Addiction and Mortal Sin

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313 said:
I don’t even want to pray because I am so ashamed.
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As you know, this is an ongoing struggle we all face. The demons trot us out now and again for a good scourging. [The battle against lust]

What I want to talk about is the quote above from your post. Shame is a constant companion of sin, we acknowledge it we ask forgiveness and then we go to confession. We try, I try, I fail from time to time. Yes it can be awful, yes we have to always fight it, but don’t, don’t give in to shame. Above all, don’t stop praying. This is what the devil wants the most.

His purpose is to drive you away from God. You and me. All of us. We suffer here. The good news, is all that suffering counts for something. The other big mistake we make sometimes is to give up. It is just as bad as despair, and the shame and grief after you give up and give in is even worse. So when you fall, beg for forgiveness, beg for strength and grace, ask Christ to give you sufficient sorrow and repentance, and then continue to go out and be about the business of and joy of being a young man. And always, always pray, and when you have spent a little time with it, dump the shame.
 
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@313

You must absolutely pray, especially when you feel a sense of shame towards praying. This cannot be overstated.

Jesus is so explicit with us; that we often cause him more injury by not having complete and absolute confidence and trust in his mercy, than we do by the actual offense itself.

Reflect carefully on Sts Adam & Eve, how when they transgressed against God, we saw that God did not remain idle, but - the sacred author says - “He went out looking for them”. They hid themselves from God on account of their shame. But it is only by going out to God that we are healed. God is always the first actor in this. We see this again in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, where the father sees his son “while he is still a good distance away” and runs out to him.

One of my favorite historical excerpts is by FR. JEAN NICOLAS GROU, a Jesuit priest who lived & survived the times of the French Revolution. I recommend you read it carefully and reread it as you see fit:

 
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It’s not mortal if you are not culpable. Doesn’t sound like you are but I’m not your confessor. Also. Check out things like nofap. The more you abstain more likely you will find a partner. Self abuse actually isolates us from other people. It’s not that big a deal when you are young but watch out when you get older. Also rosary. And some people never completely conquer this. Trust more in God’s grace and mercy than your own self will.
 
Baby steps. Set daily milestones starting with Sunday which is a Holy day. The aim is to have successes that one can account for. When days are down pat, work on weekly, then monthly. Don’t look back, the future is what counts. Confess and move on to the next milestone. The failures the spirits will use to work on the person. Regret OK, but then change to hope and move on.

Every day Rosary, Mercy Chaplet before bedtime and confession often and Mass when it is possible, but Sunday always. Associates and lifestyle changes. Since this is habitual, get into the habit of doing the opposite(recommended by St. John of the Cross to those who have trouble with control), go out and divert the energy to other activity. TV is no longer a trusted source as it once was in the 50’s. All other enticing info is out. The trick is to make alternate decisions instantly without contemplation(practice). Make it difficult for yourself to actually start a case.

If one fails, pick up the next day with a new resolve. Don’t delve on the failures long but trust on the hope the cross provides. The failures become tools for the spirits to work on the afflicted. Have confidence and don’t quit. Make day successes into weeks and soon you will receive results.

One may experience a dry spell as a test. Hang in there and don’t quit. Spirits may joyfully report a failure, but they can’t explain your audacity and resolve to emulate Christ, which is not missed by our Lord.

I’ll pray that you finally win.
 
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In my last post, I had forgotten these two good YouTube sources on this topic that may useful:

Overcoming Habitual Sin Compunction


Recidivism ~ Fr Ripperger

 
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Hi 313, please never give up no matter how many times you fall. Feeling guilty about the sin is actually good but the guilt should not lead you to a point of despair where you stop praying and going for confession because I can assure you, the Devil wants exactly that you should stop praying and going for confession.
Also please do not partake in the Eucharist in the state of mortal sin. My longing for the Eucharist during those moments I was in mortal sin actually helped me not to fall back into those sins after confession, because I could not just stand the pain of not taking the Eucharist because of sin. That in itself is a grace I tell you.

Now let’s get to the crux of the matter.
The sin of masturbation is usually associated with the sin of pornography. They are like twin mortal sins. I will advise you to do everything you can to keep away from porn (if you are watching it). Of course, as a poster rightly said above, relying alone on your effort to get out of those bad habits won’t be enough. You need to let God deliver you from that sin.
The most powerful prayer I know which WILL lead you out of that is the ROSARY. Pray the ROSARY every day without a break. Even if you fall into the sin despite your daily rosary prayers, DO NOT INTERRUPT YOUR DAILY ROSARY PRAYERS. Make sure to actively meditate on the mysteries of the rosary while praying it.
Go to mass EVERY SUNDAY ( if possible every day) and go to confession everytime you fall. But please make sure you do a good examination of conscience before confession and be truly sorry for your sins.

Also, pray a novena to Our Lady of sorrows to help you discern the source of demonic attachment or the open door leading you to fall to this mortal sin of masturbation every time. It is actually possible that your real problem lies somewhere other than the sin of LUST. It could be a deeper problem hiding deep within. If you identify the problem you can then denounce it during confession and after pray a binding prayer to Jesus through Mary to bind the demon responsible for that sin to the cross of Jesus

Do not give up! God loves you immensely and Jesus came to this world to destroy the works of the devil!! Have trust in Jesus!
 
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