As a Catholic, I'm supposed to find strength in prayer, in the sacraments, in community. And I do. But I also feel the weight of solitude sometimes. I feel the ache of not having someone to share the small moments with. And I wonder if that's weakness.

The Church doesn't really talk about that kind of loneliness. It talks about the loneliness of sin, the loneliness of being separated from God. But what about the loneliness of being separated from human connection? Is that a spiritual crisis or is it just... being human?

I think maybe the answer is both. Maybe it's okay to feel lonely and still have faith. Maybe loneliness doesn't mean I'm doing something wrong. Maybe it just means I'm human and I need people, and that's not a failure—that's part of being created in God's image.

But I still feel the shame. And I'm still trying to understand why. 🕊️💝