Catholics... opinions and advice?

well for the sake of brevity..i will jsut say this is a very dark time in my life. the last coupel years have provided me with several life changing unfortuante events..which has caused me to lose faith often and struggle with sin out of hopelessness.





anyways..i now have a close friend in the hospital who has wound up in a coma....and the thought of it is too much to bear. i already struggle with depression..and now i worry about this...and i am ready to explode.





it feels like no matter how much i go to mass or say the rosary it is all wasted. it feels liek this is all punishment from god.....for making wrong choices.





i guess what i am asking is i dont know how to get my faith back...





i feel more mad at god than anythign really...





all advice and experiences are welcome... thanksCatholics... opinions and advice?
I think you are struggling with two separate issues, your clinical depression and the questioning of your faith.





First of all you need to seek help from a medical professional about your depression. This must be treated for you to be able to look at life from a different perspective than you now have.





On the spiritual side of your problem I suggest you speak to your priest of deacon. It is not unusual for anyone to question their faith at times of hardship. For most of us we come out stronger in faith as a result because despair causes us to rely more on God as we feel that things are out of control. It is through faith that we get hope.





Often it helps if we can learn how others have handled these questions and certainly there are saints who have encountered great hardship in their life but through faith have found it to be a blessing in that these difficulties have brought them closer to God and stronger than ever in faith. One such saint that I suggest you read about and His works is St. John of the Cross. He wrote ';Dark Night of the Soul'; and other works. He had a very difficult life as you are experiencing now and you may find his experience and how he dealt with it an inspiration. Most book stores sell his complete works. God bless and may our Lord be with you in these difficult times. If I can help please email me.





In Christ


Fr. JosephCatholics... opinions and advice?
Keep praying and don't give up. read your Bible daily. one verse that always helps me is Phil 4:13
I cant give you any advice that you will take to heart. You need to find things out for yourself. If there was an all loving god why would he do this to his children? if you had the power to control your childrens emotions, would you want them to feel like you do? You are not being punished for anything, you are a victim of circumstance. Your friend being in a coma and your depression is not all your fault, and it has nothing to do with some almighty creator in the sky. Instead of looking to have your faith restored, look to find a new faith.


You should look up Pat Condell on youtube and watch some of his short 5 minute videos. They are funny but they are very eye opening





good luck
You should pray to Saint Lechitiel.





The angel Lechitiel should be especially invoked, it was he who strengthened Our Lord in his abandonment on the Mount of Olives (Garden of Gethsemani)





Lechitiel is the angel for people in despair, disheartened and those thinking of committing suicide. He is the angel to help those who are rejected, discouraged, isolated, abandoned and forsaken. His help needs only to be requested a few times during the year and he is able to prevent people from committing suicide, during that year, whereas the person who does not call for his intercession does submit to this evil of committing suicide. (this includes depression)





As for your Friend you should get a Green Scapular, have it properly blessed, and place it either in the beding or simply next to your friend in the room.





Take care and God Bless
I'm sorry for all you have been through! Please don't lose faith. God sends trials and sufferings to everyone. Some get it harder than others. The best thing to do in these situations is trust in God. Put yourself in his hands, and let him do as he will. I think he is testing you. He wants to see how strong of a follower you are. Not everyone gets a chance to prove themselves like this. I know this might not seem right, but just trust in God. Things always get better in the end. I'm praying for you and your friend. God bless you!