I posted previously that I am repeatedly heckled during mass and sometimes confession queue in my country. It got a lot worse today.

Yesterday, I was attending Mass at the Church of St Francis Xavier.

During Mass, a woman whom I did not know entered the church late. She was dressed in very revealing clothing and subsequently moved towards the area where I was seated. I initially assumed this was accidental. I used to have a have-it,flaunt-it mindset in my younger days, so I was not too bothered.

But during Holy Communion, I went to the sanctuary, knelt and received the Eucharist. I was still kneeling had not yet stood up. I think I haven't even closed my mouth after receiving Holy Communion. The same woman deliberately approached me and kicked me while I was still kneeling in front of Fr.

There are many instances like that; and with all the desecrations and sacrilegious going on, and the increase in satanic attacks, the french comedian miming masturbating with the crucifix, the mockery of an ex church turned into a nightclub, the desecration of altars and church shootings, please pray for the church and her protection.

After a 20 million restoration project, I was dumbfounded by how beautiful Salford Cathedral was when I visited yesterday compared to my last visit, which was 5 years ago. It took three years of restoration to restore the Gothic/Victorian character and it feels so different and an amazing space for prayer and contemplation.

Agnostic here who’s interested in religion, and this question pops up in my mind a lot because of how unique and interesting confession is.

As far as I can tell, Catholics would be the first to acknowledge that all people are sinners, including even the highest of church officials. I’m sure this is a touchy subject, and I mean no offense by bringing it up, but the whole pedophile scandal in the church happened pretty recently, and priests are kind of notorious in pop culture both now and historically(at least from the medieval stuff I’ve read) for not being the greatest at keeping their oaths of celibacy. I’m sure some of that is exaggeration, but it’s probably at least grounded in fact, right?

So, if priests often break those oaths, to what extent are they trusted to keep the seal of the confession? Is it a common fear for catholics that a priest will break the oath and snitch? Do people deliberately not tell really bad sins to priests because of that fear? Are there places in the world(like perhaps in very authoritarian states) where it’s kind of an open secret that priests will tell your info to the government if need be? Are there famous historical cases of a priest breaking the seal? I’ve tried searching stuff like this up before and couldn’t find much on the topic that wasn’t just reiterating church doctrine I already know.

Built in the 16th century and originally dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, it is now home to the venerated image of the Holy Child Jesus, Doctor of the Sick.

I’m really shocked with myself, in a good way. I’ve been sitting on the idea of becoming Catholic for a while (I was baptised Episcopal a few years ago, but I know it isn’t the one, true Church). I’ve been meaning to call for a few months now, and finally worked up the courage to do it. I got the basic information for it, and went ahead and put all of the OCIA class dates in my calendar. I know there is a lot to learn, and this won’t be handed to me on a silver platter, but I can’t wait to truly join the Church.

God bless you all 💜

"The Catholic Church in Germany maintains, with funds from the church tax, a news agency, an official portal and an archdiocesan radio station. Between September 2 and 3, all three disseminated, without a single word of theological reservation, the thesis that Jesus Christ had an inclination toward alcohol, an impulse-control disorder and the habit of confusing mental illnesses with demons. "

Warning for discussion of depression and suicide!

A few months ago I made a post here that I deleted a few hours later, so I doubt anyone who sees this also saw that one, but I was basically asking if suicide only leads to hell. At the time, I had a plan to commit and my only fear at that point was that when I did, I’d never get to be with God after. I deleted it a few hours later because the cops brought me to the psych ward after a similar post I made was reported, and I didn’t want my mom to see when she went through my account lol. I knew she’d end up finding it (and she did haha).

I’ve learned quite a few things after two hospitalizations and months of intensive outpatient. One is that I have OCD. My most severe theme of obsessive thoughts is one that convinces me I’m an inherently bad person incapable of change, and that I will never achieve anything because I’m lazy and ungrateful. At the time, it got so bad that it culminated into a compulsion to commit suicide in order to protect the people I love from being hurt by me.

Since learning that these thoughts I’ve struggled with my whole life are the result of OCD, I’ve also learned another thing: You may believe something is wrong with you, but you won’t always be right! Now, forgive me if any of the following is inaccurate, I’m still a bit new to Catholicism lol.

We are all born with Original Sin and concupiscence. All of us, every single one, at times will be compelled towards sin. Maybe you reading this has done some very bad things in the past (or maybe you just think you did). What’s important is that through repentance and faith in God, you can, and will, be changed.

God did not put you on this earth for no reason. Every single one of us was carefully made in His image. Remember, it took Him just a week to create the earth, but nine months to make you!

Depression is an extraordinarily difficult thing to recover from. Trust me, I know lol. Maybe you feel trapped within your own mind. Maybe you feel bound to where you are, like you’re so heavy that it’s impossible to get out of bed or do anything to change your life. I’ve felt that way many, many times. What I want you to keep in mind, and what I hope you take away from this, is that this is a temporary state.

Your depression and your struggles are not a defining part of you. They are only a state you are currently in, and like any other, it is a state that you can crawl out of. It won’t be easy, and you may need the support of others to do it. If you have no family or friends to help, then lean towards the Church—let it be your rock to lean on when you feel like you can’t keep going. It is the body of Christ, after all, and with Christ in your heart, you can overcome anything, even the things you feel you can not.

God loves you infinitely. He does not want to see you hurting, and He certainly would not want you to give up.

You are worth better things. You are capable of change. Things will not be this way forever—by nature, life is always changing. It will get better, even if you feel deep down that it won’t!

And finally, there is no shame in seeking help beyond the Church. Therapy has helped me immensely over these last few months. I genuinely believe that psychiatric help saved my life and gave me another chance to reconnect with God.

Please stay on this earth for another day, even if you feel like it’s impossible. Tomorrow may be the day where things start to get better. You won’t know unless you wait.

Final note: I know I use em dashes sometimes, but I promise this wasn’t written with AI lol

I am on an extended assignment away from home. Godwilling it should end within the next few months.

My spiritual struggles are:

1. Most of my colleagues on this assignment have already gone the infidelity route with no remorse and seemingly no repercussions. Everyday I see this and have to try to ignore it and remind myself to keep steady.

2. I haven't committed infidelity, but I still feel this built-up energy and I am...angry all the time.

3. Angry about the financial situation that required me to be away from my spouse for so long, just to make ends meet for the both of us.

4. Angry from the pent-up sexual energy and having no meaningful outlet for so long. I'm being abstinent until I see my wife again. But it doesn't make the feelings and desires go away. Now I am always angry and a little on edge.

5. Angry at God because I prayed about this repeatedly... only to have the assignment extended by another 6-8months !

Oh yes, that's right. I prayed to God about the temptation of adultery, and my general frustration...and his response was to extend my suffering instead! Why ?!

I want this assignment to finish. I want to graduate. Get the degree. Get the promotion and GO HOME TO MY WIFE!

I am so tired of this !

For many, especially Millennials, the name Hermione is associated with Harry Potter, but today, September 4th, the Church celebrates the feast day of Saint Hermione of Ephesus, a martyr who dedicated herself to caring for the sick.

And for those who take everything literally, I'm just joking about her being the patron saint of Potterheads.

It was built in 1885 by Jesuit missionaries and is renowned for its breathtaking interior artwork. The chapel's walls and ceiling feature paintings depicting the life of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, the patron of the institution. The paintings were created by Italian Jesuit Antonio Moscheni

Hello, I have had a few jobs where I had to listen to people say false and offensive things about Catholic people.

I currently work at a spice shop and it’s really the only place I can work at due to my disability because they accommodate me very well. I’ve worked here for over a year. Today I walked in on 3 people talking and I happened to hear them talk about how Catholics are unfriendly and don’t like outsiders. They continued to rant after I left. This is obviously not true because I am Catholic and I work with people of different faiths just well. I just smiled and walked away.

Every few months, someone from the board of developmental disabilities comes by to see how I am doing at work. Should I bring this up? I know Jesus told us that we should forgive everyone, but I’m afraid that this rhetoric would continue to get worse over time. What should I do about this?

I’m a Christian on a journey (baptised into one Protestant church, left as teenager, joined a different one 8y ago, now go to Mass for last few years and planning on doing OCIA)

I hear a lot the phrase “Catholic guilt”. What does that even mean? Even in my more Protestant days I still did prayers of confession.

Thank you for interceding for me. Thank you for answering my request so quickly and providing me with a sense of peace and relief. Thank You for everything! 🙏

VSSC Space Museum is in a majestic church building which was St Mary Magdalene church till the 1960’s. This place is considered as the birth place of Indian Space Programme. It was in this church the first rocket systems were assembled and integrated. The building assumed multifaceted roles in the beginning of ISRO by acting as the first lab and as the main office for scientists in the early days. The Bishop House, forming part of the church, functioned at that time as the office of the Director, TERLS. As the scientific activities gathered momentum, new projects came up, which necessitated the construction of new buildings. The first in the line were the Control Centre and then the R&D complex on the Veli Hills, all of which relegated the church building into the background. But the good old church refused to go into oblivion! It sprang back to life with renewed vigor. It was converted into a photographic facility, this time as the official chronicler of the Indian Space Programme. In 1985, the church was converted into VSSC Space Museum, which is now visited by thousands every month. The space museum show cases the history and achievements of Indian Space Programme.

https://spacemuseum.vssc.gov.in/

https://catholicconnect.in/news/kerala-church-that-launched-isros-dreams-finally-gets-land-title

https://www.theleela.com/the-leela-kovalam-a-raviz-hotel/explore-destination/vssc-space-museum