St. John Eudes - Confessor
J.M.J.
THE CATHOLIC 12 STEP PROGRAM
from "The Blessed Margaret Family Help Center"
(http://www.blessedmargaret.org/)
Hi! Grandpa here again. I'm going to describe to you a method that is
similar to the 12 Steps of AA but still significantly different because it
attacks a worse problem. If you've got a copy of the Big Book, you should
recognize what will be presented. After all, the Big Book is essentially
Catholic spirituality as expressed by St. Ignatius Loyola with all of the
"objectionable" Catholic parts leached out of it. Instead, what I will
describe is more like the Big Book on spiritual steroids.
I won't explain things in a deep theoretical discourse because I can't. I
didn't learn them by reading about them; I learned them by living them. You
see, my dear friend-in-need, these are the very steps that my soul had to
take in its journey out of the brambles of my addiction to where I am today.
These steps occurred (and are occurring) in my own soul and if I didn't try
to do my best to explain them to you so that you, too, can make them a part
of your own life, I would be the most selfish man on the face of God's
earth. By the way, if My Story
(http://www.blessedmargaret.org/my_story.htm) sounds interesting to you
(Heaven only knows why it might!), I go into more detail on my own life
there.
Before I lay all 12 points down for you, I assume that you've already gone
through the pages on Addictions
(http://www.blessedmargaret.org/Addictions.htm). If you haven't, you'll
probably find it most fruitful to start there. Don't worry - I'll wait!
If you are a devotee of AA, I think a word of explanation about why we even
need a Catholic 12 point program, might be in order. It is quite true that
AA has helped millions of people to overcome the addiction of alcoholism.
For that it is to be congratulated. The problem, however, is that that
isn't really what the problem is at all. (I explained it back in
Addictions.) Once again, if you missed it, the "hook" of alcoholism is
there for you to gain your salvation. This is done because in your
struggles against your "hook", you prove your love for God and your contempt
of yourself. Staying sober doesn't mean anything if you still end up in
hell! AA doesn't teach you how to save your soul and that is precisely
where the Catholic 12 points is aimed at and what the Blessed Margaret
Center is all about. AA purposely steers clear of trying to teach you the
proper spiritual tools of God's One True Religion, but instead, it simply
makes use of "how you understand God" at the moment when you start the
program.
"Why do I need to do it in a Catholic way?" you might ask. "Aren't all
religions the same, more or less?" Here I'm afraid that I might potentially
hurt your feelings by my answer but I beg your indulgence in continuing on.
In this case, charity and my deep regard for your salvation requires me to
stress Truth over anyone's desire for Unity. While it is true that all
religions contain some elements of truth, the Catholic religion contains all
truth. Therefore, any truth that other religions contain is that portion of
Catholic truth which they choose to uphold. I'm so very sorry if that
offends you, Friend, but in this case I must witness for the Truth. The Sun
is the source of all light in our solar system and, in like manner, the
Catholic Church is the source of God's Light to man. All other religions
are like so many moons reflecting portions of God's Light. Please see "Why
Be Catholic" (http://www.blessedmargaret.org/why_be_catholic.htm) for a
further explanation.
Having said all that and hoping that you are still with me, let me lay out
in bullet form the Catholic 12 points.
1. I will admit that I - me, myself, and I, - have a problem that
controls me. I am helpless against it and that I am its slave.
2. I will admit that only with God's grace can I succeed. I have
failed with even the best of my efforts. His power and grace are infinite;
I am infinitesimal. I will grow in my capacity to accept His grace so that
I can overcome my addiction.
3. I will know myself; both to determine what sins I've committed and also
so that I know what my "hooks" are. I will examine my conscience and my
life so that I really begin to know my sins and myself.
4. I will confess my sins to a priest; a general confession preferably, but
at least I will make a sincere confession, being genuinely contrite.
5. I will do the penance that the priest gives me during confession and I
will begin to make restitution to God and man for my sins; both in the
particular case and in the general case.
6. I will begin to attend Mass - the True Mass; I will attend more
regularly and more devoutly. I will always try to go to Communion if I am
able.
7. I will attend the Sacraments more regularly; completing any 1-time ones
such as Baptism or Matrimony which are necessary to the state of my soul and
circumstances, but more importantly going to Confession - especially when I
have fallen back into my addiction but at least once a month and also
regularly receive Communion.
8. I will identify what near occasions of sin affect me most and I will
work to distance myself from those persons, places, and things which most
easily lead me into sin, concentrating on my addiction.
9. I will strengthen my will by mortification and penance. I will work to
gain mastery over myself by practicing virtue. I will begin with simple,
easy-to-win battles over myself and progressing to more difficult ones.
10. I will strengthen my intellect by educating myself on the truths of the
Faith. I will regularly read the Bible, the works of the Saints,
Encyclicals of the Popes, and good Catholic reading so that my intellect and
my conscience will become properly formed.
11. I will increase my sanctity by regular and fervent prayer. I will
especially develop a great love for the Rosary and the Blessed Virgin. I
will develop my own list of personal patron saints and I will pray to them
regularly. I will start to meditate on the truths that I am reading about
so that my interior life will be sufficiently strong for the combat that I
am in.
12. I will perform the works of mercy. I will especially perform those
works that impact souls who suffer with my addiction. I will perform good
works to give glory to God, the salvation of my own soul, and for the good
of my neighbor.
Let's go into more detail so please go to Steps 1 & 2
(http://www.blessedmargaret.org/steps_1_n_2.htm) to begin the discussion.
http://www.blessedmargaret.org/
--
Sincerely in Christ
Our Lady of the Rosary Library
"Pray and work for souls"
http://olrl.org
-------------
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--------------
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