FEB/MAR 2017
ASK A PRIEST
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM
PRIEST STAFF
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
Father Carlos
Morales
"For 10 yrs
I had
very deep
experiences, but suddenly I left all and lost myself.
Two yrs ago I felt presence of the saint in the form of light who
wanted to take
me back. In a moment I realized there is a spiritual battle for our
souls"- Z.L.
Father:
I
had for 10 yrs very deep experiences, but suddenly I left all and
lost myself. Two years ago I felt presence of the
saint
in the form of light who
wanted to take me back. In a moment I realized there is a spiritual
battle for our souls, I saw a hell and heaven and all changed. But I
was pulled back so strong by the enemy that I fell many times. Over
course of time I felt support of the heaven, many signs I had from
my angel guardian, things materialized as a warning to be alert and
before trials even an unknown man in the street suddenly told me 'Is
everything clear to you'. But my faith was not strong, it was
terrible battle between me and enemy and I had full support, but I
acted stupidly, I was healed from mental and
physical ailments, but fell again. So many times I failed and it was
always drastic and I knew God has a plan for me. But then, knowing
all this, losing my faith, feeling left, I was not left, I did
commit very immoral sin, ever since I lost my contact with spirit, I
can not repent, physically I feel ruined. I read there is
unpardonable sin if one with full consciousness commits sins, I knew
everything and yet I did it. I go regularly in church, confess my
faults, but feel no way out. Please help with advice. I was
invited to be part of this spiritual revolution, I saw it, now all
went totally wrong. I remember how God forgave my sins when I
didn't know what I was doing, now it is different. I had a call
from God and I saw what is not really easy to see. Yet, I
sinned terribly. Thank you. - Z.J.
_______________________________________________________
Z.J.
The unforgivable sin as described in the New Testament (the
Christian scriptures) does NOT apply to you at this time in your
life.
In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 12, Verse 10, Luke writes Jesus'
words down for us:
"Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be
forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will
not be forgiven."
If you had truly committed the unforgivable sin of blasphemy against
the Holy Spirit, you would not be writing to me today. Those who
have committed this unforgivable sin do not care if they are
forgiven for they cannot repent and have no feelings or concern
about their relationship with God. Since you have great love for
God despite your own weakness and sinfulness, you have NOT committed
this unforgivable sin. And despite your own doubts about the
infinite mercy of God, your concern for your salvation means that
you are still in touch with God's mercy. Remember what I have
written: those who have committed the unforgivable sin do not care
about God's love for them at all. They do not repent because they
do not believe at all. They do not care about heaven and hell
because they don't believe in their eternal destination after
death. You are not in that group. You ache for God's mercy, you
actively seek God's love, and you are concerned for your salvation
in Jesus Christ. These are signs that you are following God with
your heart and soul and not turning your back on Him who created you
no matter what sins you have committed. So get back on track.
Continue to ask forgiveness of your sins, continue to get on your
knees in prayer, continue to trust in Jesus as your Lord and
Savior. Be humble before the Lord. In the Letter of James, Chapter
4, Verse 10, it is written:
"Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you."
You have stated that you have had deep mystical experiences of
God's presence in your life, even communicated spiritually with
angels. Then you know about God's love and mercy. Trust in God's
mercy, the mercy you have seen with your soul's eyes. You are loved
beyond human description!
God knows your struggles. Trust in Him. You have your place in
heaven. In the Gospel of John, Chapter 14, Verse 1, Jesus says
this:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God, have
faith also in Me. In my Father's house, there are many dwelling
places (mansions). If there were not, would I have told you that I
am going to prepare a place for you?"
Be at peace and stop obsessing on your weakness. Instead, obsess on
the mercy of God which lasts forever. -
Father
Carlos Morales
"Can God change the future
of my girlfriend's life?
- Tenang
Father Carlos:
Can God change the future? I am
really worried about my girlfriend's life. Sometimes people speak
ill of her for nothing and I believe that God is the who will never
let the wrong things happen what people speak ill of her and I'm
afraid for her life and my only hope is God. Father, can my prayer
change her life? - Tenang
___________________________________________________________
Tenang:
God cannot change the future because the future has NOT happened
yet. I want you to be clear about this issue of praying for God to
change the future. God does not predestine us to a particular road
of life. I have free will. I make my own destiny. I make my own
future. God does NOT make my future or anyone's else's future. I
make my own future. Your girlfriend makes her own future, not God.
Your girlfriend is in charge of her own destiny. Your girlfriend is
making her own future and God does not interfere in her own life
decisions. I do appreciate your care and concern for her. I
appreciate your love for her. You don't want anything bad to happen
to her. You want her to have a wonderful and bright future. But
that is not up to you nor to God. It is up to her to make her
future wonderful and happy. So, you can help her make the right
decisions for her future by standing by her, listening to her, and
even advising her when you think she is making bad decisions that
will impact her future. You can help her make a better future.
Now, as to people saying negative and hurtful things about her,
please know that other people's opinions about your girlfriend is
really irrelevant to her and you. People can say all sorts of
negative things about you and her, but so what? You have to answer
to God for your decisions and your life. But others do not truly
understand your life and feelings. There is no need to defend
yourselves against people who know nothing about you. At the same
time, I hope you think about what people say to make sure that you
are not doing something destructive for your own future. But don't
focus and obsess on the bad comments that others can say about you
or your girlfriend. Focus on God's love for everyone and help your
girlfriend make a great and happy future through your listening to
her and helping her. Remember, God cannot change the future because
the future has NOT happened yet. Our future is in our hands.
- Father Carlos Morales
"During
Confession I forget the complete Act of Contrition.
Is that a valid confession?" - Jose
Father Carlos:
During confession
when the priest ask you to pray the act of contrition and you do
not know or forget the complete prayer. Is that a valid confession?
After confession I was able to pray the complete prayer. Thanks you
for your answer - Jose
_________________________________________________________
Jose:
Your act of going to confession (the Sacrament of
Penance/Reconciliation) is in itself an "act of contrition." The
sacrament of Penance is valid when there is true contrition of sin,
an open heart to repentance, and receiving the sacramental
absolution given by the priest confessor. And your prayer stating
your act of contrition (asking forgiveness) doesn't necessarily have
to be a set prayer or formal prayer from a prayer book or
catechism. You can say any impromptu prayer of repentance before
receiving absolution. Even your so-called incomplete formal prayer
of contrition is acceptable for a valid confession because even
though you were probably nervous about confession, the prayer came
from the heart (which is what God wants from you). Be at peace.
Your confession is valid! God's mercy is richly bestowed upon you
because you are truly loved as you are forever!
Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. Alleluia! -
Father Carlos Morales
"My husband and I are pre-planning our
burial arrangements
and want to know if we (both Catholic) must be buried in a
Catholic cemetery. - Clare
Father:
My husband and I are
pre-planning our burial arrangements and want to know if we (both
Catholic) must be buried in a Catholic cemetery. I prefer a
particular cemetery which is not a diocesan cemetery and therefore
not consecrated ground. I think that at the gravesite, the priest
blesses the ground. Is that sufficient? Thank you, Clare
______________________________________________________________
Clare:
In my archdiocese, you can be buried at any cemetery. Though being
buried in a Catholic cemetery is like being buried in a church
because the ground and the area of the cemetery is consecrated for
the sacred use of Christians who have died awaiting the resurrection
of the dead at the end of time. But, as you stated correctly, the
deacon, priest, or bishop blesses and consecrates the grave that
your body will be placed in any cemetery. Please be at peace as you
plan for future events such as your death. You are wise to do so as
not to burden your surviving family members with such details. I am
sure that you still have a long life ahead of you!
- Father
Morales
"In 1995 I was
stricken with mental illness OCD. Over
time, stricken with Borderline Personality Disorder.
Why doesn't God want to help me? Why? - James
Father:
In 1995 I was stricken with the
mental illness OCD. I've also, over time, been stricken with
Borderline Personality Disorder. Everything I do has been hard,
extremely hard. Took me 6 years to get through college. I had to
rack up 200k in debt. I can't pay it back. I made it to graduate
school, but my mental illness prevented me from finishing. Along the
way I worked retail from 2004 to 2011 when I got fired. Couldn't
find work again until 2013 and I got laid off. In 2015 I broke my
back, spent the whole year walking with a cane and in bed. In 2016 I
had surgery and spent the year recovering. I am dirt poor. I have
mental illness. I can't find work. I can't get help from the
government. My mom died in 2008 and I've tried to help my aging
father. But I can't. I have no friends, I've only had one real
relationship and I am constantly alone. The one constant, for the
last 22 years is that's I've prayed. I've said rosaries, chaplets,
gone to mass, tried to be a good Christian and the only thing that
changes is that things get worse. Because our family desperately
needs help and no one will hire me in my small town, I prayed a 54
day rosary novena asking to win the lottery or somehow come into
money. We have no running water, our house is falling apart, our
livestock is getting inadequate treatment, and we can't repair our
car. Every day we have something happen. My question: obviously
God said no to my prayers. Why? Is it because He doesn't listen to
the mentally ill, or that I'm just meant to suffer? As I get older I
don't see the point of living. I have nothing, not even my health
anymore. Why? - James
_______________________________________________________________
James:
God has not said "no" to your prayers. On the contrary, He knows
exactly what you need before you ask Him. In the Gospel of Matthew,
Chapter 6, Verse 8, Jesus says this: "Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."
Then Jesus went on to teach His disciples the prayer, The Our
Father. I want to commend your focus on prayer and your trust that
God is with you and your family and will fulfill your needs and the
needs of your animals and livestock. I also am humbled by your
faith and trust in God despite your many obstacles that lay before
you. You are an amazing person, with an amazing ability to overcome
and survive despite what has happened to you. You continue to go
forward in knowing that all will be made good for you and your
family. I feel your frustration through your words. But God has
accepted your prayer, feels your aching heart, and sees your
suffering and appreciates it because His Son, Jesus, suffered on the
cross for all of us. As to the timing of your answered prayer, I
cannot tell you.
But your prayers will be answered. Your prayer to win the lottery
jackpot may or may not be answered, but you will have what you will
need to live and go forward as you have so far despite the
insecurity of not knowing how you will pay the bills the next day.
Yet each day, despite the negative, something positive happens. It
is these little blessings in disguise that show that God is with
you.
God has not said "no" to you. He is saying "yes" to you.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often times makes a person focus
solely on the negative and the bad. OK, then, let's work with what
you have. Make your OCD focus on the good around you. Change the
obsessiveness of your brain to focus on the good. Each day, make a
list of the good things you see.
Let's start simply by writing down another sunrise. Give thanks for
the warmth of the sun and the light of a new day. Focus on that.
Then focus on the love of your parents and your animals and
livestock have for you. Focus on the food and sustenance that you
have and give thanks. Focus on the times that people have helped
you in small ways. Start a new habit of obsessiveness by focusing
on the good and not on the bad. This will take a lot of work on
your part.
But you have done so much already. You work hard in trying to
control your own reactions to things around you. Don't give up.
Once you change the direction of your OCD in a positive way, you
will begin to see how God is answering your prayers and needs. Make
your OCD work for you. You are an amazing person! You will
overcome! -
Father
Morales
"While growing
up I was taught God assigned each person
a guardian angel. If a guardian angel
does exist, why do we
experience these entities from taking over our lives and causing
bad/horrible things from occurring? - Tim
Father Carlos:
My question is this, growing up we were always taught God assigned
each individual person a guardian angel, or an angel sent to protect
you from harm, and I realize God has a plan and some forms of
physical harm may not be interfered with. My question revolves
around attachment, especially that of a negative or evil entity. If
a guardian angel does exist, why do we experience these entities
from taking over our lives and causing bad/horrible things from
occurring, why would a guardian angel not protect us from this? How
can demonic presences overtake these angels sent specifically to
protect us? Sincerely, - Tim
____________________________________________________________
Tim:
The idea of guardian angels for each of us comes from Psalm 91,
Verse 13:
"For to His angels He
has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways."
And there are many other biblical verses that attest to angels
protecting us on our journey through life. I don't always
understand how the spiritual world works, but I do now that God
never abandons us. Some may abandon God, but God never fails to
love us no matter what. As to how evil entities, demonic presences,
get attached to some at times, I do not know how this works. But I
do know from the testimonies of those that have battled with the
demonic entities that the Spirit of God always wins out. Victory is
in Jesus Christ and His Blood shed for us. God protects us, but He
can't protect us from ourselves since we have free will and freely
make decisions that have consequences in our lives and the lives of
others around us. That is the suffering you have mentioned in your
question. Bad things that happen to us often come at the hands
of others and myself. But as to the mystery of demonic entities
attacking good people, I don't have a good answer for the reason
why. I just now that God always delivers and intervenes when
necessary to save those who trust in Him alone.
That is what faith is all about: believing and trusting in God
despite not knowing all the answers to my questions and doubts.
With my faith in God, I can go forward and not look back. And I
know that God is with me by the presence of His angels which are
manifestations and emanations of His divine power. -
Father Carlos Morales
"I
have 16 brothers and one sister. My father was an alcoholic and my
mom has told so many lies but I believe that it is only to survive.
I
pray every night for my family so that I can get along with
them. Is it a sin to think
about suicide?" - Mammabert
Father Carlos:
I have talked to so many priests about fighting in my family. I
have 16 brothers and sister, my father was an alcoholic and my mom
has told so many lies but I believe that it is only to survive. I
love my family with all my heart but I really don’t like they way
they fight, so I stay away and try not to get involved in the chaos.
I have been told by other Priests that I need to call my Mom. I
know it is God’s Commandment to Honor your Father and Mother but if
she is causing so much trouble and also causing you so much stress
isn’t it better to stay away than to let your feeling turn into
something poor. I pray for my family every night and that I can get
along with them because the problem could very well be me that can't
seem to get along with them. Please give me your opinion. I would
like to not have any contact with them. There is so much more that
I could put in here that has gone wrong and I am just now seeking
counselling but I know where it all stems from and that is my
family. Is
it a sin to think about suicide?
Thank you for your help.
-
Mammabert
_________________________________________________________
Mammabert:
I am saddened to hear that your family relationships are chaotic and
painful to you. I am sorry to hear of your suffering. I am happy
to know that you are seeking counseling for your concerns and
your relationships with family members.
At this time, it may be best to limit your time with your family
until things calm down. It may be best to stay away from your
family members until you have the personal skills to deal with the
tensions and stresses that you have. You can get these skills by
going to counseling and staying faithful in meeting with your
counselor. You must take counseling with a serious intent for
counseling to work. I am so grateful to God that you are praying
for your family members! That is the best thing you can do right
now. And pray for yourself so that you can gain understanding of
why your family acts the way they do.
As to your other question about "thinking" about suicide, most
people I know have had feelings of despair that make them think
about suicide. Thinking is not the same as doing, so thinking in
itself is not a sin. But thinking is always the cause of action.
That's why counseling will help you in not only gaining the skills
of communication you need to have a good relationship with your
family members, it will also help you in understanding why you think
the way you do. Thinking is not sinful in itself. Acting against
God's Will is always sinful. Thinking about suicide may not be
sinful, but when the thoughts of despair come, it is important that
you talk it out with someone so that you can get control of any
thoughts that might drive you to an action that you will regret.
Meanwhile, it is best in keeping the commandment to honor your
parents by maintaining a safe distance until you can get control of
how you react to them and your family members. You are in my
prayers and thoughts this day. -
Father Carlos
Morales
"I
am a Catholic, my partner is not. She is pregnant but the baby
is not well. I'm worried about my soul if she decides it's best to
abort. Can you advise me? - Barry
Father Carlos:
Can
you advise me? I am a Catholic, my partner is not. She is pregnant
but the baby is not well. Her mental health is suffering badly.
While I am very against abortion I am worried about her mental
health. I can't agree to abortion to I'm worried about my sole if
she decides it's best to abort. Baby has downs we can cope with that
but also has bad heart and hole in heart. - Barry
_____________________________________________________________
Barry:
You say that you are Catholic but you do not mention if you are
married. You mention the word, partner, in describing the mother of
your child. If your "partner" decides to procure an abortion, she
is responsible before God for this murderous act.
It doesn't matter if the child has some kind of disability or health
problem. That child, made in the image and likeness of God for a
specific purpose in this particular time, has a special destiny.
You must do all you can to stop her from making this decision of
abortion even though she may be suffering from mental illness. If
need be, your child can be placed with adoptive parents that have
the ability to deal with children with disabilities or health
problems.
What does this mean for you? If your partner decides to have an
abortion, you cannot pay for it, you cannot drive her to the medical
facility that would procure an abortion, you must not participate in
any way to procure this abortion. To do so would also make you
responsible for the sin of abortion and cause you to be
excommunicated automatically from the Church. Please do your best
to stop any decision for abortion. The child must be born. Then
God will take care of the rest. Any health problems will be
solved. And any other disabilities can be worked with. Trust in
God. Do not despair. Remember, your child has a destiny to
fulfill!
Father Carlos Morales
"Can it be
possible that somebody whom the Church considers
to be a Saint is, in fact, damned or simply not Holy? - Elis
Hello Father:
I would like to
find out whether some people recognized as saints by the Catholic
Church may in fact not be saints or may even be in hell. Basically
if the Church could have made a mistake in their regard, or wether
it would be supernaturally protected from making a wrong decision in
this case. I know that the canonization process is long and complex,
but it's also true that in the Middle Ages a lot of people were
declared saints about whom there's a doubt as to whether they
actually existed, like saint Christopher. But my question is, can it
be possible that somebody who the Church considers to be a saint is,
in fact, damned or simply not holy? Thank you!" - Elis
____________________________________________________________
Elis:
When the Church declares a person to be a "saint," meaning that the
person is in heaven (and can intercede for us in prayer before Jesus
Christ our one Mediator before the Father), and their life is
considered to be an example of Christian faith in action, the Church
cannot make a mistake in this matter.
Let me explain how the canonization process works. When a person is
being considered for sainthood, a long process is begun in three
steps, servant of God, beautification, and then the proclamation
(canonization) of
sainthood.
When the pope, the bishop of Rome and the successor of Peter,
declares a person to be a saint from the chair of Peter
(ex
cathedra),
there is no error. How did we come to this conclusion?
Jesus gave Peter (and his successors, the successive bishops of
Rome) the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 16, Verse 18, Jesus made this
promise
and statement to Peter:
"And so I say to
you, you are Peter (rock), and upon this rock I will build my
Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against
it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever
you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose
on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
In another New Testament verse, in the
First Letter to Timothy, Chapter 3, Verse 15 (I Timothy 3:15,
it is written that
"the household of God which is the Church of the living God, the
pillar and foundation of truth."
Since Peter
and his successors, the bishops of Rome, have been given the keys of
the kingdom to bind or loose anything on earth in Jesus' Name, when
the pope declares "ex cathedra" a truth, it is without error. Very
rarely does the pope DEFINE a truth from the chair of Peter. To
define a truth from the chair of the bishop of Rome, there has to be
agreement among the bishops of the world so that together, all might
proclaim the truth. When the pope teaches something about the
teachings of the Church for a particular time and place, it carries
the weight of the pastor of the universal Church, but is not
necessarily free from error. When the pope declares and define a
truth as immutable from the chair of Peter, then it is without error
by the promise of Jesus. For the keys of the kingdom of God to bind
or loose belong to Peter and his successors. When the pope declares
and defines that a deceased person is a saint from the chair of
Peter, he does so in communion with the bishops of the world, and
there is no error or mistake made by Jesus' promise of
infallibility.
Now, to answer another question, not all proclamations of popes are
infallible.
Only those made from the chair
(ex cathedra).
For example, here are some infallible statements of the
Church:
the Creed,
the salvific
nature
of the one act of sacrifice of
Jesus on the cross for the salvation of all true believers, the
nature of Jesus Christ
as
God
and man in one person, Mary
as
the mother of God
and man,
Jesus Christ (the Council of Ephesus), the descriptions of the seven sacraments
and their spiritual powers and graces (baptism, confirmation,
penance, Eucharist, marriage, holy orders,
anointing of the sick), the setting of the bible in two sections,
the Hebrew
(Old)
and Christian (New)Testaments
(the Council of Nicea). Even
the simple term,
Jesus Christ is Lord and
Savior,
is an infallible statement made by the early Church.
So, when the pope declares and defines a person to be in heaven and
a saint, there is no mistake or error in that declaration from the
chair of Peter in communion with the bishops of the world. And if
a pope is considered incapacitated by illness or other mental
"defect," he cannot make any proclamations from the chair of Peter.
This is determined by a process in canon law.
I hope
this is helpful for you. - Father Carlos Morales
"If
Jesus said blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven,
how could we be told that good works can get that person to
Heaven?" - Julia
Father:
I
have two questions: one about salvation, the other about free will.
My first question is that, if Jesus said blasphemy against the Holy
Spirit cannot be forgiven, a concept which I have trouble with due
to God's mercy, how could we be told that good works can get a
person to Heaven- even if they have heard of God and choose not to
believe. Would this itself be considered blasphemy against the Holy
Spirit (choosing to not believe in Him)? I do not understand how the
Pope could say that they can be forgiven by good works, if they
choose to not follow Him. Secondly- God had a plan for us, and we
went against this plan (Adam & Eve) with free will. On an everyday
basis, we tend to use statements similar to "it's God's Will," and
"just trust that this is what God wants for you"...but how do we
know that we are doing what God wants us to do or if we are
following His plan for us when we completely strayed from His plan
from the start. If you don't understand these questions, I can
reword them. Thank you! - Julia
______________________________________________________________
Julia:
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not just one sinful act. It is
a lifelong decision to turn one's back on the mercy of God. How can
God forgive someone who doesn't want it? That's what the
unforgivable sin is: the inability to accept God's forgiveness even
on one's deathbed.
God is mercy infinite. There is no limit to God's mercy. But if a
person, through free will, does not want the mercy and forgiveness
of God, then God will not force Himself and His mercy on anyone.
Love is free and two way. I love God freely and He loves me
in return. But if a person chooses not to love God and wants
nothing to do with Him, God respects that decision too. That's why
there is a hell: there can be no true love without a choice.
I chose, through my faith, my destiny in heaven or hell. God
doesn't send me to heaven or hell. I send myself. The sin against
the Holy Spirit is really a life long decision to have no
relationship with God at all. But if I chose Jesus Christ as my
Lord and Savior, and make that faith alive in my actions, I have my
place in heaven. Heaven is not for perfect people. No such thing
as a perfect person except Jesus Christ Himself. Heaven is for
those forgiven by the one act of complete obedience on the cross,
and those who accept that forgiveness freely.
Yet, no one can judge anyone. That's is not our place in the
world. I cannot judge the faith of another person, nor can I judge
what another person's relationship with God is. The fruits of my
relationship with God can be seen in my actions. If I am truly a
follower of Jesus Christ, then it will show.
In the Letter of James, Chapter 2, Verse 14 (James
2:14),
James writes this scripture verse:
"What good is it, my
brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can
faith save him?...(Verse
17)
So also faith
of itself, if it does not have works, is dead....(Verse 26) For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so
also faith without works is dead."
Yet, even though someone may not proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior, their actions show that they are in union with God as they
know Him.
Being a Christian doesn't necessarily mean you are going to heaven
(Christians can later denounce God and His mercy). Being a child of
God in everything insures your entrance to heaven because Jesus died
for all of us and washes us in His Blood because we are children of
God. If a child of God doesn't acknowledge God and His mercy, then
we leave judgment of that person to God.
It is not my place to judge anyone, nor to put limits on God's
mercy. I can't say that someone who is not Christian is not going
to be saved. That's God's call and way beyond "my pay grade." What
matters to me is that I am in a salvific relationship with Jesus
Christ, that I make Jesus Christ present through my life and
actions. I cannot speak for anyone else. I can only speak for my
relationship with God. I answer to God for my actions and my faith
in action. As to others, I place them in the mercy of God's Hands.
We know His
will for our lives because we know His words in the gospels and the
Father's voice in all of sacred scriptures. Through faith, we can
know God's Will for us. The more you read scriptures, the more you
know the mind of God. And knowing the mind of God means you know
what God wills for your life. As yourself, I do not like the
platitudes such as "it's God's will" or "this is what God wants of
you" when things and events become painful and confusing. A
disciple of Christ says instead, "how can I make this work as a
blessing for others and myself." That's the will of God: work with
what we have and make something great happen for others and
ourselves for the glory of God. That can happen when I have faith
in God and realize that God believes in me to be His presence and
hands in the world. -
Father Carlos Morales
CATHOLICVIEW
STAFF
"I have been
fighting many temptations. Can one sin,
after
all my effort to avoid sin, really send me
to the fires of hell for
ALL ETERNITY (that is, if the sin is not
confessed prior to death)?"
Jayden
CatholicView Staff:
I just had a question about the
faith in general. I have been fighting many temptations
lately, and I have to say it's very tiring. The other day, I
fell to one. It took about 5 minutes to commit this sin.
I met all 3 requirements of mortal sin. Can one sin, after all
my effort to avoid sin, really send me to the Fires of Hell for all
eternity; if the sin is not confessed prior to death? OR am I
being scrupulous? I feel like I'm doomed if this is the case.
I have no hope of making it to Heaven. I put all this effort
into glorifying God and then one or two little mistakes will ruin it
all. Thanks for this service, it means the world. -
Jayden
__________________________________________________________
Jayden:
When you
sin you must seek forgiveness as soon as
possible. As a Christian Catholic you
know this. And this is what God wants of
you. The
big
question that should arise in your heart and
soul is IF you sin and do nothing about that
sin without praying and asking for forgiveness.
You are taking the big chance that should
tell you if you hold onto sin and you die
you will lose your soul forever.
Sadly many people allow days, weeks and even
years to go by without
seeking and renewing their souls for sins
committed. Why? None of us know what day
our lives will end in sin and
we will not be able
to enter eternal heaven with those sins
on
our souls. Sadly, it will be too late.
Please, don't let this happen!
You asked if you are doomed to hell because
of your current sin. What do you want to
do with this sin or sins? Do not let Satan win
and take you to Hell.
Our Bible tells
us as
Christians we must repent of sin and move
forward to serve the Lord for life is
not promised to any of us and as you and I
both know,
it is possible for
us to die without seeking that forgiveness
God wants to give you if you hold onto what
Satan tells you.
Romans 6:23 reads: "For
the wages of sin is death; but the gift
of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our
Lord".
Do something about your
sin. Where is your faith? Do
not let it be said "too late" to
enter God's Heaven!
Don't
lose hope; get
forgiveness! James 2:10 says, "For
whosoever shall keep the
whole law, and yet offend in one point, he
is
guilty of all." And
then, Romans 6:23 tells us
"For the
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God
is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our
Lord."
Why are you
waiting? You are a
living, breathing man, Jayden, so use this
time for forgiveness and feel the
goodness of God as He forgives you.
Let the Holy Spirit bring peace to your
heart. Hope this helps you to move
forward. God be with you during this
time. -
CatholicView Staff
"I am a widow in my
70's have been dating a 70 year old widower.
Is it a grievous
offense if we were to be intimate with each other?"
- Mary
CatholicView Staff:
I am a Catholic and a widow in my 70's. I recently began seeing a
widower who is also in his 70s and Catholic. Is it a
grievous offense if we were to be intimate with each other? - Mary
________________________________________________________________
Mary:
Yes, it is a grievous
offense to be intimate with each other without the bond of marriage.
As both of you are Catholic
Christians, you would be an offense to God. If you love each other,
then you must marry. Intimate relations without
marriage is sinful in God's eyes. If you cannot exercise self-control,
you both should marry. Read 1 Corinthians 7:2 "To
the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain
single as I am. But if they cannot exercise
self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be
aflame with passion"
Please talk to your
priest about your situation. - CatholicView Staff
"Can God forgive me for what I have
done in the past?" -
Rachal
CatholicView:
How do I get over my
past? And does God forgive me for what I've done? - Rachal
_______________________________________________________________
Rachal:
Thank you for posting
your question. If you are sincerely asking for forgiveness, God will
forgive you of ALL past sins.
But know that God wants you to express sorrow for your past and your
promise to avoid further sin. Pray to
Him right away and ask for His
forgiveness. Do not delay. You did not say if you are
Catholic and if so, please talk to your parish priest about this.
Neither cling
to the past or spend time worrying about former actions. Move on
to the future, living the life that God wants all of us to have.
All
the Lord asks is that “you go and sin no more” and fully mean it.
Be at peace knowing that
our God Who loves you will forgive you as far to the "East as it is to
the West". But you must validate that
forgiveness by turning away from
all sinful behavior in the future. Please
go forward now in peace, holding on to the precious hope of eternal
life. May the Lord bless you abundantly as you move ahead with our
Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Peace be with
you! - CatholicView
Staff
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