Memory loss

Anonymous asked this question on 3/30/2001:

In the Roman Catholic faith, does faith = destiny?

I would really like to ask many more questions. Is there a Catholic Site that one many go to and learn and actually talk to people or priests?

I was raised a Catholic and knew everything I learned well. Some years ago; somehow I've lost my memory on many aspects of my life and cannot remember much of what I have learned. Unfortunately, the loss of memory has extended to my religion as well. Because of this, there are many questions that I cannot answer to my children. It's very embarrassing and I'm too embarrassed to ask anyone I know a lot of these questions. Please help me. Thanks for any help.

Greetings:

Yours is a curious and special predicament.

I would like to begin with an obvious but often forgotten supposition: There is no occurrence in our life that the Lord doesn't allow for our good. All is part of His mercy and providence. He even gets a blessing out of our sins.

Please meditate this passage (Rom 8): " 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

The New American Standard Bible, (La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation) 1977."

Isn't ours a glorious predestination? Only our free will can destroy that marvelous destiny to be part of the many brethren who "are conformed to the image of His Son".

Therefore, we can only rejoice in our vocation and tremble so we might not stray from His hand.

Perhaps it would be beneficial for you to ask the Lord why He has permitted this memory loss in your life. At first guess I could imagine that He wants you to acquire the spirit of spiritual childhood (Luke 18): "2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, 3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The New American Standard Bible, (La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation) 1977."

Embarrassments should cause humility and acceptance of what the Lord has permitted. A sign of this kind of faith consists in thanking and praising Him for your quandary. Human doctors give us medication that corresponds to our sickness. Why do you think the Lord makes you pass through this shame? He wants to cure some inner sickness. Therefore, the best way to cure you would consist in asking just those persons whose knowledge of your predicament would really humiliate you. You would become spiritually healthy in no time and the divine medicine would have a wonderful effect.

In the second place, it could be a very gratifying experience to discover together with the family the will of God and the teaching of the Church. Why don't you look in the Gospels or the Bible for answers to your questions? Generally, it's not so much about the correct information but much more about how to live our life in God's will in the inevitable confrontation with the corrupt world we are living in.

Furthermore, I would like to suggest that even if you have forgotten the text of Catholic Prayers you can talk to the Lord, can't you? Additionally you should observe that your moral conscience hasn't suffered. You know very well what is right and what is wrong.

So, don't anguish yourself about the fact that you have forgotten some religious information. That's easily re-acquired. Saint Augustine suggests: "Love and then do what you want".

God bless you

and

vale

mscperu