Man... this one got to me.

I just joined the Catholic Church last year. I've been going to the Latin Mass. I've been trying to read about Church History and the saints and the faith. So much providential stuff has happened to me in the last 22 months. But so much pain and sorrow too.

I just don't know what to think anymore. Vatican 2 never sat right with me, but there were ways to make sense of it (for a while at least... not so much the last 3 months or so).

"Francis is bad, but there have been bad popes before. At least Benedict was based. Well, I guess I'm a little uncomfortable with Benedict too, but JP2 is a Saint! That is without error... except what about ecumenism? And him knowing about McCarrick? And what about Assisi? And how is John the 23 a saint?" (and on and on and on).

How can I learn more about Orthodoxy without sinning (putting my faith in jeopardy according to the catechism). And on a personal level, I'm not sure how much time I have left, but I don't want to find myself outside the true Church. Nothing is more important than salvation. Yet, I'm no longer even confident that I know how to pray correctly or effectively.

Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. I really do want to make You happy. I know I'm terrible at listening. I know I'm still a slave to many passions, but thank You for freeing me from many big ones as well.

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Man... this one got to me.

I just joined the Catholic Church last year. I've been going to the Latin Mass. I've been trying to read about Church History and the saints and the faith. So much providential stuff has happened to me in the last 22 months. But so much pain and sorrow too.

I just don't know what to think anymore. Vatican 2 never sat right with me, but there were ways to make sense of it (for a while at least... not so much the last 3 months or so).

"Francis is bad, but there have been bad popes before. At least Benedict was based. Well, I guess I'm a little uncomfortable with Benedict too, but JP2 is a Saint! That is without error... except what about ecumenism? And him knowing about McCarrick? And what about Assisi? And how is John the 23 a saint?" (and on and on and on).

How can I learn more about Orthodoxy without sinning (putting my faith in jeopardy according to the catechism). And on a personal level, I'm not sure how much time I have left, but I don't want to find myself outside the true Church. Nothing is more important than salvation. Yet, I'm no longer even confident that I know how to pray correctly or effectively.

Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. I really do want to make You happy. I know I'm terrible at listening. I know I'm still a slave to many passions, but thank You for freeing me from many big ones as well.

I highly recommend Michael Whelton’s book “Two Paths.” It’s a short easy read and will answer a lot of questions.

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Man... this one got to me.

I just joined the Catholic Church last year. I've been going to the Latin Mass. I've been trying to read about Church History and the saints and the faith. So much providential stuff has happened to me in the last 22 months. But so much pain and sorrow too.

I just don't know what to think anymore. Vatican 2 never sat right with me, but there were ways to make sense of it (for a while at least... not so much the last 3 months or so).

"Francis is bad, but there have been bad popes before. At least Benedict was based. Well, I guess I'm a little uncomfortable with Benedict too, but JP2 is a Saint! That is without error... except what about ecumenism? And him knowing about McCarrick? And what about Assisi? And how is John the 23 a saint?" (and on and on and on).

How can I learn more about Orthodoxy without sinning (putting my faith in jeopardy according to the catechism). And on a personal level, I'm not sure how much time I have left, but I don't want to find myself outside the true Church. Nothing is more important than salvation. Yet, I'm no longer even confident that I know how to pray correctly or effectively.

Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. I really do want to make You happy. I know I'm terrible at listening. I know I'm still a slave to many passions, but thank You for freeing me from many big ones as well.

The orthodox church has changed it's position on contraception,I clouding ROCOR. They also have changed their position on divorce and remarriage. Although the chalcedonian which is the branch roosh is a part of has a limit of three marriages which has no theological basis and just comes from emperor Leo. I understand where you are but go to adoration especially. It's been a crazy year of learning for me too. Pray the rosary as well it's really powerful. Also reading Twresaof Avila and John of the cross and Ignatius of Loyola helps. God Bless you!

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The orthodox church has changed it's position on contraception,I clouding ROCOR. They also have changed their position on divorce and remarriage. Although the chalcedonian which is the branch roosh is a part of has a limit of three marriages

No, contraception and divorce were and still are grave sins for the Church.

Math, 19:3-12
The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

Same reason the Church "allowed" second marriage. It's controlled fornication. The service of the "second wedding" is not the Sacramaent of Marriage.

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No, contraception and divorce were and still are grave sins for the Church.

Math, 19:3-12
The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

Same reason the Church "allowed" second marriage. It's controlled fornication. The service of the "second wedding" is not the Sacramaent of Marriage.

I think you cut off at Verse 8. Matthew 19:9-12 (Douay Rheims)

And I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery. [10] His disciples say unto him: If the case of a man with his wife be so, it is not expedient to marry. [11] Who said to them: All men take not this word, but they to whom it is given. [12] For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it.

As per verse 9, are these 2nd marriages not permitted to occur with divorced women or only women who are not put away? Are men and women treated differently ?

I've never put my finger on EO theology around marriage, but it is hard to understand this, perhaps others can explain.

"Controlled fornication" ? If fornication is grave matter, then how is it that a Priest can preside over this "Second wedding" which is a cause of breaking apart the sacramental valid marriage?

I was taught that Verse 6 is instructive on this matter "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

Asunder comes from the Old English phrase on sundran, which means "into separate places." It is a somewhat archaic and uncommon word and many people know it only from religious marriage ceremonies: "What God has joined together let no man put asunder." In most cases, you can use its more common synonym "apart" and .

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No, contraception and divorce were and still are grave sins for the Church.

Math, 19:3-12
The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

Same reason the Church "allowed" second marriage. It's controlled fornication. The service of the "second wedding" is not the Sacramaent of Marriage.

Nope the official position of EO is that non abortifacient contraception is permitted. The official positions of the Russian and Greek Church have been quite clear, reversing earlier church teaching. Also the point about marriage is absurd, the past Jesus points to is the OLD covenant not the new covenant. Also can you explain why their is a three marriage limit? Why not 4 why not 2?

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I think you cut off at Verse 8. Matthew 19:9-12 (Douay Rheims)

As per verse 9, are these 2nd marriages not permitted to occur with divorced women or only women who are not put away? Are men and women treated differently ?

I've never put my finger on EO theology around marriage, but it is hard to understand this, perhaps others can explain.

"Controlled fornication" ? If fornication is grave matter, then how is it that a Priest can preside over this "Second wedding" which is a cause of breaking apart the sacramental valid marriage?

I was taught that Verse 6 is instructive on this matter "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

I regret these discussions, since they’re overly negative, and both Catholics and Orthodox can fall into error.

The Orthodox teaching on divorce is an oieconomia, that a legalistic may claim doesn’t follow Scripture to the T, and from my understanding it’s not dogmatic. I can also ask why Catholics don’t believe that taking the blood of Christ is necessary, despite Our Lord’s commandment to do so. Such disagreements are futile!

Anyway, there is a historical Church. Catholics believe it is theirs. I beg to differ, and that’s all. We cannot win these disagreements through debate, but rather through divine revelation.

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