jswranch Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 I need your help in sharing God's love with traditionalist buddy. Continuing a dialogue with my conservative/traditionalist friend (SSPX leaning, rejects eucharist in the hand, Norvus Ordo may be invalid, Vatican II was overrun by subversives/demonic masons, JPII and BXVI heretical), I have come across what may be the deeper root of the problem. He was over at my home with my wife and kids listening to a public reading I held of "Deus Caritas Est" for my church lay group. Privately I asked him if he knew God loves him. He responded, "theologically, but not emotionally." He feels his cross to bear in this life is to not experience love. His attitude on his life path is that God will not express emotional love to him during this life, either directly or from any other human being. His parents did not show love to him. He wanted a family and kids to love him, but that is not practical any longer (age). He feels he is to live out his purgatory in this life by faithfully living out pre-VII church commandments in the absence of God's love. I asked him, "What do I have to do to show you God loves you?" He chuckled and said, "I am not suprised to hear you say that." I told him this 'cross' was unheard of in church history. While many church faithful and saints have spiritual desert experiences and feel the 'dark night of the soul,' none of them have it for their entire lives. I gave him a homework assignment to contemplate how much God loves the Virgin Mary, then contemplate that God loves him just as much. He said that was boarderline blasphemy as God does not love all equally, and perhaps him less than others. I responded that if the devil was alive and well in church, the devil had triumphed in convincing my buddy of his 'cross.' I am going to converse with him on his defunct views of love before I deal with his SSPX/anti-VII issues. Besides part of the purpose VII served was to renounce this twisted thought process he maintains. Continuing RCIA classes after my reception and first communion in November, our pastor has emphasized a relationship and friendship with God, which my friend probably does not have. Your comments are desired. (BTW he trusts no writings after 1960's including the CCC). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AluKey Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 That's a pretty wild situation. i've heard of the simple people who choose not to believe God loves them because of the bad things they've done in their lives. I almost want to say that your friend is rebelling against the catholic church. He's taking a very theological approach when he sounds like he needs a spiritual one. I can honestly say that i don't know what to tell you. I hate this part because it always makes me feel that a person is so far gone that there is no reason to try and get them closer when we're just too lazy to try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 go ahead and have him read "Dark Night of the Soul." if u can, maybe u should read it with him and then you can discuss it together. like, you two can each read a chapter a week and then come together on friday or somethin and talk about what u read. i'm pretty sure there are study guides on The Dark Night of the Soul that u could get, or books about the book, or somethin that u could use to instruct him on St. John's message in the book. it is one that your friend truly needs to hear. pax christi, phatcatholic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jswranch Posted February 22, 2006 Author Share Posted February 22, 2006 [quote name='phatcatholic' date='Feb 21 2006, 06:58 PM']go ahead and have him read "Dark Night of the Soul." ...You two can each read a chapter a week and then come together on friday or somethin and talk about what u read. [right][snapback]894177[/snapback][/right] [/quote] He probably has it already, but we might give it a try. Do you think "Dark Night of the Soul" will convince him that God loves him? It is the bliss/joy/ecstacy of God's love he needs? Perhaps he needs professional therapy to get through the 'mommy daddy' issues. Also, is it not true that God loves all children equally? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 it is very true that God loves all his children equally. i suggested Dark Night of the Soul b/c he seems to be going through a "dark night" and so he's feeling like God doesn't love him. this book will help him to see that even in the toughest of times the Lord has not abandoned him. let us know how it goes.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jswranch Posted February 27, 2006 Author Share Posted February 27, 2006 I am working with a few others to get him some professional help. We also need to take care of some parental issues with him. I will keep you posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 I think God loves us equally but each person will experieince it differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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