Catholics catch a lot of flak about guilt. Supposedly, we’re much more susceptible to it…something about the nature of the faith. I don’t know that I buy that, anyway, but I’ve been thinking lately that guilt really gets bad rap, unfairly so.
Guilt, after all, is the sign of an active conscience. It’s generally the first alert that I’ve done something damaging to myself or to another person. It makes me uncomfortable until I do something to remedy the damage. It keeps me humble, keeps me honest, makes me a better person.
Of course, it’s possible to use guilt as a weapon. I’m sure we’ve all seen that in action—I certainly have. But I am grateful for the guilt that prevents me from assuming I’m always the right—that sends me in search of help, human and divine, in discerning the right course of action. I’m grateful for the check it provides…even when it makes me uncomfortable. Better to be uncomfortable in the short run, and become a purer reflection of what God intended me to be.
Kathleen M. Basi 
There are different kinds of guilt. There is the healthy kind like you describe here and then there is the guilt we put on ourselves undeservedly because of low self esteem or other reasons.
I used to feel guilty because my father abused me. That is not healthy and I had nothing to feel guilt over.
We mothers often assume guilt over everything. We have to learn to be our own best friends. And trust in God.
Great post. Made me think. 🙂
This was one thing that I thought was weird when I became Catholic. Cradle Catholics (who weren’t following all the Church’s teachings) would talk about “Catholic guilt” all the time. The way I saw it, though, that was a really good and healthy thing, like you say! Sometimes I think people could use a little more guilt in their lives!
(After typing that, I’m already feeling guilty about my pride…)
Exactly! Like any good thing it can be abused but I think the world has gotten so PC that we’re losing that healthy sense of guilt in our culture. I’ve certainly suffered from some unhealthy guilt but I think by God’s grace I’ve learned the difference between the healthy and not so healthy guilt.
I don’t know that I’ve reached the point of telling the difference. My husband would say no. 🙂 But I’m getting there!