, but we do know that there would have to be a horrible battle at the end of one's life, between an evil one who wants your soul in hell, and Our Blessed Lord who wants you to go to heaven. It is not for nothing, that we say "pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death".
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Post by stjosephprayforus on Apr 10, 2021 18:41:48 GMT
Aerial Toll Houses are a pious opinion in Orthodoxy. Despite the claims of converts and trad orthodox, toll houses are "not" a dogmatic belief of the Orthodox Church (and I'm not saying you are claiming they are, just wanted to point that out for the sake of honesty). Eastern Catholics, to my knowledge, almost unanimously reject the idea of toll houses and fully accept Purgatory, just that they interpret it in an Eastern lens. But the concept of purgation after death that can be alleviated by the prayers of the Church is universal in Christian East and West. I'll admit, purgatory is something I have been struggling with recently. I can totally sympathize with protestants and orthodox who argue that indulgences are Catholics "earning" their way into Heaven. I understand that's not at all what the theology behind indulgences are, but since they are so often practiced that way, thought of that way, taught that way, etc, it's easy to see why it causes so much confusion for others. But I trust in God's justice and mercy in equal measure. I won't spend a second in purgatory or purgation beyond what I deserve. I trust in His mercy that He will not let me choose hell.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2021 18:53:14 GMT
Tuesday my wife and myself will be fully vaccinated, as it will make 14 days since our 2nd shot. So, next Saturday we'll go to Confession and then Mass. I too haven't been for two years, but it had to do with health issues. However, during that time I became disgusted with some of the things that took place in my parish. That being said, the priest was removed and we have a new pastor whom I've yet to meet, as he came during the pandemic. We watched some of the Masses he celebrated on YouTube and he seems nice. My dentist who has been vaccinated for a while now, confirmed that the new pastor is really nice.  |
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Post by homeschooldad on Apr 10, 2021 19:13:27 GMT
Aerial Toll Houses are a pious opinion in Orthodoxy. Despite the claims of converts and trad orthodox, toll houses are "not" a dogmatic belief of the Orthodox Church (and I'm not saying you are claiming they are, just wanted to point that out for the sake of honesty). Eastern Catholics, to my knowledge, almost unanimously reject the idea of toll houses and fully accept Purgatory, just that they interpret it in an Eastern lens. But the concept of purgation after death that can be alleviated by the prayers of the Church is universal in Christian East and West. I'll admit, purgatory is something I have been struggling with recently. I can totally sympathize with protestants and orthodox who argue that indulgences are Catholics "earning" their way into Heaven. I understand that's not at all what the theology behind indulgences are, but since they are so often practiced that way, thought of that way, taught that way, etc, it's easy to see why it causes so much confusion for others. But I trust in God's justice and mercy in equal measure. I won't spend a second in purgatory or purgation beyond what I deserve. I trust in His mercy that He will not let me choose hell. I realize that toll houses are not, strictly speaking, Orthodox teaching. Actually, I find it kind of fearsome that there could still be some uncertainty of one's salvation after death --- if I am understanding this right, in the "toll house" concept, God and the evil one are fighting over your soul, and the evil one could conceivably win. However, the flip side of this might be that the soul whom Western theology would understand as being "in mortal sin" (not a concept in Orthodoxy), could turn from eventual damnation to eventual salvation by running the very same "toll house" gauntlet. So God could "win" as well. I fear mightily for all these who die unprepared to face judgment, and pray that God gives them "one final chance" at the moment of apparent death --- "this is IT! --- your life is over, all of your worldly conceits and doubts are over, and you can now see how vain they are, here is where you fall short, here is one last chance for you to choose either for Me, or against Me, after this, there will be no turning back, which one will it be?". I really want to think, if there is that seven minutes that your mind remains conscious after you have quit breathing and your heart has stopped, there will be this "final flash of illumination", and only the most hardened of souls would, at this point, choose against God. Such a last-gasp conversion might mean a lot of time in purgatory, but anything would be better than eternal damnation. |
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Post by stjosephprayforus on Apr 11, 2021 4:18:53 GMT
homeschooldad Of course. Many people, especially later in life, find it difficult to change about anything. And everybody goes through life having one or more gripes with the Church, sooner or later. The best thing you can do with people like these, is pray for them. I'm in no position to give you advice on anything, but all I wanted to say in relation to what you said about your present circumstances, is that I would make sure to always have ready access to the Sacraments as often as you need them. Honoring one's mother and father does not do our soul good if doing so would directly or indirectly necessitate that we forego the Sacrament of Reconciliation when we need it. But, I don't know the specifics of your circumstances and respect that you asked us not to ask. And you are a grown man with more lived experience as a Catholic than I am. So all I can do is offer you encouragement to stay close to the Sacraments as often as you can. God Bless!
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Post by homeschooldad on Apr 11, 2021 5:11:11 GMT
homeschooldad Of course. Many people, especially later in life, find it difficult to change about anything. And everybody goes through life having one or more gripes with the Church, sooner or later. The best thing you can do with people like these, is pray for them. I'm in no position to give you advice on anything, but all I wanted to say in relation to what you said about your present circumstances, is that I would make sure to always have ready access to the Sacraments as often as you need them. Honoring one's mother and father does not do our soul good if doing so would directly or indirectly necessitate that we forego the Sacrament of Reconciliation when we need it. But, I don't know the specifics of your circumstances and respect that you asked us not to ask. And you are a grown man with more lived experience as a Catholic than I am. So all I can do is offer you encouragement to stay close to the Sacraments as often as you can. God Bless! I have deleted my comments above and will be responding via PM. No offense taken, I can just now see that it was an inappropriate narrative that could give rise to misunderstanding. |
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Post by katy777 on Apr 13, 2021 12:41:11 GMT
Congratulations on your return to confession.
May God bless you!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2021 21:49:53 GMT
Well my wide and myself went to Confession then to Mass where we received the Eucharist for the first time in almost 2 years. It was wonderful.
Last Saturday was our 2nd time, but we're concerned. We both have asthma and breathing through a mask is a little taxing at times.
My wife purchased a new style of mask which sits further away from her mouth, but I found the straps are too thick as I wear hearing aids and glasses. So, I'll go back to my usual mask. Hopefully we can get use to wearing a mask at Mass.
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Post by Beryllos on Apr 27, 2021 16:48:42 GMT
... we're concerned. We both have asthma and breathing through a mask is a little taxing at times. My wife purchased a new style of mask which sits further away from her mouth, but I found the straps are too thick as I wear hearing aids and glasses. So, I'll go back to my usual mask. Hopefully we can get use to wearing a mask at Mass. Not sure if this could solve your mask concerns, but there is a style of mask I highly recommend for comfort and usability. It's the South Korean design called KF-94. It is designed to hold the front fabric a little away from the mouth and nostrils, which makes it easier to breathe and talk. The design also allow freer movement of the jaw, which is significant in talking and for mouth breathing.
I am easily able to get them online. They are made in South Korea, but are adequately stocked in the US, where I live, so the shipping is prompt. I get them for $1.50 to $2.00 apiece in 10-packs, shipping included. They are not washable, but we reuse them for a while till they start to get stinky or fuzzy inside.
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