Finals, College, and the Rest of My Life

Q: I am freaking out over my life. Finals are coming up and I go off to college next year. How am I supposed to know what to do with my life? What if I mess up in school and mess up my whole life?

A: Transitions in life are always somewhat frightening, so don’t feel like you are the only person who feels this way. Most people are not sure what they should be doing at this time, and there can be a lot of pressure from parents or others to go to college, or make other decisions that you are not sure about. You shouldn’t worry about messing up your whole life. Even if things go badly, there will be plenty of chances for you to take a different path. Don’t make a decision simply based on what others are telling you, try to do what you think is best for you life and what you feel God is calling you to.

On the other hand, your parents receive a lot of wisdom from God. They probably have some ideas that you don’t necessarily see the value of right now, but trust your parents and realize that they do have a pretty good idea of what is best for you.

Tom

Different Ways to Mourn and Deal with Death

Q: Yesterday my aunt died out of the blue. When I have to deal with things like this I try not to think about them, but my sister tells me I should cry and let it all out. I just don’t show my feelings like other people. Usually if I am upset I put on some music because it helps me get my stress out by singing along with it. Do you think that is a healthy way to deal with a family member’s death?

A: People mourn in different ways, some people ball their eyes out, others sit and pray, some analyze the situation, and others de-stress by doing something. If you find that it is most helpful to you to put on music and sing away the stress that is wonderful, because you are working on dealing with the situation. However, I think it is important to think about the things you are dealing with in your life. It is always hard for people to deal with death. I think you should keep singing to help yourself feel better, but do not ignore the situation. I find that talking things out works for me, even if it is talking things out between just God and I. I’m not going to tell you the best way for you to mourn, but do not ignore your aunt’s death.

Alex

Why Not Just End Your Life

Q: I’m doing a report for school on euthanasia. It seems to me that suicide is the only path out sometimes. Why is it morally wrong if it’s easier to end your life quickly than to suffer through long and arduous pain?

A: Committing suicide is a mortal sin; it is breaking the fifth commandment. God commanded this because He wants us to take care of our spiritual and physical being. He gave each person a soul. He chose each person individually for a purpose. God knows when to call us home. There is a reason for everything, including suffering. Society tells us that we should do everything to stay away from pain. God tells us that it is a blessing and a way to unite ourselves with Christ. Offering up your pain to God pleases Him because you are showing Him that you are willing to suffer for Him.

Amanda

Catholic Church Position On Stem Cell Research

Q: Why are Catholics so against stem cell research? It could help so many people.

A: This is a misconception many people have. The Catholic Church is not against stem cell research, but is against fetal stem cell research. We agree that adult stem cells can and has helped many people.

The Catholic Church does not support fetal stem cell research because it destroys a living human embryo in order to extract the embryo’s stem cells. The Church teaches that all life is sacred, from conception until natural death.

If our government can choose to destroy an unborn human life for the greater good, then soon it will also become their right to decide to dispose of terminally ill patients and condemned prisoners.

We must also consider the long-term consequences of fetal stem cell research. Once the limited supplies of human embryos are destroyed, where will the additional embryos come from? The answer is egg extraction, something already happening in California and England. Egg extraction is an extremely painful and dangerous process for women. It also destroys women’s dignity by stripping them of their natural instinct as caregivers and selling their own infants.

Adult stem cell research does cure disease. There have been over 70 debilitating diseases that have either been treated or cured with stem cell research. So far there have been no benefits in embryonic stem cell research. Also adult stem cell research does not harm the donor and is much easier to extract. Some ways they extract the stem cells include blood from the umbilical cord, dental pulp, and the placenta.

If we support embryonic stem cell research then we neither respect the life God gave us nor are we responsible caretakers of the earth and our babies as God meant us to be.

I hope this has answered your question.

God bless,
Mary

Why Go On Living

Q: I don’t see any reason for life. Why should I, or anyone else, go on? What is the meaning of life and why am I on this earth? To be spit on by every person who thinks they’re better than me? Can you answer that?

A: God loves us more than we could ever know and He didn’t put us here to be miserable. The only reason that God ever had for creating us is so that He could love us. In fact, God didn’t have to create you, he could have created someone totally different, someone smarter, someone stronger or more talented, but no, God wanted You, He created You. He loves you so much that He sacrificed His only Son so that you can be with Him in heaven.

We weren't put on this earth to be put down by others, though God does teach us that we should turn the other cheek. We should love our neighbors even if they hate our guts. If we hate them back then that’s just going to increase their dislike for us. Really, when we hold a grudge on someone, we’re hurting ourselves more than anyone else. It’ll take a bit of effort, but if you do your best to love others, it’s really a whole lot easier in the long run. Who knows, they might see that despite their detestable feelings for you that you love them anyway, and that might really move them.

The meaning of life is simple. We were put here to love God, serve God, and know God. Now, how do we do that? Well, first of all you can’t do one of these without the other two. It’s all or nothing. We can’t really love anyone without making a choice first. So, we’ve got to choose and we have to pray. Pray everyday, even if it’s just five minutes. It doesn’t matter as long as you do it. Be sincere, if you don’t believe in God, or you don’t think He loves you, then just ask Him.

Remember, “An infinite reward is worth a finite wager” –Blaise Pascal.

Christian