I am struggling to handle internal conflict inside me.

[BlueKota]

I was raised Catholic but left the church for a number of reasons I have gone into in other forums. I won't go back into them here.

My faith in God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Mary, and the rest of the saints are still there. What I am struggling with is I have always been taught we are not supposed to hate others. We are supposed to turn the other cheek and forgive. Yet I feel like it would be lying to God if I said I didn't hate the Maga leaders and their cult members. I feel that hate because they do nothing but willfully harm others who have nothing to harm them.

I believe that is evil and that's why I feel such anger towards them. I would never act out that anger physically, as I believe in non violence. I do sometimes, however beg God in my prayers to punish them. Today when I saw a video of a counter protester saying God bless DT, I found myself saying God F DT. Now I feel guilty.

I said the Act of Contrition, but I still feel like it's dishonest of me to say to myself or God that I can ever feel anything but pure disgust for dt and the rest of them. How am I not supposed to hate people who get joy from hurting other people, and who literally do everything they can to make other people's lives miserable? I mean what about Hitler and Stalin? Were people supposed to love and forgive them. Does anyone else feel this conflict and how do I cope with it?

[surfered]

1. I don't have an answer for you. I'm in awe of the survivors of the Charleston Church shooting who forgave the shooter.

[BlueKota]

3. That is amazing that some people can do that.

One of the local priests told me years ago it's okay to experience emotions, including anger and even hate sometimes. He said he believed God understands those feelings are part of being human. He said as long as you never do anything to act on them, he thinks it is okay. The priest said if I worried so much about whether or not, I was pleasing God, he very much doubted that God would be upset with me. He said it's the one's who don't worry about it, that might have an issue.

[sprinkleeninow]

5. After the gift of salvation, we have been given the gift of repentance.

An exhortation is if you fall 1000 times during the course of a day, ask forgiveness each and every time.

Yes, that figure is an exaggeration on purpose to impress what is said.

I too am struggling with animosity towards what is continually being foisted upon us, the peoples of this country and primarily towards the 'one being' responsible for the destruction.

My prayers center around his removal, not in a harmful way. The Lord knows my heart. That's not to say seeing the face n hearing the voice or any mention of him can bring about cursing.

What your priest told you...because you are concerned about your spiritual state, that's a good thing. If you weren't, that would be a detriment.

You are not alone, my sister/brother in Christ. 🫶 ☮️

[red dog 1]

16. "My prayers center around his removal, not in a harmful way."

I like that.

[Irish_Dem]

2. If we don't hate pure sadistic evil then something is wrong with us.

St. Michael the Archangel fought evil and carried his sword with him every where to do so.

If I am supposed to turn the other cheek to Hitler, Stalin, Trump, Putin, serial killers, etc.
And sit on a cloud playing a harp pretending to be an angel, well God has the wrong lady on his team.

The Blessed Mother is my guiding light. She knows the pain of evil on a personal level.
I fight the good fight and feel her help and support. The battle between good and evil is the iconic human condition. I damn well know which side I am on. And I have no shred of guilt about it.

[BlueKota]

4. That helps to hear.

I have felt strongly that the televangelist and Christian nationalists are the type of people that the apostles warned about. The ones who would say were coming in God and Jesus' name, but were not from God. I have felt that way ever since Ronald Reagan started inviting them into politics.

I chose the Blessed Mother as my Patroness Saint as one of our teachers in grade school said it is often chosen on your given name. My middle name is Marie so I chose Mary. So I too feel a closeness to her. I also feel a closeness to Saint Francis as I feel one of my purposes in life is to care for animals, like feral cats.

[Irish_Dem]

6. Saint Francis is my second favorite after the Blessed Mother.

His Peace Prayer is the best prayer of all time.
It is more than a prayer, it is an important document about how to live
on this planet.

I see no conflict between the gentle loving support of Mary,
and the gentle wisdom of St. Francis, and the kick ass warrior of
St. Michael the Archangel.

Remember how angry Christ was when he cleared out the lending chargers and merchants who were ripping off the people? He was certainly not turning the other cheek.
He was literally kicking some ass, and rightly so.

Life on this planet is complicated, difficult, and hard to bear at times.
We need all the help we can get, and different perspectives.

Oh yes we can see everyday the MAGA Christians are not followers
of Christ.

[sprinkleeninow]

8. Mary was my mom as was her mom, my grandmother.

I was baptized and chrismated (christened) in the Eastern Orthodox Christian Tradition of Faith. My maternal grandmother, Mary, was of the (Roman) Catholic Tradition of Faith.

I make an endeavor to adhere to my Faith as best as I am able.

We Orthodox have our Ikons as you may know. I have one of +St. Anthony of Padua+ in my Ikon corner along with a cross, and another Ikon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.

St. Anthony has always come to my aid in uncovering misplaced items. Always!

And I do pray to +Holy St. Francis+ for his protection for all animals.

[BlueKota]

10. My maternal Grandmother's name was Antoinette

and she chose Saint Anthony as her Patron Saint. My Mom also chose him because of my grandmother's teaching her about him. He has helped me find lost things too. My sister's favorite Saint is Saint Teresa!

[sprinkleeninow]

13. My parents communicated at a Byzantine Catholic church years ago, St. Therese of Lisieux.

[sprinkleeninow]

14. 🫶

[surfered]

7. Christian Nationalists have a faith without works

[No Vested Interest]

9. I have found that personally, I have to let go of anger to have peace of mind.

Now an elderly woman, I find I just don't have the energy to fight, even internally, others evil intentions, thought and actions.
I just have to protect myself now and leave the rest to the Lord to sort out.
I pray to a number of saints, with different charismas, for assistance and strength. The Sacred Heart of Jesus, His mother Mary, St. Joseph, St. Francis, St. Christopher for physical strength, St. Jude, St. Ann, St. Joan of Arc for courage, and others who have faced challenges.
Perhaps St. Paul could be of particular help in this instance.
I don't think we have to worry re Hitler, Stalin and past despots. Pass them along to a saint/someone who has had experience with that type of "problem" to solve and go about your everyday life in the peace of Christ.
The Lord wants us to find our peace in Him. He is there for us.
Also, Mary, mother of Jesus, who suffered the injustice of the loss of her Son. - She knows the pain you are suffering.
The Memorare - "Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection was left unaided,..
Peace be with you, my friend..

[BlueKota]

11. Thank you.

My late Aunt's son, is still a devout Catholic, and also keeps telling me to just keep praying, to have faith in God's love, and leave the future of the world in his hands.

His Mom was my Godmother and his Dad, was my Godfather. He said you know that's what they would tell you, and you know they are still watching over you.

[sprinkleeninow]

15. Words of Wisdom!

[sprinkleeninow]

12. Included in my evening prayers is The Memorare.

I embraced the prayer when attending a Catholic High School back in the 60's.

Yes, The Ever Virgin Mary comes to mind in recollection of her profound sorrow having witnessed the Crucifixion of Her Son.

[Shipwack]

17. Don't be too hard on yourself.

You are allowed to be imperfect.

You are a work in progress, as are we all until the day we die.

Don’t give up. I once read that the worst sin is despair, since it denies the transformative power of God.