Addiction/Habit and Mortal Sins

[Chesapeake]

How does one know if they are committing a mortal sin due to habit or addiction? I mean… I believe myself to be addicted to certain sins of sexual impurity, and I strive not to do them. But when I do, the act fits all three of the criterion of mortal sin… except for perhaps this extenuating circumstance… how do I know?

 

[mwmroe]

Catechism of the Catholic Church:
"2352 By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. “Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.” “The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose.” For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of “the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved.”

To form an equitable judgment about the subjects’ moral responsibility and to guide pastoral action, one must take into account the affective immaturity, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety or other psychological or social factors that lessen, if not even reduce to a minimum, moral culpability."

You may want to talk to your local priest. But after you have considered you circumstance I think you should pray about it, then continue to do everything in your power to educate yourself and not do these things. Once you have conquered that you should consider yourself responsible for these things. The link below provides a list of grave sins. You should strive to not commit sin and if you do go to confession before you receive Holy Communion.

What is a Mortal Sin?
saintaquinas.com/mortal_sin.html
Guide to Making a Good Confession
youth.stbrons.com/Prayers/gui…confession.htm