Jansenism, a concept I had never been taught, yet a pattern of life I thoroughly fettered myself to in highschool. I would always plague myself with the dreadful thoughts of my actions (past or present), and I felt this need to 'pay' for it. This need to commit myself to doing good things for people only for the sake of outweighing all the bad things I had done. The only place I found worth was in serving others, but never out of joy or kindness, always out of a need to prove to God that I was 'penitent'. I would punish myself for all my wrongdoings to show Him how much it upset me when I'd mess up. Many patient friends would tell me that God's grace exceeds any sin we commit, and while I was foolish and did not listen to them then, it is a lesson I have slowly come around to realizing. And while perfectionism is something I still struggle with, I am trying to be much kinder and patient with myself when I fall in order to ensure I can get back up. Kicking yourself while you're down will never help you heal from shame. Shame is a lie whispered to you, only you can hear it.
So appreciate the explanation of jansenism! My family follows jansenism but calls themselves Catholic and it pushed me away from the church from a young age. Finally God has called me back to Catholicism and I'm pursuing adult confirmation now ☺️
Oh boy! Jansenism hasn’t just infected Irish Catholicism. French Canada, totally poisoned by it. Which is why everyone chucked it in the 70s, and it’s pretty much a secular society. And a lot of the Catholicism in Quebec is still a bit weird.
Please pray for them. I didn't grew up in Ireland nor was raised in jansenism, but I got myself into a similar mental place without a significant outside influence. I think it's easy to get tricked into that way of thinking. If it wasn't for St. Maria Faustyna Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament and what Jesus revealed to her, I would be far worse now, I believe. May the Holy Spirit accompany you in your way to confirmation, God bless you.
Same here, know where you're coming from. I never left the Church though was tempted but try and keep a wide berth from my family apart from major yearly celebrations. I lived with toxic perfectionism my whole life - in fsith and outside of faith with small matters of daily living - and now I am a chronic perfectionist (mental illness to a degree). It really is a form of punishment on your child merely for not being mirror versions of their parents - and for being yourself as Fsther explained so beautifully, and with added humour! Thanks Father!
Brother, please keep making these videos! They are so encouraging and thoughtful. I am a Christian but not Catholic. I have a desire to know the truth and you deliver God's message in a way I can understand and relate. Bless you and the other brothers!
My brother in the love of Christ, even our concept of perfection is imperfect and everything we do under the sun is just rags and tatters. The cult of the “supreme being” a franc-maçon creed was held in Notre Dame after the French revolution when the catholic mass was forbidden, that’s right forbidden! The little voice whispering “you see, you’re not worthy” every time we fall is really that of the one who considers himself “supreme” and we all know who that is. Thank you for your enlightening of what we so often fall for, even when we know it!
Thank you Fr Columba. I didn’t know how much I needed to hear this. It helps with my desire to not take life so seriously…..”I’m not going to do anything perfectly today. I’m just going to do my lousy best.” God is so good and accepting of us!
ST. JANE DE CHANTAL: “Should you fall even fifty times a day, never on any account should that surprise or worry you. Instead, ever so gently set your heart back in the right direction and practice the opposite virtue, all the time speaking words of love and trust to our Lord after you have committed a thousand faults, as much as if you had committed only one. Once we have humbled ourselves for the faults that God allows us to become aware of in ourselves, we must forget them and go forward.”
Just what I needed to hear, Father Columba. It’s amazing how quickly I revert to perfectionism.. I should start every day with this video after my morning offering. Thanks to Our Lord Jesus for your work and the joy and humor with which you convey it!
Hello Father Columba - Bless! Your videos recently showed up as 'recommended' viewings - and I have only watched 3 of them thus far. I am a catechumen who will officially enter the Orthodox Church during the Nativity this year. My sponsor into the Church, Silouan, and I - have had many conversations about this very topic. I didn't know it was linked to Jasenism - I just called it 'unrealistic, performance based so-called faith'. It was part of the 'ethos' of the Protestant group I walked with for 20 years.... Thank you so much for your labor of love. May your way be filled in Love -- Congregávit nos in unum Christi amor. Sæcula per infiníta sæculórum. Amen. Pax Christi - Lee!
Hello Lee! Glad you’re finding the series interesting. Lots of episodes to catch up on in your own time and there are articles on our website too if that interests you. God bless you.
I almost cried, when I repeated the words after you. My perfectionism drags my down to procrastination, beause nothing I do is ever good enough for my ego. There was a time I hated my self for not meeting my own expectations. Unlearning perfectionism is hard. I empathise with everyone on the same path to healing.
Hello, this video, I’ve watched many times happily, but today, it’s making me sad. I realize how much of my lofe was ruled by perfectionism and I lost so much because of it. I got the feeling from as far as I can remember that I was embarrassing or just ridiculous or pathetic or a loser if I had these very normal defects. Even if I enjoy something or do better than expected at something, if it wasn’t perfect, it really wasn’t worth being happy about. That really hurts. I remember so many times, it’s like I’m a child again. I just wanted to be with someone, I just wanted to be worth someone caring about. It’s so weird to see it more clearly as an adult. All that time gone. I hope when I pray, that I encounter God.
Father, I'm stealing your "I'm going to do my lousy best." What it does for me is to laugh at myself, that may not make sense but that's OK...... Thanks for this video. Needed to hear this....and more than once! Father, Jansenism crept over to the States....I was taught by Irish nuns....
Such a helpful video, as I experienced childhood trauma and those attachment wounds interfere with closeness with God in mental prayer. Doing my “lousy best” is a helpful concept. I also came to relisten to this video after hearing of Sinead O’Connors death, she experienced family trauma and she did not articulate her critique as Jansenism in the Church, but essentially that was what she was describing. I have complex feelings about her life and legacy and I pray for her soul.
This is awesome…I’ve never heard perfectionism described like this before. I never thought of myself as a perfectionist, but I can relate to everything you just said! I don’t usually lose it with people if they say mean things to me … but about a week ago it happened. Someone did something really mean and unjust and then laughed out loud in my face…it made me so mad…I completely lost it with them. Because it never happens, the person was shocked. I was shocked at my own reaction. I walked away and said Lord did that just happen??? It came into my head straight away “ Don’t be afraid of your weakness.” I felt so much better immediately. Humility check, yes that’s right, your weak …big revelation 😅 It’s okay to make a mistake. ☺️😉 Thank you Father Columba, this was so helpful. 🙏❤️
Thank you for the videos, Father…Saving this one to watch a couple of times…😋…until today, I couldn’t pinpoint why you are so easy for me to understand….it “clicked” when you mentioned the letters, A, D and H…and the squirrel 😅…totally me!…Very nice “James Bond”, btw…😏👍 God Bless You for your devotion to Him and to us!!…🙏❤Louisiana, USA
Thank you, Father! I was struggling with this topic this very night! I left work so dejected and nearly in tears. I fight this topic in every area of my life. Trusting in Jesus more and more has helped me not be a complete wreck lol! Love all your videos. Thanks again Fr. Columba. ❤
I'm in the process of converting. Your videos are helping so much to describe how I can unlearn some things, and replace them with love and knowledge. You help me to know that I'm going in the right direction. This talk on performance and perfectionism is super helpful to me. And Bond references most appreciated!! Thank you father Columba for your insight and humor in your teaching.
Praise God, Judith, and welcome Home! Please let us know how you get on in your process of coming back/into the Church and know that we are praying for you. So glad to hear this video could be helpful and glad you’re enjoying the series. Bless you!
Jansenism is still live and well, I believe. I wonder how Christians were before Jansenism hit. How the saints were before Jansenism and how ordinary Catholic were before it. I've seen people who are not affected by it and are in Love with God and their faith is very attractive, they don't have to talk about it, to attract others. I on the other hand got infected by this thinking by reading such books and reading such news sources and it lead me to develop a full OCD - diagnosed (I had OCD tendencies in the past as a child). The target of my OCD is most especially a validity of confession. I've seen many things and experienced a lot, but nothing compares to the suffering of OCD scrupulosity. I'm getting better now, with the help of my spiritual director (he is also my confessor), but it's hard to follow his advice sometimes, as I am afraid that he might be mistaken. Thank you for making this video father. Please remember me in your prayers. I would so much love to see how the true faith looks like and be able to trust it is pleasing to God. One day, I hope, when I die, I will feel silly at how harsh my own judgements are right now. I sometimes remember my re-version at 18, when I was in a lot of sin. It happened 'because' I started reading the Bible - with a really poor attitude, almost joking attitude. But God used that. I believe I was converted (reverted) even before my confession, because it took a few years before I actually confessed, but God was still filling my heart with His presence and it was the first time in my teenage years that I felt real joy. So, if God was so merciful to reveal Himself to me when I was reading the Bible - not as a believer, but with a really bad attitude, then He must have loved me, before I even believed in Him. Thinking about this, gives a whole new outlook to me. Sorry for a long post.
Hi P. A., You are "afraid he might be mistaken." Please remember "for God does not give us a spirit of fear" (St. Paul). The spirit of fear comes from the Devil. Also, if you are concerned about whether or not your confessions are valid, what a wonderful target for the devil to destroy your peace. Remember, God speaks through your spiritual confessor, who is a priest. Just believe what he says. Trust in God. Ignore the doubt, which comes from satan, who wants to destroy your peace.
POPE BENEDICT XVI: “THE JANSENIST MENTALITY PRESENTED A GRIM AND SEVERE FACE OF GOD, VERY REMOTE FROM THE FACE REVEALED TO US BY JESUS. IT LEAD TO A VERY STRICT AND WIDESPREAD INTERPRETATION OF MORAL LIFE.” In the 17th century the Jansenist heresy preached a religion of fear and anguish. Priests were obsessed with “sins of the flesh.” God was presented only as a harsh and condemning judge, not as a merciful Savior and Good Shepherd. The Jansenists taught that only a few people were saved, and only the purest of souls, free of all taint of sin, could receive Communion without the fear of committing a sacrilege. New Eucharistic devotions emphasized the separation and distance between God and ourselves. St. Vincent de Paul said: “We no longer see people receiving Communion, not even at Easter, the way they formerly did.” In the early 1900's Pope Pius 10th enraged those with a Jansenistic mind set by encouraging frequent & and even daily communion. And further, he began allowing children to receive holy communion as soon as they reached the age of reason. Before then, you had to be about 14 years old. Jansenists taught that the Eucharist is a reward for virtue, but the Council of Trent back in the 1500's had decreed that Communion is an “antidote by which we are freed from our daily faults and preserved from sin.”
Dear Fr. Columba, I am so very grateful for the spiritual food you provide us. I battle scrupulosity and this video is tailor made for me. Looking forward to the next. Thank you and God bless!
I struggle with perfectionism so much Father. Thank you for this video. If you can make another one on ideas of how to not beat yourself up. It would be greatly appreciated! Please pray for me!
It's why I love the Archangel Michael. Satan was made so glorious and beautiful and knowledgabel - and it still wasn't enough. He wanted to be God. Michael on the other hand knows, another Angel was chosen before him to lead the Angels and Mary, a human, is queen of the Angels. And he is content with being "second chosen" and "heralding the Angels". He is content with who he is, because God saw that it was good. In the media he is often portraited as this long suffering door mat for God, but I see his strengh in being exactly what he is and fitting exactly in God's plan and loving this and accepting it fully. It is also often said, Angels don't have free will, but they can rebell. He didn't. I remember him, when pride stirs me to want to be more than I am instead of the best possible version of myself.
I totally agree with everything you have said Father (I am a perfectionist and tell myself each day - because I suffer from fatigue also - just do what you are able to do and that's good enough), but in Scriptures Christ does say," Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect!" I suppose He is saying, by that, to turn away from sin.
I love your facial expressions and actions to explain a point. I keep smiling, sometimes laughing, as I listen. 😊 So down to earth in your simple words which go straight to the heart. Thank you Father.
How clever the devil is, just when we start to get serious about being a Christian he tells us we could NEVER be good enough, so we give up, this video taught me something powerful, thank you so much as those of us zealous in the love of God trying to please him need to be minded we are not God, just little scraps of nothing that Our Father adores as like a little puppy running back to his master joyfully. I have seem this in a meditation, Our Father loves and waits for our intentions, our desires I spoke to a loved one recently far from his love and tried to explain it's like we are akin to a group of puppies and imagine one keeps running up to the visitor, watching for him, jumping up joyfully every time he comes to bring food and treats and it's that little puppy even though he feeds them all who he will lavish extra attention and treats on (grace) even though the puppy poops, makes messes, might snap, still its joy in seeing its master is always rewarded by its master. If that makes any sense😅
Is anyone else here for his Irish accent? I absolutely love it. perfectionism is a rejection of who we really are... Garsh that hit me. There's so much I could say about what he says in this video. I can't tell you how long the belief of 'you'll never be good enough so never receive communion' has kept me from communion. Then a priest noticed and asked me about it. I don't know how long it would've taken if he hadn't done that. "I do not have to do anything perfect today, I only have to do my lousy best." That's my mantra 🤣. Still a work in process, for sure. But we're getting there. 😁
@@ctmcatholicPOPE BENEDICT XVI: “THE JANSENIST MENTALITY PRESENTED A GRIM AND SEVERE FACE OF GOD, VERY REMOTE FROM THE FACE REVEALED TO US BY JESUS. IT LEAD TO A VERY STRICT AND WIDESPREAD INTERPRETATION OF MORAL LIFE.” In the 17th century the Jansenist heresy preached a religion of fear and anguish. Priests were obsessed with “sins of the flesh.” God was presented only as a harsh and condemning judge, not as a merciful Savior and Good Shepherd. The Jansenists taught that only a few people were saved, and only the purest of souls, free of all taint of sin, could receive Communion without the fear of committing a sacrilege. New Eucharistic devotions emphasized the separation and distance between God and ourselves. St. Vincent de Paul said: “We no longer see people receiving Communion, not even at Easter, the way they formerly did.” In the early 1900's Pope Pius 10th enraged those with a Jansenistic mind set by encouraging frequent & and even daily communion. And further, he began allowing children to receive holy communion as soon as they reached the age of reason. Before then, you had to be about 14 years old. Jansenists taught that the Eucharist is a reward for virtue, but the Council of Trent back in the 1500's had decreed that Communion is an “antidote by which we are freed from our daily faults and preserved from sin.”
Mark 2: 27 is my go to ANTI perfectionist verse. For me once I started praying the Divine office I could get really wrapped up in worry and regret if I missed an hour. This is not an excuse to be careless, but it is a recognition of who I am and my current circumstances
HI Father. I lived most of my recent years with this kind of mindset: If i do something wrong and i do not get a confession before i die, i will go to hell as I'm unworthy. I found myself to go to confession multiple times in a day, obsessing myself over sins. I believe this was due to some of the teachings i received growing up (originally from Italy) where i saw God as a merciless Judge and someone to fear, not the healthy one. I have been on a journey to change this view of God and remind myself of the prodigal son parable; The father running towards the son and embracing him with sweetness and love. I have been taking to many priests here in England and helped me moving towards a different view, the healthy view of God and in son Jesus, one of them funny enough an Irish priest. My biggest fear is Hell and nothing in life can match that, not even losing my family. I have been watching your videos and very motivating and reassuring. Please do not stop, you are helping many people like me, learning every day. My question is, you say that 'He loves us before we are forgiven', does it mean if i realised that i did something wrong, which I am truly sorry about and i will try not to do it again and i will promise i will confess it next confession but happens to die tonight, will i go to hell? I always remember what Jesus said to his disciples 'Whoever's sins you forgive, they are forgiven them. Whoever's sins you retain, they have been retained' which confuses me. Sorry for the long essay. God bless you father and thanks for your time.
Dearest LM, If you realize that you have done something wrong, are sorry about it, do not intend to do it again, and plan to confess it at your next confession, you will not go to Hell if you die before you get to confession. Just tell God, your loving Father, the above - that you realize that you have done something wrong, you are truly sorry about it, you do not intend to do it again, and you'll confess it at your next confession, and you're fine. He doesn't want you to worry the way you seem to be worrying. You may have been suffering from scrupulosity when you went to confession several times a day in the past. You might want to talk to a priest about that if you are still experiencing that. Be assured of your Heavenly Father's infinite love for you!!!
Another so great talk to encourage us.we know only God Is perfection but we still think we have to add more steps to a ladder and break our neck.keep life simple is best and do it'll with love and God=peace.GOOD
Perfection is a dead end. If I was truly all knowing I'd have no sense of wonder. And if I had no sense of wonder I'd hardly consider myself perfect. That said I like to think I'm perfectly imperfect. Great video friend, but thankfully not perfect.
I was wondering what was meant by Jansenism at a CCC class recently and your gentle comment on the Irish makes a lot of sense, and praise be that that mode of Catholicism is burning away here. Lord, may Your true church shine once again in Éire. Amen.
You are absolutely amazing. I will take this to heart and battle perfectionism (I wouldn’t have called it that but you described it) and striving. You have such a gift to explain things so they will make sense to the heart. Thank you
Wow. I left the Lord and became a blasphemous unbeliever for about 20 years. Jesus revealed Himself to me two years ago and let me tell you that when I discovered God was real, I fell into extreme terror over my choices and could not forgive myself. I beat every thought so into submission of what I thought God wanted that I formed OCD that included an endless torrent of blasphemous thoughts against my will and severe scrupulosity. The OT God terrified me. Every tiny mistake would throw me into a spiral of self condemnation. I couldn't even read the bible without condemning myself. The thoughts made me consider suicide to make my judgement less severe until God sent a woman to tell me that God told her to pray for me (I didnt tell a soul I was considering suicide) Any sort of internal question about Gods nature would spiral me, because I felt it was disrespectful. I had to perform and be perfect inside and out constantly and it was EXHAUSTING. Only lately have I learned that God works with broken people. Its only with Fr Mikes bible in a year did I realize His mercy and love in the OT and saw Him as a loving father that FORGIVES. I still struggle because that "me" I created trying to be so perfect is still here and with your video I dont feel so alone. This video actually appeared almost as if God Himself sent it to me because I was in another spiral 5 mins ago lol. How long did it take for you to heal from perfectionism? Im slowly escaping but I still spiral when I feel I've offended Him. I gave myself some serious mental health issues over the past two years trying to be perfect and I literally feel like I'm coming out of a war lol
Praise God for his timing! So glad to hear this video could help. My understanding is that perfectionism is often something we struggle with and it doesn’t necessarily go away entirely if we don’t actively combat it with prayer. So keep praying and striving and God will look after you. Know we are praying for you too. Katie 🙏
This is interesting because from a platonic perspective. The ideal you IS the ‘real’ you. It’s the fixed imperishable, while the ‘you’ that you experience as manifest is subject to delusion and doubt and corruption. By implication ‘that’ you, (the one you experience and move around in) cannot truly be said to ‘exist’ which in the platonic sense is an eternal and fixed state (and because it is fixed it is free of doubt and corruption. It’s non-temporal). Given the ideal you is also fixed and unchangeable and like a light emanating down onto and guiding the manifest ‘you’. it can be said that it is truly your ‘form’. And acting in accordance with ‘it’ while toilsome, is in fact an Avenue for something like the Christian concept of Grace to enter into your life
@@ctmcatholic thanks for making the videos! Sorry to bother you with the following tome but I would love to explain myself! I was raised Catholic but more like a cultural Irish Catholic I guess you can say (American). Catholic school and church on Sunday’s but not exactly a home filled with electric theological debate. Fell out of it after confirmation. Then years later I got very into Greek philosophy and had a huge experience with it. The penny dropped for me in a big way for a kind of non material thinking. I heard this was the way st. Augustine came to Christianity I believe although I’m not sure. Now when I listen to theological podcasts I recognize a lot of the concepts and terms from my time pouring over Platonism and neo Platonism. Greek Philosophy’s been great but I’ve still been suffering from a lot of pain and problems (hence my searching and wandering) and I feel like I can now see where Christianity picks up the reigns and goes places my experience of Platonism cannot. I listened to another video where you describe your testimony and I just want to say I’m deeply appreciative of you and your channel and your insights and other channels like this. I’m 28 and I have no idea where to begin again but what started as an inkling has been growing over many years into a very strong conviction that the Christian vision is in fact true. I’m quite surprised by this. Very overwhelmed. But the more I read and experience and think the more I feel like I’m called back and the more I seem to be able to understand it not just through faith but I’m shocked to discover it’s actually logically sound! It makes sense! especially with a philosophical backdrop to compare it to. What’s more is I feel a lot of people my age are going through the same experience. Funny isn’t it. For all my talk about ‘the platonic perspective’ I’ve been truly lost for a long time. Although I feel like it’s leading me back here. Been doing some prayer and am thinking of confession but I’m not sure where to begin
Thank you SO much - that video is the best news on perfectionism I've ever heard - it is full of truth, freedom, love and hope - bless and thank you! 🕊️🌊🕯️🌼💜
Just came across these videos recently. They are great! Really helpful and I love the way Fr Columba communicates! Maybe I am biased as I am Irish. Love the banter and humour! Keep up the great work and thanks!
this is exactly how I see sanctity... but then I would go the opposite and be like: whatever I'm just another man amongst millions whatever I do is puny... now your video has helped me start seeking the right attitude father, thank you very much!
One thing I came to realise is that we always think we have to be perfect all at once, right now, or else… But that‘s not what the word really means! The Latin word „perfectus“ means „thoroughly made“, „fully finished“, „completed“. And the Greek word used in Matthew 5:48 means „fulfilled“, „completed“, „all grown-up“. Every child wants to be grown-up - but also knows there‘s a long way to go. And when you‘re grown-up, you realise that you‘re still not there yet… in fact, probably won‘t be until the moment you die. So I understand Jesus‘ words as encouraging us to do the best we can in the present moment - until we finally become perfect as God intends us to be.
Always fascinated by going back to the actual meaning of the Greek and Latin words, so helpful to my understanding. It also shows how easy it is to lose that meaning through translations.
couldn't stop cracking up. The funniest part was when you felt you had to tell us which Bond! 😄 It's easy to feel you have to pursue perfectionism, but frankly I didn't really understand how else when it came to being a Christian. But even after being told that's not the christian way, I couldn't really get it...and then I read St. Julian of Norwich. Everything came clear. Thank you for another wonderful video and may God continue blessing you!
I love you, Fr Columba! You make me laugh so much even while you’re teaching me really deep things. This message is so important and I’m so grateful for it. I’d like to think of myself as a recovering perfectionist but it’s a battle!
Thank you for this video dear Father xx I’m an artist and have been trying to deal with paralysing perfectionism for over 20 years, I have read so much on the subject, but here you have helped me to lean into the solution with gentleness and calmness with the focus on just today… the athlete analogy describes it perfectly! 😜 thank you ♥️
🙏🏻🕊❤️🔥Thank you❤️🔥🕊🙏🏻 yes…we do our best, Jesus does the rest😊 we are willing, He alone is ABLE. May our Heavenly Father be our gentle joyful peace May our Jesus be our humility and our purity May our Holy Spirit be our goodwill and our perfect surrender to Divine Providence warmest greetings and blessings from Medugorje we are on holiday here in Mama Mary’s Land +May Jesus reign in your heart and continue to make you holy+
Oh thank you so much. I feel really like God touched me. So many good books, videos on St. Therese of Lisieux etc. but I think I never really got the message before.
I LOVE your videos ... I admit there is a huge spectrum of "perfection" and being scrupulous is an error we can all fall into .... HOWEVER .... The Father James Martin and friends' attitudes that you do not need to be properly disposed to receive the most blessed sacrament of the altar is worse as you heap condemnation onto yourself. My concern is that reality wasn't mentioned and people will take away from this video that there is no need to be absolved to receive HIS REAL PRESENCE ... God love you, Padre.
Hi Debbie, I didn't get that idea at all!!! I believe that Catholics who know their faith realize that they cannot receive Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin. I don't think Father's talking about mortal sins - more like venial sins - just slightly missing the mark.
@@nelledonahue863 You misunderstood my comment. ..or as you say "missed the mark" I was talking about Catholics and others who don't know OR distort the faith ... like the priest I mentioned ..
Thank you so very much for all your teachings! I sure needed to hear this and learn to stop attacking myself and others
You are so welcome
Jansenism, a concept I had never been taught, yet a pattern of life I thoroughly fettered myself to in highschool. I would always plague myself with the dreadful thoughts of my actions (past or present), and I felt this need to 'pay' for it. This need to commit myself to doing good things for people only for the sake of outweighing all the bad things I had done. The only place I found worth was in serving others, but never out of joy or kindness, always out of a need to prove to God that I was 'penitent'. I would punish myself for all my wrongdoings to show Him how much it upset me when I'd mess up.
Many patient friends would tell me that God's grace exceeds any sin we commit, and while I was foolish and did not listen to them then, it is a lesson I have slowly come around to realizing. And while perfectionism is something I still struggle with, I am trying to be much kinder and patient with myself when I fall in order to ensure I can get back up. Kicking yourself while you're down will never help you heal from shame. Shame is a lie whispered to you, only you can hear it.
So appreciate the explanation of jansenism! My family follows jansenism but calls themselves Catholic and it pushed me away from the church from a young age. Finally God has called me back to Catholicism and I'm pursuing adult confirmation now ☺️
God bless you.
Oh boy! Jansenism hasn’t just infected Irish Catholicism. French Canada, totally poisoned by it. Which is why everyone chucked it in the 70s, and it’s pretty much a secular society. And a lot of the Catholicism in Quebec is still a bit weird.
Please pray for them. I didn't grew up in Ireland nor was raised in jansenism, but I got myself into a similar mental place without a significant outside influence. I think it's easy to get tricked into that way of thinking. If it wasn't for St. Maria Faustyna Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament and what Jesus revealed to her, I would be far worse now, I believe. May the Holy Spirit accompany you in your way to confirmation, God bless you.
Same here, know where you're coming from. I never left the Church though was tempted but try and keep a wide berth from my family apart from major yearly celebrations. I lived with toxic perfectionism my whole life - in fsith and outside of faith with small matters of daily living - and now I am a chronic perfectionist (mental illness to a degree). It really is a form of punishment on your child merely for not being mirror versions of their parents - and for being yourself as Fsther explained so beautifully, and with added humour! Thanks Father!
Brother, please keep making these videos! They are so encouraging and thoughtful. I am a Christian but not Catholic. I have a desire to know the truth and you deliver God's message in a way I can understand and relate. Bless you and the other brothers!
Thank you for following the series! It’s great to have you here. May God bless you. Plenty more videos to come.
Catholics ARE Christians for your information
This friar is funny :) Thanks for the video!
Jansenism is worse than getting a root canal at the DMV.
Lol. Glad you enjoyed the episode!
Haha
My brother in the love of Christ, even our concept of perfection is imperfect and everything we do under the sun is just rags and tatters. The cult of the “supreme being” a franc-maçon creed was held in Notre Dame after the French revolution when the catholic mass was forbidden, that’s right forbidden! The little voice whispering “you see, you’re not worthy” every time we fall is really that of the one who considers himself “supreme” and we all know who that is. Thank you for your enlightening of what we so often fall for, even when we know it!
Glad this was helpful.
Thank you Fr Columba. I didn’t know how much I needed to hear this. It helps with my desire to not take life so seriously…..”I’m not going to do anything perfectly today. I’m just going to do my lousy best.” God is so good and accepting of us!
ST. JANE DE CHANTAL: “Should you fall even fifty times a day, never on any account should that surprise or worry you. Instead, ever so gently set your heart back in the right direction and practice the opposite virtue, all the time speaking words of love and trust to our Lord after you have committed a thousand faults, as much as if you had committed only one. Once we have humbled ourselves for the faults that God allows us to become aware of in ourselves, we must forget them and go forward.”
Just what I needed to hear, Father Columba. It’s amazing how quickly I revert to perfectionism.. I should start every day with this video after my morning offering. Thanks to Our Lord Jesus for your work and the joy and humor with which you convey it!
My sentiments as well
Father Columba Rocks!
Hello Father Columba - Bless! Your videos recently showed up as 'recommended' viewings - and I have only watched 3 of them thus far. I am a catechumen who will officially enter the Orthodox Church during the Nativity this year. My sponsor into the Church, Silouan, and I - have had many conversations about this very topic. I didn't know it was linked to Jasenism - I just called it 'unrealistic, performance based so-called faith'. It was part of the 'ethos' of the Protestant group I walked with for 20 years.... Thank you so much for your labor of love. May your way be filled in Love -- Congregávit nos in unum Christi amor. Sæcula per infiníta sæculórum. Amen. Pax Christi - Lee!
Hello Lee! Glad you’re finding the series interesting. Lots of episodes to catch up on in your own time and there are articles on our website too if that interests you. God bless you.
thank you so mch Father for this talk. it is really helpful
This is so hard. But with God's Grace, these bonds of perfectionism in my life will be broken.. His Will will be done. Thank you for the video. ❤
I almost cried, when I repeated the words after you. My perfectionism drags my down to procrastination, beause nothing I do is ever good enough for my ego. There was a time I hated my self for not meeting my own expectations. Unlearning perfectionism is hard. I empathise with everyone on the same path to healing.
I love you Father.
💙
Good one Father Columba and Team Called to More🌹🌹🌹 🏆🏆🏆Not perfect and I LOVE that💕💕💕🥇🥇🥇💪💪💪
Glad you enjoyed it!
God bless you, Fr. Columba!😊
And you :)
Thank you Father. One of the most important points of this I found was to not compare to anyone else and not even myself in the past.
Glad it was helpful!
Recently discovered your channel. Going back over all your videos. Thank you!
Great to have you here!
Hello, this video, I’ve watched many times happily, but today, it’s making me sad. I realize how much of my lofe was ruled by perfectionism and I lost so much because of it. I got the feeling from as far as I can remember that I was embarrassing or just ridiculous or pathetic or a loser if I had these very normal defects. Even if I enjoy something or do better than expected at something, if it wasn’t perfect, it really wasn’t worth being happy about. That really hurts. I remember so many times, it’s like I’m a child again. I just wanted to be with someone, I just wanted to be worth someone caring about. It’s so weird to see it more clearly as an adult. All that time gone. I hope when I pray, that I encounter God.
Father, I'm stealing your "I'm going to do my lousy best." What it does for me is to laugh at myself, that may not make sense but that's OK...... Thanks for this video. Needed to hear this....and more than once! Father, Jansenism crept over to the States....I was taught by Irish nuns....
Such a helpful video, as I experienced childhood trauma and those attachment wounds interfere with closeness with God in mental prayer. Doing my “lousy best” is a helpful concept. I also came to relisten to this video after hearing of Sinead O’Connors death, she experienced family trauma and she did not articulate her critique as Jansenism in the Church, but essentially that was what she was describing. I have complex feelings about her life and legacy and I pray for her soul.
Thanks!
Welcome!
Thank you so much. You touched exactly what so many of us are struggling with in our daily Christian life's God bless and once again thank you .
Glad you found it helpful. God bless!
This is awesome…I’ve never heard perfectionism described like this before. I never thought of myself as a perfectionist, but I can relate to everything you just said! I don’t usually lose it with people if they say mean things to me … but about a week ago it happened. Someone did something really mean and unjust and then laughed out loud in my face…it made me so mad…I completely lost it with them.
Because it never happens, the person was shocked. I was shocked at my own reaction. I walked away and said Lord did that just happen??? It came into my head straight away “ Don’t be afraid of your weakness.” I felt so much better immediately. Humility check, yes that’s right, your weak …big revelation 😅 It’s okay to make a mistake. ☺️😉 Thank you Father Columba, this was so helpful. 🙏❤️
So glad this could be helpful, and yes isn’t it too true, we can all be shocked at our own humanity at times! Bless you for realising it so quickly!
Thank you for the videos, Father…Saving this one to watch a couple of times…😋…until today, I couldn’t pinpoint why you are so easy for me to understand….it “clicked” when you mentioned the letters, A, D and H…and the squirrel 😅…totally me!…Very nice “James Bond”, btw…😏👍
God Bless You for your devotion to Him and to us!!…🙏❤Louisiana, USA
Haha, kindred spirits I think! Bless you Lisa
I like that, 'Do your lousy best'.
💙
Thank you, Father! I was struggling with this topic this very night! I left work so dejected and nearly in tears. I fight this topic in every area of my life. Trusting in Jesus more and more has helped me not be a complete wreck lol! Love all your videos. Thanks again Fr. Columba. ❤
Bless you Christina, you’re in our prayers!
I always like to hear this again. In striving the danger seems always present to enter into perfectionism. Thank you Fr Columba and humor helps also…
I'm in the process of converting. Your videos are helping so much to describe how I can unlearn some things, and replace them with love and knowledge. You help me to know that I'm going in the right direction. This talk on performance and perfectionism is super helpful to me. And Bond references most appreciated!! Thank you father Columba for your insight and humor in your teaching.
Praise God, Judith, and welcome Home! Please let us know how you get on in your process of coming back/into the Church and know that we are praying for you.
So glad to hear this video could be helpful and glad you’re enjoying the series.
Bless you!
Thank you for this. I am an overthinker and people pleaser. It is hard to believe God loves even the mean and ugly parts of me
He truly does!
Writing my "lousy best" comment: Your videos always inspire me. Thanks!
Delighted to hear it, bless you!
Wow ! This is a bomb 💣 I couldn't figure this out yet its right under my nose as the saying goes.
Glad it was helpful
I've struggled with perfectionism my whole life. This video helped a lot; thank you!! ❤
Thank you Father just what I need.✝️
This was timely for me. Thank you ❤
You are so welcome
Jansenism is still live and well, I believe. I wonder how Christians were before Jansenism hit. How the saints were before Jansenism and how ordinary Catholic were before it. I've seen people who are not affected by it and are in Love with God and their faith is very attractive, they don't have to talk about it, to attract others. I on the other hand got infected by this thinking by reading such books and reading such news sources and it lead me to develop a full OCD - diagnosed (I had OCD tendencies in the past as a child). The target of my OCD is most especially a validity of confession. I've seen many things and experienced a lot, but nothing compares to the suffering of OCD scrupulosity. I'm getting better now, with the help of my spiritual director (he is also my confessor), but it's hard to follow his advice sometimes, as I am afraid that he might be mistaken. Thank you for making this video father. Please remember me in your prayers. I would so much love to see how the true faith looks like and be able to trust it is pleasing to God. One day, I hope, when I die, I will feel silly at how harsh my own judgements are right now. I sometimes remember my re-version at 18, when I was in a lot of sin. It happened 'because' I started reading the Bible - with a really poor attitude, almost joking attitude. But God used that. I believe I was converted (reverted) even before my confession, because it took a few years before I actually confessed, but God was still filling my heart with His presence and it was the first time in my teenage years that I felt real joy. So, if God was so merciful to reveal Himself to me when I was reading the Bible - not as a believer, but with a really bad attitude, then He must have loved me, before I even believed in Him. Thinking about this, gives a whole new outlook to me. Sorry for a long post.
Hi P. A.,
You are "afraid he might be mistaken." Please remember "for God does not give us a spirit of fear" (St. Paul).
The spirit of fear comes from the Devil. Also, if you are concerned about whether or not your confessions are valid, what a wonderful target for the devil to destroy your peace. Remember, God speaks through your spiritual confessor, who is a priest. Just believe what he says. Trust in God. Ignore the doubt, which comes from satan, who wants to destroy your peace.
POPE BENEDICT XVI: “THE JANSENIST MENTALITY PRESENTED A GRIM AND SEVERE FACE OF GOD, VERY REMOTE FROM THE FACE REVEALED TO US BY JESUS. IT LEAD TO A VERY STRICT AND WIDESPREAD INTERPRETATION OF MORAL LIFE.”
In the 17th century the Jansenist heresy preached a religion of fear and anguish. Priests were obsessed with “sins of the flesh.” God was presented only as a harsh and condemning judge, not as a merciful Savior and Good Shepherd. The Jansenists taught that only a few people were saved, and only the purest of souls, free of all taint of sin, could receive Communion without the fear of committing a sacrilege. New Eucharistic devotions emphasized the separation and distance between God and ourselves.
St. Vincent de Paul said: “We no longer see people receiving Communion, not even at Easter, the way they formerly did.”
In the early 1900's Pope Pius 10th enraged those with a Jansenistic mind set by encouraging frequent & and even daily communion.
And further, he began allowing children to receive holy communion as soon as they reached the age of reason. Before then, you had to be about 14 years old.
Jansenists taught that the Eucharist is a reward for virtue, but the Council of Trent back in the 1500's had decreed that Communion is an “antidote by which we are freed from our daily faults and preserved from sin.”
You dont have to die to know God is happy with you. You are trying to grow closer to him and that 100% makes him happy.
Just love your neighbour like he is you and you are him . What is mine is yours. People just want to be loved. Look after people.❤😊
Dear Fr. Columba, I am so very grateful for the spiritual food you provide us. I battle scrupulosity and this video is tailor made for me. Looking forward to the next. Thank you and God bless!
Really glad it was helpful. God bless you!
I just keep coming back to this video. Thanks so much Father Columba 💗
Really glad to hear that! Thank you!
I struggle with perfectionism so much Father. Thank you for this video. If you can make another one on ideas of how to not beat yourself up. It would be greatly appreciated! Please pray for me!
Great reminder -
Perfectionism is death- by self
Death of joy
Death of humility
Death of all Gods gifts
It's why I love the Archangel Michael. Satan was made so glorious and beautiful and knowledgabel - and it still wasn't enough. He wanted to be God. Michael on the other hand knows, another Angel was chosen before him to lead the Angels and Mary, a human, is queen of the Angels. And he is content with being "second chosen" and "heralding the Angels". He is content with who he is, because God saw that it was good. In the media he is often portraited as this long suffering door mat for God, but I see his strengh in being exactly what he is and fitting exactly in God's plan and loving this and accepting it fully. It is also often said, Angels don't have free will, but they can rebell. He didn't. I remember him, when pride stirs me to want to be more than I am instead of the best possible version of myself.
Thank you Fr. Columba, I greatly needed this. God bless you.
God bless!
You are so good at explaining hard concepts. God Bless you. You have helped me a lot. 😊
I'm so glad!
I totally agree with everything you have said Father (I am a perfectionist and tell myself each day - because I suffer from fatigue also - just do what you are able to do and that's good enough), but in Scriptures Christ does say," Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect!" I suppose He is saying, by that, to turn away from sin.
Thank you Father Columbia great message 🙏
A pleasure 🙏
I really needed this today! Thank you 🙏
Thank you!!! Eye opening!!!
I am not my sin. My sins are my choices. And I am loved. This brings me peace.
Amen. Bless you!
I love your facial expressions and actions to explain a point. I keep smiling, sometimes laughing, as I listen. 😊 So down to earth in your simple words which go straight to the heart. Thank you Father.
Adam and Eve must love having all those "chats"! I wonder if the line ever ends?
🙏🏼
Extremely helpful, great insights, thank you so much!!
How clever the devil is, just when we start to get serious about being a Christian he tells us we could NEVER be good enough, so we give up, this video taught me something powerful, thank you so much as those of us zealous in the love of God trying to please him need to be minded we are not God, just little scraps of nothing that Our Father adores as like a little puppy running back to his master joyfully.
I have seem this in a meditation, Our Father loves and waits for our intentions, our desires
I spoke to a loved one recently far from his love and tried to explain it's like we are akin to a group of puppies and imagine one keeps running up to the visitor, watching for him, jumping up joyfully every time he comes to bring food and treats and it's that little puppy even though he feeds them all who he will lavish extra attention and treats on (grace) even though the puppy poops, makes messes, might snap, still its joy in seeing its master is always rewarded by its master. If that makes any sense😅
Is anyone else here for his Irish accent? I absolutely love it.
perfectionism is a rejection of who we really are... Garsh that hit me.
There's so much I could say about what he says in this video. I can't tell you how long the belief of 'you'll never be good enough so never receive communion' has kept me from communion. Then a priest noticed and asked me about it. I don't know how long it would've taken if he hadn't done that.
"I do not have to do anything perfect today, I only have to do my lousy best." That's my mantra 🤣.
Still a work in process, for sure. But we're getting there. 😁
Bless you, Emily! Very glad that priest was able to help you :)
@@ctmcatholicPOPE BENEDICT XVI: “THE JANSENIST MENTALITY PRESENTED A GRIM AND SEVERE FACE OF GOD, VERY REMOTE FROM THE FACE REVEALED TO US BY JESUS. IT LEAD TO A VERY STRICT AND WIDESPREAD INTERPRETATION OF MORAL LIFE.”
In the 17th century the Jansenist heresy preached a religion of fear and anguish. Priests were obsessed with “sins of the flesh.” God was presented only as a harsh and condemning judge, not as a merciful Savior and Good Shepherd. The Jansenists taught that only a few people were saved, and only the purest of souls, free of all taint of sin, could receive Communion without the fear of committing a sacrilege. New Eucharistic devotions emphasized the separation and distance between God and ourselves.
St. Vincent de Paul said: “We no longer see people receiving Communion, not even at Easter, the way they formerly did.”
In the early 1900's Pope Pius 10th enraged those with a Jansenistic mind set by encouraging frequent & and even daily communion.
And further, he began allowing children to receive holy communion as soon as they reached the age of reason. Before then, you had to be about 14 years old.
Jansenists taught that the Eucharist is a reward for virtue, but the Council of Trent back in the 1500's had decreed that Communion is an “antidote by which we are freed from our daily faults and preserved from sin.”
Thanks father for this video, it has been really helpful. God bless you!!!
God bless you.
Mark 2: 27 is my go to ANTI perfectionist verse. For me once I started praying the Divine office I could get really wrapped up in worry and regret if I missed an hour. This is not an excuse to be careless, but it is a recognition of who I am and my current circumstances
Great word!
HI Father. I lived most of my recent years with this kind of mindset: If i do something wrong and i do not get a confession before i die, i will go to hell as I'm unworthy. I found myself to go to confession multiple times in a day, obsessing myself over sins. I believe this was due to some of the teachings i received growing up (originally from Italy) where i saw God as a merciless Judge and someone to fear, not the healthy one. I have been on a journey to change this view of God and remind myself of the prodigal son parable; The father running towards the son and embracing him with sweetness and love. I have been taking to many priests here in England and helped me moving towards a different view, the healthy view of God and in son Jesus, one of them funny enough an Irish priest. My biggest fear is Hell and nothing in life can match that, not even losing my family. I have been watching your videos and very motivating and reassuring. Please do not stop, you are helping many people like me, learning every day. My question is, you say that 'He loves us before we are forgiven', does it mean if i realised that i did something wrong, which I am truly sorry about and i will try not to do it again and i will promise i will confess it next confession but happens to die tonight, will i go to hell? I always remember what Jesus said to his disciples 'Whoever's sins you forgive, they are forgiven them. Whoever's sins you retain, they have been retained' which confuses me. Sorry for the long essay. God bless you father and thanks for your time.
Dearest LM,
If you realize that you have done something wrong, are sorry about it, do not intend
to do it again, and plan to confess it at your next confession, you will not go to Hell if you die before you get to confession. Just tell God, your loving Father, the above - that you realize that you have done something wrong, you are truly sorry about it, you do not intend to do it again, and you'll confess it at your next confession, and you're fine.
He doesn't want you to worry the way you seem to be worrying. You may have been suffering from scrupulosity when you went to confession several times a day in the past. You might want to talk to a priest about that if you are still experiencing that.
Be assured of your Heavenly Father's infinite love for you!!!
Another so great talk to encourage us.we know only God Is perfection but we still think we have to add more steps to a ladder and break our neck.keep life simple is best and do it'll with love and God=peace.GOOD
Thank you Sister, bless you!
Perfection is a dead end. If I was truly all knowing I'd have no sense of wonder. And if I had no sense of wonder I'd hardly consider myself perfect. That said I like to think I'm perfectly imperfect. Great video friend, but thankfully not perfect.
Really getting a lot out of these videos. Thank you so much for this ministry!! Ps. Really love the intro music to the videos!!
So glad you’re enjoying the series. Great to have you here.
Another perfect video 😉 thanks again Father! 🙏❤️
Thank you! God bless.
I was wondering what was meant by Jansenism at a CCC class recently and your gentle comment on the Irish makes a lot of sense, and praise be that that mode of Catholicism is burning away here. Lord, may Your true church shine once again in Éire. Amen.
Amen.
Yes it was helpful father thank you one step closer to God thank you for your great advice God bless you all
You are so welcome!
@@ctmcatholic thank you for answering father.
You are absolutely amazing. I will take this to heart and battle perfectionism (I wouldn’t have called it that but you described it) and striving.
You have such a gift to explain things so they will make sense to the heart. Thank you
So glad you found it helpful.
Wow. I left the Lord and became a blasphemous unbeliever for about 20 years. Jesus revealed Himself to me two years ago and let me tell you that when I discovered God was real, I fell into extreme terror over my choices and could not forgive myself. I beat every thought so into submission of what I thought God wanted that I formed OCD that included an endless torrent of blasphemous thoughts against my will and severe scrupulosity. The OT God terrified me. Every tiny mistake would throw me into a spiral of self condemnation. I couldn't even read the bible without condemning myself. The thoughts made me consider suicide to make my judgement less severe until God sent a woman to tell me that God told her to pray for me (I didnt tell a soul I was considering suicide) Any sort of internal question about Gods nature would spiral me, because I felt it was disrespectful. I had to perform and be perfect inside and out constantly and it was EXHAUSTING.
Only lately have I learned that God works with broken people. Its only with Fr Mikes bible in a year did I realize His mercy and love in the OT and saw Him as a loving father that FORGIVES. I still struggle because that "me" I created trying to be so perfect is still here and with your video I dont feel so alone. This video actually appeared almost as if God Himself sent it to me because I was in another spiral 5 mins ago lol. How long did it take for you to heal from perfectionism? Im slowly escaping but I still spiral when I feel I've offended Him. I gave myself some serious mental health issues over the past two years trying to be perfect and I literally feel like I'm coming out of a war lol
Praise God for his timing! So glad to hear this video could help. My understanding is that perfectionism is often something we struggle with and it doesn’t necessarily go away entirely if we don’t actively combat it with prayer. So keep praying and striving and God will look after you. Know we are praying for you too. Katie 🙏
This is interesting because from a platonic perspective. The ideal you IS the ‘real’ you. It’s the fixed imperishable, while the ‘you’ that you experience as manifest is subject to delusion and doubt and corruption. By implication ‘that’ you, (the one you experience and move around in) cannot truly be said to ‘exist’ which in the platonic sense is an eternal and fixed state (and because it is fixed it is free of doubt and corruption. It’s non-temporal). Given the ideal you is also fixed and unchangeable and like a light emanating down onto and guiding the manifest ‘you’. it can be said that it is truly your ‘form’. And acting in accordance with ‘it’ while toilsome, is in fact an Avenue for something like the Christian concept of Grace to enter into your life
It’s approaching midnight here in Ireland as I read this, but I think I follow your drift. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!
@@ctmcatholic thanks for making the videos! Sorry to bother you with the following tome but I would love to explain myself!
I was raised Catholic but more like a cultural Irish Catholic I guess you can say (American). Catholic school and church on Sunday’s but not exactly a home filled with electric theological debate. Fell out of it after confirmation.
Then years later I got very into Greek philosophy and had a huge experience with it. The penny dropped for me in a big way for a kind of non material thinking. I heard this was the way st. Augustine came to Christianity I believe although I’m not sure. Now when I listen to theological podcasts I recognize a lot of the concepts and terms from my time pouring over Platonism and neo Platonism.
Greek Philosophy’s been great but I’ve still been suffering from a lot of pain and problems (hence my searching and wandering) and I feel like I can now see where Christianity picks up the reigns and goes places my experience of Platonism cannot.
I listened to another video where you describe your testimony and I just want to say I’m deeply appreciative of you and your channel and your insights and other channels like this. I’m 28 and I have no idea where to begin again but what started as an inkling has been growing over many years into a very strong conviction that the Christian vision is in fact true. I’m quite surprised by this. Very overwhelmed. But the more I read and experience and think the more I feel like I’m called back and the more I seem to be able to understand it not just through faith but I’m shocked to discover it’s actually logically sound! It makes sense! especially with a philosophical backdrop to compare it to. What’s more is I feel a lot of people my age are going through the same experience.
Funny isn’t it. For all my talk about ‘the platonic perspective’ I’ve been truly lost for a long time. Although I feel like it’s leading me back here. Been doing some prayer and am thinking of confession but I’m not sure where to begin
Wow! Thank you Father! 😃
Thank you SO much - that video is the best news on perfectionism I've ever heard - it is full of truth, freedom, love and hope - bless and thank you! 🕊️🌊🕯️🌼💜
You are so welcome!
Just came across these videos recently. They are great! Really helpful and I love the way Fr Columba communicates! Maybe I am biased as I am Irish. Love the banter and humour! Keep up the great work and thanks!
It's good advice, perfectionism could be said to be trusting yourself too much and God too little. No wonder it leads to so much dispair.
Amen
Thanks
this is exactly how I see sanctity... but then I would go the opposite and be like: whatever I'm just another man amongst millions whatever I do is puny...
now your video has helped me start seeking the right attitude father, thank you very much!
Btw the way Father your beard is spectacular. It's kinda perfect.
🙂🕊
Love this channel.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you Fr. Columba 🙏🏼
🙏🏻
Thank you, Father Columba!
Thank you for watching!
Thank you Fr Columba. 🙏🙏🙏
You’re so welcome!
One thing I came to realise is that we always think we have to be perfect all at once, right now, or else… But that‘s not what the word really means! The Latin word „perfectus“ means „thoroughly made“, „fully finished“, „completed“. And the Greek word used in Matthew 5:48 means „fulfilled“, „completed“, „all grown-up“.
Every child wants to be grown-up - but also knows there‘s a long way to go. And when you‘re grown-up, you realise that you‘re still not there yet… in fact, probably won‘t be until the moment you die. So I understand Jesus‘ words as encouraging us to do the best we can in the present moment - until we finally become perfect as God intends us to be.
Always fascinated by going back to the actual meaning of the Greek and Latin words, so helpful to my understanding. It also shows how easy it is to lose that meaning through translations.
That's a good Sean Connery impression!
How does this square with, “Be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect”?
couldn't stop cracking up. The funniest part was when you felt you had to tell us which Bond! 😄 It's easy to feel you have to pursue perfectionism, but frankly I didn't really understand how else when it came to being a Christian. But even after being told that's not the christian way, I couldn't really get it...and then I read St. Julian of Norwich. Everything came clear. Thank you for another wonderful video and may God continue blessing you!
Thank you. It did help sooooo much!!!
Delighted to hear it!
Interesting about Jansenism, must read further🙏
🙏🏻
Getting the balance right is tough. If we go too easy on ourselves, we can then fall into those favorite sins.
Hi father, thanku🤗
🙏🏼
I love you, Fr Columba! You make me laugh so much even while you’re teaching me really deep things. This message is so important and I’m so grateful for it. I’d like to think of myself as a recovering perfectionist but it’s a battle!
Thank you 🙏🏼❤️
💙
So good I had to watch it again 🙂
💙
Thank you so much I needed to hear this very badly
So happy to hear that! Thanks for watching.
Thank you for this video dear Father xx I’m an artist and have been trying to deal with paralysing perfectionism for over 20 years, I have read so much on the subject, but here you have helped me to lean into the solution with gentleness and calmness with the focus on just today… the athlete analogy describes it perfectly! 😜 thank you ♥️
Forgot to add the master is also training the puppy in obedience😊
Thank you! This is so helpful!
Really glad you found it helpful!
love this and needed to hear this
So glad to hear it. Thank you for watching!
Great video, really hit home to me. I needed this and massive bond fan too and liked the impressions. God Bless and thanks for your videos
Glad you enjoyed it!
Love the vids brother. Can you do a video on uprooting the spirit of judgement and criticism that is rampant in christian communities please.
Glad you’re enjoying the series. Thanks for the suggestion, we’ll bring it up at the next content meeting.
🙏🏻🕊❤️🔥Thank you❤️🔥🕊🙏🏻
yes…we do our best, Jesus does the rest😊
we are willing, He alone is ABLE.
May our Heavenly Father be our gentle joyful peace
May our Jesus be our humility and our purity
May our Holy Spirit be our goodwill and our perfect surrender to Divine Providence
warmest greetings and blessings from Medugorje
we are on holiday here in Mama Mary’s Land
+May Jesus reign in your heart and continue to make you holy+
Oh thank you so much. I feel really like God touched me. So many good books, videos on St. Therese of Lisieux etc. but I think I never really got the message before.
Thank you Fr. Columbia. I was wandwring what's the meaning of Jesus sentence: Be perfect as God is perfect. If you can, please help me to understand
❤❤❤
I LOVE your videos ... I admit there is a huge spectrum of "perfection" and being scrupulous is an error we can all fall into .... HOWEVER .... The Father James Martin and friends' attitudes that you do not need to be properly disposed to receive the most blessed sacrament of the altar is worse as you heap condemnation onto yourself. My concern is that reality wasn't mentioned and people will take away from this video that there is no need to be absolved to receive HIS REAL PRESENCE ... God love you, Padre.
Hi Debbie,
I didn't get that idea at all!!!
I believe that Catholics who know their faith realize that they cannot receive Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin. I don't think Father's talking about mortal sins - more like venial sins - just slightly missing the mark.
@@nelledonahue863 You misunderstood my comment. ..or as you say "missed the mark" I was talking about Catholics and others who don't know OR distort the faith ... like the priest I mentioned ..
thank you so much for this video! would it be possible to record future videos at a higher volume? God bless!!