You will occasionally hear people use the term "Catholic guilt." Usually, what is implied when speaking of "Catholic guilt" is that some/all Catholics wander about in a permanent state of ineffectual misery about petty misdeeds. The term connotes a propensity for self-beration, and, at the same time, an inability or disinclination to change. If I were to drink eight beers at a go (and proceed to slump against the wall slurring about how I can't stand people who take Ayn Rand seriously), wake up the next morning filled with self loathing, kick myself for the rest of the day, then do the very same thing the next night? That would be a classic case of "Catholic guilt," I think.

Pondering this, it occured to me...Catholics, properly catechized ones anyway, do feel guilty. We know that there is such a thing as sin. We are told to examine our conscience every night, and to go to confession often in order to divulge our shortcomings. We are taught that we are capable, through willful and knowing disobedience to God about a serious matter (e.g. murder, adultery, wearing socks with sandals), of losing our state of grace, and, without God's aid, all hope of the beatific vision. We also know that, without continually struggling against sin, making use of the sacraments, and imploring God's help at all times, we are more or less DOOMED. Yes, doomed. As in, eternal separation from God, fast lane on the highway to hell, and all that. So we struggle against temptation, we fear to fall, and when we do, in any major way, we feel rotten. Tainted, even. GUILTY.

"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." - Hebrews 4:14-16

However, as well as knowing what sin is, we also know what sanctity is. We know the dignity of our calling. We are called to be brothers of Christ. We are called to be sons of the light, of the day. We are called to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. We are called to love our neighbor as ourself, and to love God with our whole heart, soul, and mind. We are called to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. We are called to be joyful, bearing testimony in everything we do to the goodness of God. We are called to be eternally united with God in heaven. And, we are given examples of multitudes of men and women who have lived up to their calling---the saints---and told that those who are able to be the worst sinners, are also able to be the greatest saints. Through willing cooperation with God's grace, through the sacraments, through prayer, through sacrifice, we can strive to be what we were created to be.

"Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour." - 1 Peter 5:8

"But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace." - 2 Peter 3:13-14

So, I would venture that the guilt which Catholics experience does not end in the despair of Judas, but rather the penitence of Peter. God can heal us---God wants to heal us---God wants us all to follow the call to eternal union with Him. Before He can heal us, though, we have to wish to be healed (the first step is admitting that you have a problem, right?). Feeling guilty for wrong doing prompts us to seek God's forgiveness, which in turn gives us the grace to do better.

If we fall off the horse, we try to get right back up again...because it's where the horse is going that's important, not the fact that we fell off. And yes, I have just ripped of St. Augustine's "path to God" analogy, and, for maximum obfuscation, introduced a horse. I don't feel too guilty, though.