Good morning,

I am a 16-year-old boy, and I wrote to you in the past asking for advice about my life. I am trying to put it into practice, but I doubt my doing so well.

Now, since about a month ago, I have set the Lord first during my day. I always try to recite a daily rosary, I pray every evening, and every day I read the Scriptures. I have eliminated the problem of impure acts looking back at a dream of mine, and I have never felt so close to God. However, I fear I am not doing enough, and that still reverberates in my head. To be honest, I still must go to confession for something grave enough, and I am struggling to find the courage to do it. I always try to set God first, but I do not know if I am doing enough.

I also know that, once school starts, I will not be able to dedicate so much time to the Lord, and I do not know whether to dedicate the little time left to praying the rosary or reading the Scriptures.

I am trying to improve myself; I try to do everything Jesus said in the Gospel. I want to be the person God wants me to be, and I am trying to do it as soon as possible because, besides seeing that as being righteous and as a must, I want the Lord’s help when I enter the Air Force, and so I think I should do it before I go. Is it right what I think, or should I take it easier?

I apologize if this has been so long-winded, and I also apologize for these questions, perhaps silly, but I feel truly sad and always in doubt and worried.

Thank you very much for your deed, and I will remember you in my prayers.

The Priest’s answer 

Dear,

1. I am happy about how you are shaping your Christian life, trying to set the Lord first.

Reciting the Holy Rosary and reading of the Sacred Scriptures are your daily nourishment.

Do not retreat from the level you have reached through your own good will and, above all, because of the Lord, who inspired you to act this way. Sacred Scripture says that “For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work.” (Phil 2:13).

2. Soon you will have to return to school. At this thought, you fear you will have less time to devote to spiritual nourishment as you are doing now.

However, you will see that this will not be the case. When there is prayer, one fulfills one’s duties more quickly and better.

The reason is simple: prayer makes Jesus Christ alive and active in our lives.

The same can be said for Our Lady.

St. Catherine of Siena, through her own personal testimony, assures us that this is always the case.

3. Already now, but especially when you go to school, learn to invoke the help of the Lord and the Blessed Virgin, saying often: ““O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me.”

This is an invocation St. Catherine often repeated throughout the day.

It is the incipit of the so-called breviary and of the Rosary when recited in Latin: Deus in adiutorium meum intende. Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina.

The Lord and Our Lady will not be deaf to these invocations of yours. Indeed, they will quickly come to your aid at every moment.

4. It is the common experience of Christians of good will: when they dedicate themselves more to the Lord, they can do everything better.

And the more intense their days, the more intense their prayer.

Prayer and activity are not contradictory. In a good Christian, they grow simultaneously.

5. You still tell me you feel you should do more. It is the Lord who inspires this desire in you. It is as if He were saying to you: “Open wide your mouth that I may fill it.” (Ps 81:11).

Perhaps it will not be a matter of increasing the time spent in prayer, because that will not always be possible.

Surely, in any case everything must be done for his love, especially when certain things are hard to us.

May your day be filled with many acts of love for the Lord. Tell him explicitly: “Jesus, it’s out of love for you” or “Jesus, it’s for you.” You will feel that in that moment His yoke becomes easy and His burden light (rf. Mt 11:29-30).

Follow His inner inspirations. You will be happy.

6. I am also happy for your desire to hurry, and not put off until tomorrow, being what the Lord wants you to be – that is – holy.

In fact, you write: “I am trying to improve myself; I try to do everything Jesus said in the Gospel. I want to be the person God wants me to be, and I am trying to do it as soon as possible”.

How wonderful it would be if, upon entering the Air Force, you were perfect not only in science and technology, but also in virtue.

7. The Lord probably inspired you with the desire to enter that profession because He wants a new witness to Him and His Gospel in that environment.

May God, who has begun the good work in you, bring it to fulfillment.

For this reason, I follow you with my prayers.

I bless you, 

Father Angelo

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