I’m a bad Catholic because I forgot yesterday was Ash Wednesday.

No ashes on my forehead.
No quiet moment of reflection.
Just me today — completely exhausted, emotionally wrecked, and very drunk — trying to survive another damn day.

Family drama is crushing me.
There’s a possible death coming in my family and my heart feels like it’s already breaking in advance.
Work is overwhelming me to the point where I feel like I can’t breathe.
I haven’t been sleeping. My mind won’t shut off. My body is running on fumes.

So here I am, hoping getting drunk might finally let me sleep. Hoping it’ll quiet the noise in my head long enough for me to rest. Hoping I don’t wake up tomorrow feeling worse than I already do.

Life doesn’t pause for holy days.
Grief doesn’t care about tradition.
Trauma doesn’t check calendars.

Some days survival doesn’t look like prayer — it looks like doing whatever you can to make it through the night.

If God is watching, I hope He understands.
I didn’t forget Him.
I just forgot the date while my world feels like it’s falling apart.

I’m not fasting.
I’m not reflecting.
I’m barely holding myself together.

I’m just trying to make it to tomorrow.

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basilfawlty89 · 36-40, M

We all sin, my friend.
None of us are without sin.

You are forgetting one thing though - God is infinitely Merciful and Forgiving.
And by the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we can absolve ourselves from Sin.

You're going through a dark period.
That doesn't make you a bad person.
It makes you human with both flaws and virtues like any other human being.

If this is weighing on you - perhaps go to Confession and ask the Parish Priest his advice on how you can help get support through this difficult period. The Church is there to help. The community is there for you. Don't be afraid to reach out.

And do go to Mass, it has helped me immensely when I needed Peace and Serenity.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@basilfawlty89

We all sin, my friend.
None of us are without sin.

Her situation is pretty bleak. Are you saying that she is being punished?

basilfawlty89 · 36-40, M

@sree251 no, actually read the rest of what I wrote. Being depressed isn't a sin.

She said she's feeling guilty for missing Ash Wednesday. I'm saying everyone errs that is human. If she does feel guilty, there is Confession and the Priest can offer Spiritual guidance.

For the psychological aspect - there are psychologists and grief counsellors.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@basilfawlty89

no, actually read the rest of what I wrote. Being depressed isn't a sin.

The rest of what you wrote is irrelevant. She wasn't depressed at all. Her post is excellent and well-written. I would recommend that the Holy See use it as a prayer for the faithful during Lent.

basilfawlty89 · 36-40, M

@sree251

completely exhausted, emotionally wrecked, and very drunk — trying to survive another damn day. Family drama is crushing me. There’s a possible death coming in my family

That's depression.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@basilfawlty89

That's depression.

That is a well-crafted picture of a depressing situation.

basilfawlty89 · 36-40, M

@sree251 I'm not gonna argue with you.
I suffer from depression, I can spot depression. If you want to be contrary for the sake of being contrary, do it somewhere else.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@basilfawlty89

I'm not gonna argue with you.

I am not arguing with you about depression.

[quote I suffer from depression, I can spot depression.[/quote]

I don't doubt you at all.

If you want to be contrary for the sake of being contrary, do it somewhere else.

This is a forum on Catholicism, not depression. It is you who need to be somewhere else, the Mental Health forum.

The OP is about Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten period when Catholics re-affirm their faith and connection to Jesus. It is hard and nigh impossible to practice the faith in the face of a tough life a lot of us suffer. Many of us crack up under the pressure and suffer depression. The good Catholic re-affirms his faith in Jesus who suffered a worse fate but proceeded to face it after fasting for 40 days in the desert.

Life is not pretty. There is no such thing as a bad Catholic. You are either one or you are not.