Well, then, I'm going to Hell. It's unfortunate because my life has been Hell and I looked forward to my Heavenly afterlife. I guess it'll just be more torture.
For what particular reason are you going to Hell? Attending church isn't that bad, and many look forward to it as it is the only place to receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord. Communion with Christ through the Eucharist is the focal point of Catholic life. We confess our sins so that we may take Communion in a state of grace. There is purpose to the integration of a parish into your life. If there are extenuating circumstances that prevent you from attending, then your obligation is dispensed as long as you make every effort to attend at the first opportunity. If you are able but not willing, do you not feel that a few hours a week every Sunday is rather humble recompense for Christ's sacrifice on the Cross?
More preaching below because the concept of the Eucharist is understandably strange to many people outside the Church lmao.
In John 6:22-59, Christ is speaking in a synagogue in Capernaum. During His sermon, He says "I am the bread of life...I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." Now, this understandably freaks some of the audience out, and they say "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?". If this was a parable, perhaps now would've been a good time to clarify. Instead, Christ doubles down, and continues, "(53) Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. (54) Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day."
In John 6:60, many of Christ's disciples murmured amongst themselves, "this saying is hard, who can accept it?" Christ notices the disciples and asks, "Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe. For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father." This caused many of his disciples to outright leave. Jesus turns to His Twelve Apostles and asks if they'd also like to leave. Simon Peter responds, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
If we do not take part in the Eucharist, we cannot benefit from Christ's sacrifice of His flesh and His blood. This is why Sundays are Holy Days for Catholics, a weekly remembrance of His Passion and Resurrection. The Sacrament of the Eucharist brings His Passion into the present, a snapshot of His triumph over sin in which we may still take part.
I was raised Christian. I'm not Catholic. I've been to church maybe twenty times in my life. Since 2012 I've become less social every year to the point I would go to work but rarely leave my house. The past year has been even worse. Not because of Covid, but health problems (which are the original reason for my transformation into a recluse). I won't go to church. So according go what you believe (maybe rightly), I'm Hellbound.
Many parish priests make house calls in order to take confession and to offer communion. I implore you, give a local priest a call. I was a skeptical atheist up through high school, but within the Catholic Church I found the fullness that I felt was missing from mainline Protestant Christianity. I sincerely hope your health improves, and I also hope it will not be a roadblock to your faith.
You shouldn't take one man's word on what God is. There's a lot of extra baggage attached to Catholicism and Christianity in general. If you're curious, take a look at the Jefferson Bible.
Well, then, I'm going to Hell. It's unfortunate because my life has been Hell and I looked forward to my Heavenly afterlife. I guess it'll just be more torture.
For what particular reason are you going to Hell? Attending church isn't that bad, and many look forward to it as it is the only place to receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord. Communion with Christ through the Eucharist is the focal point of Catholic life. We confess our sins so that we may take Communion in a state of grace. There is purpose to the integration of a parish into your life. If there are extenuating circumstances that prevent you from attending, then your obligation is dispensed as long as you make every effort to attend at the first opportunity. If you are able but not willing, do you not feel that a few hours a week every Sunday is rather humble recompense for Christ's sacrifice on the Cross?
More preaching below because the concept of the Eucharist is understandably strange to many people outside the Church lmao.
In John 6:22-59, Christ is speaking in a synagogue in Capernaum. During His sermon, He says "I am the bread of life...I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." Now, this understandably freaks some of the audience out, and they say "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?". If this was a parable, perhaps now would've been a good time to clarify. Instead, Christ doubles down, and continues, "(53) Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. (54) Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day."
In John 6:60, many of Christ's disciples murmured amongst themselves, "this saying is hard, who can accept it?" Christ notices the disciples and asks, "Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe. For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father." This caused many of his disciples to outright leave. Jesus turns to His Twelve Apostles and asks if they'd also like to leave. Simon Peter responds, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
If we do not take part in the Eucharist, we cannot benefit from Christ's sacrifice of His flesh and His blood. This is why Sundays are Holy Days for Catholics, a weekly remembrance of His Passion and Resurrection. The Sacrament of the Eucharist brings His Passion into the present, a snapshot of His triumph over sin in which we may still take part.
I was raised Christian. I'm not Catholic. I've been to church maybe twenty times in my life. Since 2012 I've become less social every year to the point I would go to work but rarely leave my house. The past year has been even worse. Not because of Covid, but health problems (which are the original reason for my transformation into a recluse). I won't go to church. So according go what you believe (maybe rightly), I'm Hellbound.
Many parish priests make house calls in order to take confession and to offer communion. I implore you, give a local priest a call. I was a skeptical atheist up through high school, but within the Catholic Church I found the fullness that I felt was missing from mainline Protestant Christianity. I sincerely hope your health improves, and I also hope it will not be a roadblock to your faith.
Thank you. My health no longer affects my faith. I'm stubborn though. I'll just keep praying, by myself, and God will decide what happens to me.
You shouldn't take one man's word on what God is. There's a lot of extra baggage attached to Catholicism and Christianity in general. If you're curious, take a look at the Jefferson Bible.