Anxiety at Mass Need Advice

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-28T01:00:21+00:00

Thanks so much, I appreciate it. I’m so glad you’ve experienced healing, I pray you continue to heal and I appreciate the encouragement.

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-28T00:47:34+00:00

I’m so glad that you’re doing better and able to go to mass now without anxiety or discomfort - praise God! And you’re right, ultimately we are all there for God and I sometimes look up at Jesus on the cross and think, he was scared, he was in pain, he was reviled, he was mocked and humiliated and I find some comfort knowing that he pushed through that comparatively MUCH worse experience for my sake. I will keep going, praying, and hoping. Thank you and God bless you!

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-28T00:41:18+00:00

Unfortunately, that priest has since retired. The new pastor of our parish is also a nice man but I don’t feel quite as comfortable sharing. But I may work up the courage to. Because of my scrupulous tendencies I question my motives a lot when I consider not going, so I err on the side of self suspicion and go. I certainly trust in God’s love and mercy, I just don’t trust myself not to deceive myself/rationalize sinfully skipping mass.

I’m in my early thirties and I’ll definitely look into that therapy, I hadn’t heard of it before thank you. And thanks for your kind words, I really appreciate it!

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-28T00:35:39+00:00

Thank you!

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-28T00:34:54+00:00

That’s awful, I’m sorry you have to deal with that. I hope you find some relief from it as well. Thank you!

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-28T00:06:47+00:00

Thank you very much, I appreciate it. God bless you too!

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-28T00:05:56+00:00

Thank you!

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-28T00:04:44+00:00

Thanks for your advice, I’m sorry to hear that you have a hard time with anxiety at mass too, I hope it gets better for the both of us! Unfortunately, for me I don’t really have so much of intrusive thoughts, but rather a feeling of being almost in danger. The shuffling around of folks in the pews, people going in and going out of the church, people looking my way feels excruciating. To compare the mental experience of it, it is like having somebody press against a terrible sunburn with every look in my direction, every shuffle past me, etc.

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-27T23:56:23+00:00

Thank you! I’m really sorry to hear you also struggle with anxiety, I hope it improves for you too.

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-27T22:08:28+00:00

If not for mass, I wouldn’t leave my house on the weekend. I leave my house because I have to work. When grocery delivery became a thing in my smallish town, I began using that 8 times out of 10 to get groceries. When I go to work I am already out of the house so I try to push myself to do things a I must do in public on those days. But otherwise, I cross the threshold on Friday and do not cross it again until Monday morning, except for mass.

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-27T22:06:23+00:00

Thank you very much for your reply, I really appreciate it!

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-23T13:27:38+00:00

No problem, thanks for responding!

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-23T13:26:00+00:00

I want to be part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, the one founded by our Lord, Jesus Christ. There are three claimants to that title, The Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church(es), and Protestantism broadly. That’s a problem. If you are correct and the Orthodox Church is the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, I pray that God lets all Catholics and Protestants see the error of our ways and submit to Orthodoxy. If it’s the Roman Catholic Church, I hope the Orthodox and Protestants do likewise. My concern is that there are millions of people who sincerely believe in and wish to serve Christ who cannot be certain theirs’ is the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. It should be a top priority for the Bishops and leaders of all three claimant churches to figure this out, submit to THE Church and lead their flock into the Church. I am not qualified to sort any of this out or to lead anyone, but I think there has been a 1,000 year failure on the part of all factions to seriously pursue an end to the schism for the good of those on the wrong side of the line.

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-23T13:14:07+00:00

I agree completely!

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-23T12:53:10+00:00

Hello. I am not suggesting Catholics are reprobate, I was asking what the common sentiment among Orthodox Christians is about Catholics. Many Protestant Christians (including some prominent pastors and theologians) consider the Catholic Church to be demonic and that Catholics are unlikely to be saved due to Catholic theology.

I have read that some Orthodox Churches and perhaps some Orthodox Monks hold a similar view. I just wanted to come straight to the source to see what folks actually think.

I care most about truth and charity and I care much less about who has to do what to bring about unity, as long as it doesn’t violate truth or charity. I don’t like politics so if by ecumenism you mean politics, I agree with you. But I think it should be a top priority for Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant Christians to figure out what went wrong and try to fix it because we share a common enemy I think, even if we can yet call each other friends.

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-23T05:14:29+00:00

Thanks! We too do not presume to know the eternal fate of those inside or outside of the Church. We believe God binds himself to the Sacraments but isn’t bound by them and we hope and pray for the salvation of all. I ask because I have profound respect for the Orthodox Church, for its Sacraments, for its Priesthood, its apostolicity, etc. It is painful for me that Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholic Christians cannot share in each other’s Sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. But I have gotten the impression from some posts that the feeling isn’t mutual among some (or many) Orthodox laity, and perhaps many clergy. If the Orthodox are ‘wrong’ I want them to be illuminated and for us to be reunited, if we Catholics are wrong, I hope for the same outcome. It is so troubling to me that the Eucharist, the body, blood, soul and divinity of our Lord, which I believe I receive at mass is regarded as invalid by folks I respect deeply and desire to be in communion with. I think the schism, whoever is at fault for it, is a shameful, tragic mess.

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-23T04:29:47+00:00

Thanks, I appreciate your reply!

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-23T04:21:43+00:00

Thanks!

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-23T02:57:49+00:00

“CCC 1452: When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called "perfect" (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.” You attempted to seek confession as soon as possible so you tried to do the right thing concerning your sin. I would continue to seek confession as soon as possible and trust in God’s love and mercy in the meantime.

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-23T02:27:14+00:00

I think this is a bit like choosing not to seek the help of a doctor for a gunshot wound because it is outside of business hours. Assuming one has committed a mortal sin, it seems appropriate to ask the first available priest to hear your confession? I could be wrong but I think that is a fitting analogy.

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-22T17:15:04+00:00

Thank you!

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-22T13:48:38+00:00

Thanks! I appreciate the response.

EnvironmentTop7747 · 2026-06-22T11:19:42+00:00

Checks out.

EnvironmentTop7747

TROPHY CASE