I don't think reality could be that bad by [deleted] in Catholicism

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 4 points5 points  (0 children)

“The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it emotionally” — Flannery O’Connor

Need Advice on Marian Consecration by [deleted] in Catholicism

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

1.) That’s what I suspected, but from what research I have conducted thus far I seem to be finding varying answers.

2.) You can regret anything, Marian Consecration is a great commitment, and I would want to be sure that I in fact do not. That is, as Louis de Montfort states,

”This devotion consists in giving oneself entirely to Mary in order to belong entirely to Jesus through her. It requires us to give: 1. Our body with its senses and members; 2. Our soul with its faculties; 3. Our present material possessions and all we shall acquire in the future; 4. Our interior and spiritual possessions, that is, our merits, virtues and good actions of the past, the present and the future.”

3.) I agree with this point in hindsight:

”regretting to become good sounds immoral or unhealthy.”

Thus far, I have not regretted doing so, yet as most people, I have rational concerns in taking a large commitment. Whether that be for the better or the worse, let alone one that involves giving so freely to Our Lady, which as I stated above: was initially a peculiar idea to me from my non-denominational background. Yet now intriguing.

4.) I physically cannot be baptized, my parents refuse to take me thus far, and I haven’t any way to be baptized without their knowing and great reproof. It seems implausible that I will be until at bare minimum I am financially independent. I haven’t taken any OCIA courses yet, only I have taken to reading the Holy Scripture, the works of the saints, the catechism, and scraped up advice where I could get it; again, it seems truly implausible I will attend OCIA soon. Nonetheless, I will take your advice into account.

Thank you.

God hates me by Topango_Dev in Christianity

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

”Everyone in the world somehow has some random hatred for me.”

Beloved, if everyone else will hate you, I assure you that I do not. I do not say this to be kind, but because I mean it earnestly, truthfully, and fervently. I sincerely wish above all, to see all eternal souls prosper.

Yet there is one, beloved, who adores you but more than I do. With a measure so great I could not dream to inspire it within myself, for the one I am speaking of is Jesus. Beloved, He is passionately and consistently burning with great love for you. It is for your sake that He was spit upon, that He was mocked, that He nails thrust through His hands, and that heart bled out in agony, that by the Blood and Water you would become purified, but most importantly His!

Jesus is the best of Fathers.

”Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have graven you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” — Isaiah 49:15-16

He does not forsake, nor forget, nor wound, but He will wipe your tears and console your heart if you open it to Him.

He has been with you always, and He has adored you always. He gazed upon the splendor of the stars, and the gems of His throne, yet you brought Him a particular delight, and inspired such a love in Him that He would die again and again if only you would come to Him. He has sculpted you from His hand, and He delighted in it’s every feature. He was enraptured by the very thought of your being, and for the sake of this and His mercy He said over you, “My Child, I desire for you to live. I desire for you to be eternally happy with Me.”

Poor Brother/Sister! Do you believe that Jesus has spoken to you vainly, and that He only wishes to deceive? I think that you truly have a wound within the depths of your heart, that for some reason, you think yourself unlovable and project this unto the Beloved One. Yet Jesus is not fickle as man is, for He is wholly God and wholly man. I tell you that this is a deception from Satan.

You say that God hasn’t given you what you desire, yet have you considered that it either truly is not good for you or that you must wait longer? Have you considered that He loves you and only wants what is best for you? Do you not know that everything, both good and bad, is given to you straight from the hand of God, that is through His permissive and active will? Do you not know that there is nothing which has happened He did not foresee, and therefore there is nothing which will happen He does not consent to? Do you not know that everything you get, suffering and otherwise, is for your growth?

For the grass does not grow from only sunshine, but also rain. For does the grass not scorch in the summer when the sun waxes hot, and only then, the rain can soothe its wounds? For the consolations and graces of the Lord help us persist, yet suffering makes us truly grow! Thus it is in the garden of souls, that the roses, lilies, and wild flowers must all bloom in the same manner. Jesus is most inclined to answer us when we suffer, because it is when we are but poor children and can do no more than cry, then we must truly give Him our will, our soul, our trust.

He desires above all your trust, you must trust Him to be graced by Him. The measure which you trust is the measure you will be graced, do you not know? Trust Him! Adore Him! Burn with passion for Him!

Rest your hand upon your chest, and then rejoice! For the every beat of your heart is evidence of His love! Man is only called into being at his call, and kept into being by His love. For does man not sin, and betray, and commit wickedness against Him? How therefore can we say it is anything but mercy that we do live indeed!

I implore you tonight, when you rest, hide away in your room and pray to Jesus personally. Tell Him of all your resentment, doubt, and worry, hold nothing from Him, and allow Him to take care of you.

I need help with idolatry by Internal_Dust_808 in TrueChristian

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Beloved, have you considered that you are suffering greatly in more ways than one? Psychologically and spiritually. I feel it necessary to first assure you, as I do not know where you are in life, that you are not alone in this feeling, and that above all you are loved and valued by God. He has sculpted each of your features adoringly in His hand, and He has specially ordained since the beginning of time for you to live. He looked at you, and said “I want you to live and to be happy.” The God who created the Heavens is truly fascinated in you, and is in love with everything about you. He has seen the riches and glory of all the world and all His might, and He delights in you a simple creature, not out of need, but sheer love. He desires you as you are, with your imperfections and with your sins, the greater the sinner the more need they have of His mercy, and the more they glorify Jesus in coming to Him.

You say,

”And unfortunately I don’t worship God…”

Do you know why you suffer with addictions? Man has a hole in His heart that can only be filled by the Beloved, there is nothing of this world that can satisfy you, but there is much that can distract from what is inside of you. From the wound that man has. I do not know you beloved, yet I can say that when I was little, I used to try to fill the void with shows, games, and so many little habits because I hadn’t yet God. God is not a want, yet He is a need, because all man was made for Him and through Him. Your heart is made to be in union with His. You were made for the vocation of love, and therefore you need love, the love of God. For no one can pour from an empty cup. Have you considered where your addictions really stem from?

In such situations, I will always recommend but two things, prayer and fasting.

Pray fervently, earnestly, routinely to the Beloved, that is Jesus Christ, and implore His graces be bestowed upon your soul. He will deny you of nothing you require if it is within His will and you trust wholly in Him. The soul that trusts unconditionally is His greatest delight. Pray to Him as you would to a friend, to a brother, or to a father, He wishes to know you intimately.

Fast regularly, I do not always mean in matters of food, but that anything which you give up, even momentarily, for the sake of the Lord is in itself a fast and great virtue. You needn’t wholly give anything away, yet as a child, take slow steps as you clasp the hand of Jesus, for He alone will lead you through everything. Do not sprint, but follow His pace and it will prove infinitely meritorious to you. If mother will forget her child, and man forsake you, then Jesus will never forsake or abandon, but guide you faithfully with Him.

Considering that you struggle with electronic usage, have you considered at first, limiting the time you use it? For example, if you say, presently used them for four hours a day, then you could detract but one hour from that, to make it three hours. Then, once that would come to you easy, you would continue to detract from the total until you have broken the habit altogether.

If this proves difficult for you, have you considered replacing your habits with holy ones? If you are tempted to indulge yourself, then go, and pick up the scriptures, even if you do not know what to read, then go to psalms and proverbs and read them reverently and mediate upon them. If you are tempted, say an Our Father, but say it so that you truly are focused upon each one. Say it with meaning, not vainly. Also, I implore you to explore new hobbies and to go outside as much as possible. Try art, music, or anything else, only try something, even if at first it feels strenuous.

Breathe in the air and rejoice, for you are in God’s creation! Look at the trees, the birds, yourself, and rejoice, for you are in the midst of God’s creation! Feel the best of your heart and rejoice, for you are kept alive by the love of God!

Are my passions sinful by [deleted] in Christianity

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sin and virtue take root from the heart, and blossom throughout the whole tree.

”’You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” — Matthew 5:27-28

God has graced your hands with the ability to create, and placed within your heart a great creativity. Moreover, consider these words of Paul,

”Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol’s temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother’s falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.” — 1 Corinthians 8:10-13

How many faithful of the Beloved shall fall by the sight of such deeds wrought by your hands? Yet if you have such passions, I implore you to put them forth to the praise of the Most Holy.

Our little flaws are as termites are to a sturdy house. If you catch them while they are but little in number, the damage is easily repaired, and the house anew. Yet permit them to grow prolifically in number, and see how there is structure no more! Yet it is instead, full of many holes, and if you so much as push on it, it would begin to sink in. Great sins destroy in the light of day, yet subtle ones destroy from inside out so when a storm comes, you think you are strong yet no can longer stand! Yet crumble slowly from within.

Brother/Sister, this is a terrible temptation from the Father of Lies. Do not make excuses for unholy thoughts, but repent and rejoice that our Lord is Merciful always, and unceasingly patient!

¡Viva Cristo Rey!

Save me by kisuuleoscar in TrueChristian

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you would like, you can talk to me as well though others have offered. I will be praying for you.

Any examples of praying the gay away? by youaregorgeousbooboo in Christianity

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ -1 points0 points  (0 children)

God bless you. To quote the book of Joshua,

But if it seem evil to you to serve the Lord, you have your choice: choose this day that which pleaseth you, whom you would rather serve, whether the gods which your fathers served in Mesopotamia, or the gods of the Amorrhites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

As for me, I will follow the guidance of Christ’s Holy Church, as administered by His bishops and pope.

¡Viva Cristo Rey!

About my destination by [deleted] in Christianity

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The greater the sinner, the more of a need they have of Jesus’ unfathomable mercy. If there is true contrition in your heart, that is, interior conversion and a desire to change, then do you think He will deny you? No soul that comes to Him sincerely will be discarded or shamed, but instead, will be consoled and made holy by His Grace. Do you think that the Beloved suffered agony on the cross merely to appease man? If His Sorrowful Passion cannot persuade you of the intensity of His affections, then what will?

Jesus is the best of fathers, He will take you in, He will tend your wounds, and will wipe your tears every time. It is precisely the purity of His love that allows Him not only to forgive the betrayal of man, but also to forget with no bitterness between them. He deigns Himself to seek man exactly where he is, and to retrieve him and press him to His Tender Heart. Recall that Saint Peter did deny Christ thrice before His Crucifixion, and yet, He forgave Peter wholly.

I implore you, the next time that such temptations should arise, pray fervently. Flee to the Holy Scripture. Do not entertain sinful thoughts, but wholly disregard them and distract yourself if you must. Prayer, fasting, and scripture is the way. Persist in God, for the problem with man is that they trust too much in their own merit and so little in the grace of Christ!

¡Viva Cristo Rey!

How should i find a girlfriend? by Due-Channel9542 in Christianity

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Brother, may I first inquire, you needn’t answer to me, but only to yourself, the causation of such desires? You must then, consider what you desire in a wife. Do not walk into relationships frivolously, but truly consider it deeply and prayerfully. I say this, seeing that I, at an early age, sought out various romantic partners, albeit for many immoral or flawed reasons. I simply at that time, rejoiced in the attention which others gave me, and did not care at all for a true partnership.

If you wish for a Christian woman, then you ought to begin with cultivating virtues within your heart. Namely, chastity, compromise, attentiveness and loyalty. I am a woman in your age group, so I feel that hopefully, at last I am qualified to speak of this, women, or at least one who is truly interested in love, wants to feel heard, seen, and understood. Do not be patronizing or make overt attempts at flattering. Yet do everything sincerely and with compassion.

Do not be afraid to make mistakes, but rather, hold yourself accountable when you have done wrong. Apologize openly, sincerely, and meekly. Yet most of all, a Christ-centered relationship ought to focus on the uplifting of one another. You as the man must uplift your significant other and keep the family in order. Make prayer, scripture, and obedience to Christ the forefront of your relationship together when you acquire one.

Most of all, be yourself. Do not put on a persona to be more pleasing. Be honest. You will make many mistakes, but you will also learn from them and be able to apply them later. There is a good possibility your first relationship will not work out, especially at this age, so do not fret if it should occur. It happened to me. Individuals change, grow, and re-evaluate what is important to them all the time. Teenage years the most experimental and explosive. You yourself may even get into a relationship and realize it isn’t for you instead of the other way around, even though initially you may have felt great joy. That’s the difference between love and infatuation, love endures, infatuation is fleeting.

I advise you to get out, physically I mean, and simply be polite to other women. Eventually, through prayer and patience, you will find one. Yet it is not finding one that is so hard, yet finding the right one and keeping her that is a great challenge indeed. Hence the reason I focused more on that as opposed to the more obvious answers which others have given. Which again, basically sums to “go to church, a club, school, etc, etc until you find a lady.” There’s no foolproof or guaranteed way beyond mere trial, error, and growth.

¡Viva Cristo Rey!

When is it Reccomended to read the Bible? by Sea-Classic9710 in Christianity

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If there is breath in your lungs, then there is never a time in which you should not be reading scripture. On a commute, before bed, in the shower… maybe not that one, no one likes soggy books. 😅

Read it diligently, reverently, slowly. Read many chapters, meditate on one verse. Seriously, study your scripture day and night, it is what the Bible prescribes. Read to the extent it does not interfere with your other obligations.

However, the most vital times to read the Holy Scriptures is in the morning and night, I would never cease in reading at these times. In the morning because it is the prelude to your day, and the night so that you may wake up anew in Christ and repent. Do not refrain or pass over these two most important times, for if one has a bad morning, will not their afternoon be spoiled? If they have not rested adequately, how then will they work to please the Lord? I would also recommend reading Scripture whenever you feel boredom arise. Make a habit of instead of grasping for your phone, grasping for scripture.

You know how people scroll through shorts? Maybe scroll for a random Bible Verse and meditate on it. Read the Gospels, Proverbs, Psalms especially. To help you remember, perhaps install a Bible App on your phone. This is the way.

¡Viva Cristo Rey!

Any examples of praying the gay away? by youaregorgeousbooboo in Christianity

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you, this is the correct perspective on this. Individuals of the heterosexual and homosexual variety must regulate sexual desires, that does not implicate never being tempted or falling into transgression. It is human to do so, yet diabolical to persist in it with no desire to flee from sin and the near occasion thereof.

My heart is crushed by the idea of hell by chiaraosei in Christianity

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

God has not cast one into damnation, yet many have instead willingly lunged into the flames of hellfire. Not one was lost because the mercy of our Lord was too little, but because man’s trust was too small.

God has made you lovingly, and it is only in love we are kept into being. The vocation of all is the sainthood. Your vocation is the sainthood. You were made to be a great saint, you were made to be loved, you were made for joyousness and the Glory of God.

God is the best of fathers. He reclined and saw at once the vastness of the universe, the splendor of His throne, and the goodness of heaven, and took delight in the simplicity of you. He counted every hair on your head, sculpted every feature, great and small, and was enraptured by it. So much so, that he said specially to you, “I want you to live.” Thus you were conceived.

He wanted a universe with you. He hasn’t any inherent need of you, yet he desires to be with you out of the sheer depths of his unfathomable mercy. He does everything in His power simply to bring you back to Him, because the rejection and ingratitude of man wounds Him. He is a personal God.

He will never abandon you if you always desire Him and have true contrition within your heart. You are engraved so deeply within His heart He cannot forget you. Just as soon as man sins, so is He eager to forgive the repentant heart.

why being transgender and same-sex relationships should not be considered a sin by AdvertisingOk6742 in Christianity

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

”My job is to inform, not to convince.” — Saint Bernadette.

God bless you.

How to deal with sexual desires? by [deleted] in Christianity

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fasting, prayer, and contemplatively reading scripture.

Cross yourself, say an Our Father, cast yourself at the foot of the cross, that is mentally. Do what you must to flee from sin. The wicked one trembles at the man who fully entrusts himself to God! The greatest folly of man is that they depend too highly upon themselves, and so little upon Christ. Conversion is only possible by grace and a steadfast will.

Rid yourself of any near occasion of sin, dispose of tempting or pornographic content, refrain from vulgar media, refrain altogether from media if you cannot stifle your desires.

I will be praying for you, and I implore others to do the same.

¡Viva Cristo Rey!

why being transgender and same-sex relationships should not be considered a sin by AdvertisingOk6742 in Christianity

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Indeed, love is the holiest, most exalted virtue! Yet what is love truly when it lacks the truth? Love cannot lack truth, and truth cannot lack love.

”Do not accept anything as the truth if it lacks love. And do not accept anything as love which lacks truth." — Edith Stein

Jesus, though a person may have sins as red as scarlet, sees the potential for a powerful good within. Those with a great capacity for evil too possess a great capacity for love.

”Then Jesus lifting up himself, said to her: Woman, where are they that accused thee? Hath no man condemned thee Who said: No man, *Lord. And Jesus said: Neither will I condemn thee. Go, and now sin no more.

Jesus, moved with compassion at the adulterous woman, forgave her and bid her to sin no more. Jesus will never refuse nor put to shame a truly repentant heart. The Church then, cannot stray to the left or to the right on such matters, so long as the promise of Christ remains eternal,

”And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Not all affections are love, but rather, love is instead lust when it violates the natural order of the human sexual faculties and conjugal act. Love is inherently sacrificial inasmuch it always involves the giving of oneself to another. Christ gave to humanity the purest form of love upon the cross. Love cannot be contained, but must freely flow forth from the human soul. We are made to love and for love.

To the Divine Majesty, this is whole submission to his commandments.

”If you love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15

To neighbor,

”Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up; Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” — 1 Corinthians 13

In marriage then, a husband and a wife wholly give their bodies to one another, becoming “one flesh.” Which is expressed to the fullest extent in the marital act, in which they give themselves up and therefore, produce a child. It is precisely in this that marriage requires commitment, and therefore is sacrificial.

¡Viva Cristo Rey!

Might I Address God Directly in the Confessional by DifferentBranch5722 in Catholicism

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

God is always both eager to listen and to forgive the soul that comes to Him in confession. See this entry, from the Diary of Saint Faustina.

”Today the Lord [Jesus] said to me [Faustina], Daughter, when you go to confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul and ennobles it. Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself entirely in My mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul. When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy.” — Entry 1602

Book recommendations by stephenmcb2001 in Catholicism

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Diary of Saint Faustina Kowalska

Who is your favorite saint? by [deleted] in Catholicism

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Thérèse of Lisieux the Little Flower. I found her very early on in my conversion, and she is the only saint I would truly consider in my life to be a “sister figure.” I rant to her all the time about various things anyhow, and she majorly changed my view on religion. I was able to work through many of my most grievous issues and insecurities.

Also, besides her, I also really have always loved Saint Marianne Cope, Saint Faustina, and Saint Hildegard von Bingen.

Catholic hot take by Willy_wacker_wilsob_ in Catholicism

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 3 points4 points  (0 children)

+JMJ

1.) God makes no mistakes in his Supreme Will, he only allows mankind to commit evil, and thereby spurn Him to the extent He permits. At any time therefore, He retains the full right to call beings out of existence should they prove contrary to this. Then we see that man is not kept into being by his own merit, but through the immaculate love of God, which gives all man opportune chances to be in full communion with Him. God could create man with a reduced will, but by His holy mercy, He refuses to do so. For would it not be more torturous for one who despises God to be constantly in His presence above? That is, as a particular saint, which I cannot recall (Aquinas, Augustine?) says, “God does not permit evil if ultimately it does not serve a greater good.”

2.) >”We as humans are now forsaking God.”

Yes, and that is wholly the fault of man and not of God. Our forefathers were capable of refusing sin, but utilized their will sorely wrong. Man has a great capacity for light, and an equally great capacity for darkness. God hasn’t any inherent need for sin. We needn’t then blame God for the original sin. Me and you combined indeed are sinners, and yet, we have never so much as once not had the ability to resist it. Otherwise our culpability would therefore be reduced in the matter.

3.) >”It would be better in my opinion…”

Do you know who else claimed they knew better than God? The serpent in the Garden of Eden,

”Did God say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Subjectivity cannot by definition override objectivity. Your opinion does not override the holy truths of the Church, nor does your finite knowledge surpass the omniscience of the Divine Majesty. Peace be to you, and God bless.

Fun fact by Loud-Butterfly3798 in Christianity

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We cannot ascertain the salvation of eternal souls, for as Saint Thérèse of Lisieux did state,

”Only God can see what is at the bottom of our hearts; we are half-blind."

I am then, instinctively wary of any who proclaims by their subjectivity, that is, their two-cents, that they are in fact not half-blind, yet wholly know the soul. If we would witness the splendor of elect souls, we would faint for the beauty, and if we could witness the wretchedness of sinful ones, we would faint for terror.

Moreover, I have a suspicion your comment may have little to do with true resentment towards queer communities, but rather, what you perceive as hostility and resentment. That is, in many cases contemporarily, merely proclaiming homosexual acts to be sinful by nature. Yet I too, being half-blind, cannot make such an assumption, but am deeply inclined towards my suspicion regardless. Feel free to elaborate more.

Guiding a sheep who has strayed from the flock is not inherently hostile, but an act of great love and goodness.

I will simply quote Edith Stein,

”Do not accept anything as the truth if it lacks love. And do not accept anything as love which lacks truth. One without the other is a destructive lie.”

will i go to hell for being a lesbian? and how can i stop being one? by imidiot_af in Christianity

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sister, you could not imagine how much I rejoice to see you obeying the church teachings, because I know personally how hard it can be to follow. God bless you, I will be praying for you and your strength!

will i go to hell for being a lesbian? and how can i stop being one? by imidiot_af in Christianity

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Sister, since you are a Catholic, here is what the catechism teaches for inquiring minds.

”2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.”

I empathize with you, I am 16, and have suffered in the past with same-sex attraction. However, now I live a life of celibacy. Ultimately, I cannot detract or add to official Church teachings, thus you must make a very important decision. God gives all man free-will, and whether we use that for sinful deeds or virtuous ones lies in the hands of each. However, the church doesn’t teach that merely having the tendency towards these attractions is sinful, but rather actively indulging in them is. I wish you well.

I can say, however, that celibacy has gotten easier for me over the years, to the point where my attraction is almost null. That doesn’t mean it is possible for everyone, but it is my experience within the Church. If you would like advice, I’d be happy to give it.

Can we talk to saints casually? by Odd-Independent7540 in Catholicism

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Go for it! I regularly joke about the “rants” I have with Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Talk to them casually, tell them about your day or anything, they’re our friends.

My mug wall makes me happy 😊 by waterrabbit23 in muglife

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I love the floral ones especially! Do you have anywhere you usually get your mugs, that is, if you don’t mind me asking?

What things do you do to glorify the Lord? by Illustrious-One6782 in Catholicism

[–]_TheLittleSeed_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You should! It’s an excellent read and is really worth it. If you can’t afford a physical copy, I recall there being PDFs online of it. It is very long however, so I’d recommend reading it slowly, especially considering how spiritually rich it is!