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Why Do I Feel So Alone?<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n <\/p>\n
by CAPP-USA<\/span><\/h5>\n <\/p>\n
\n![\"Why](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/train-woman-light-fog-cold-think-reflect-hand.jpg\")
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Why do I feel so alone?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Few could say they have never felt alone but loneliness seems to be on the rise. We are speaking here of true loneliness - of alienation.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSo, what is true loneliness? It is \"the loss of the authentic meaning of life<\/strong>.\" (Pope St. John Paul II, 41)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWe become alienated when we \"detached from reality;<\/strong>\", when we stop \"thinking and believing in a foundation.\" (Pope Benedict XVI, 53)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nAnd this \"age in which we live... is [surely] threatened to a great extent by 'alienation'.\" (Pope St. John Paul II, 15)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhy Do I Feel Alone?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Multiple studies have documented the troubling rise of loneliness <\/strong>in the U.S. Why is this happening?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis points out this \u201calienation at every level\u201d occurs when \u201ca society becomes alienated - when its forms of social organization, production and consumption make it more<\/strong> difficult to offer the gift of self<\/strong> and to establish solidarity between people\u201d. (Evangelii Gaudium, 196)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\u201c[P]eople use one another\u2026they seek an ever more refined satisfaction of their individual and secondary needs, while\u00a0ignoring the principal and authentic needs\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 41)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nRecounting how when greeting a group of young people only a few reached out to shake his hand \u2013 while most held their cell phones for selfies, Pope, Francis said \"The world of virtual communication is a good thing, but when it becomes alienating, it makes you forget to shake hands.\" (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhen you feel alone\u00a0the cause goes deeper than how many friends you have on social media.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nFeeling Alone is Caused by Spiritual Alienation<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Loneliness, which is where alienation leads, is a result of a dreadful separation from God<\/strong>:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWhen\u00a0human beings set themselves against God, they set themselves against the truth of their own being and consequently do not become free, but alienated from themselves.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nAnd there is even a danger \u201cthat by a constant refusal to open the doors of [our] hearts to Christ\u201d we \"will end up condemning [our]selves <\/strong>and plunging into the eternal abyss of solitude which is Hell<\/strong>.\" (Pope Francis, 3)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThe concept of alienation needs to be led back to the Christian vision of reality, by recognizing in alienation a reversal of means and ends.\u201d\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 41)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\"Faith\u2019s recognition of the essential unity of all knowledge provides a bulwark against the alienation...which occurs when the use of reason is detached from the pursuit of truth and virtue\". (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nHow to Deal With Loneliness<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
So, how do we combat loneliness? By giving ourselves!<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWe can \u201covercome our existential alienation by listening to God\u2019s word and by practicing the works of mercy.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Francis, 3)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\"For over a hundred years, a serious accusation has been levelled at the believer. Religion... 'alienates man', that is, it allegedly deprives man of what is substantially human. It is necessary to free the believer from the accusation of alienation.\" (Pope St. John Paul II, 2)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhat is Alienation?<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nLoneliness Quotes<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More About Alienation<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBack to Articles<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Three](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Three-Principles.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThree Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Human-Dignity.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHuman Dignity<\/a><\/h2>This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Solidarity.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSolidarity<\/a><\/h2>Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Subsidiarity.png\")
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Why do I feel so alone?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Few could say they have never felt alone but loneliness seems to be on the rise. We are speaking here of true loneliness - of alienation.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n So, what is true loneliness? It is \"the loss of the authentic meaning of life<\/strong>.\" (Pope St. John Paul II, 41)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n We become alienated when we \"detached from reality;<\/strong>\", when we stop \"thinking and believing in a foundation.\" (Pope Benedict XVI, 53)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And this \"age in which we live... is [surely] threatened to a great extent by 'alienation'.\" (Pope St. John Paul II, 15)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Pope Francis points out this \u201calienation at every level\u201d occurs when \u201ca society becomes alienated - when its forms of social organization, production and consumption make it more<\/strong> difficult to offer the gift of self<\/strong> and to establish solidarity between people\u201d. (Evangelii Gaudium, 196)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201c[P]eople use one another\u2026they seek an ever more refined satisfaction of their individual and secondary needs, while\u00a0ignoring the principal and authentic needs\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 41)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Recounting how when greeting a group of young people only a few reached out to shake his hand \u2013 while most held their cell phones for selfies, Pope, Francis said \"The world of virtual communication is a good thing, but when it becomes alienating, it makes you forget to shake hands.\" (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n When you feel alone\u00a0the cause goes deeper than how many friends you have on social media.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhen\u00a0human beings set themselves against God, they set themselves against the truth of their own being and consequently do not become free, but alienated from themselves.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And there is even a danger \u201cthat by a constant refusal to open the doors of [our] hearts to Christ\u201d we \"will end up condemning [our]selves <\/strong>and plunging into the eternal abyss of solitude which is Hell<\/strong>.\" (Pope Francis, 3)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe concept of alienation needs to be led back to the Christian vision of reality, by recognizing in alienation a reversal of means and ends.\u201d\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 41)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \"Faith\u2019s recognition of the essential unity of all knowledge provides a bulwark against the alienation...which occurs when the use of reason is detached from the pursuit of truth and virtue\". (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n We can \u201covercome our existential alienation by listening to God\u2019s word and by practicing the works of mercy.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Francis, 3)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \"For over a hundred years, a serious accusation has been levelled at the believer. Religion... 'alienates man', that is, it allegedly deprives man of what is substantially human. It is necessary to free the believer from the accusation of alienation.\" (Pope St. John Paul II, 2)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n What is Alienation?<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Loneliness Quotes<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\tWhy Do I Feel Alone?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Multiple studies have documented the troubling rise of loneliness <\/strong>in the U.S. Why is this happening?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nFeeling Alone is Caused by Spiritual Alienation<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Loneliness, which is where alienation leads, is a result of a dreadful separation from God<\/strong>:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nHow to Deal With Loneliness<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
So, how do we combat loneliness? By giving ourselves!<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThree Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHuman Dignity<\/a><\/h2>
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSolidarity<\/a><\/h2>
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