Are these impure thoughts?

[Veronica97]

First I should say that I have scrupulosity/OCD and have been having unwanted impure thoughts for the last couple of weeks. I either pray for them to go away or I try to focus my attention on something else but they’ve really been upsetting me. I went to confession on Saturday to a priest who is helping me with my problems. But then Saturday night I had a dream about doing the marital act with my husband and when I woke up on Sunday I was thinking about it. That made me think about it some during the day as well. My question is: is it a sin to think of the marital act with my husband if I was seeing a picture in my mind of our body parts working together? They definitely belonged to me and my husband, and I was enjoying thinking about what might happen with him later in the evening. Sorry if that is too graphic. The thoughts of my husband and me that I just told you about were thoughts that I enjoyed (unlike the previous weeks’ thoughts that were unwanted) and I am wondering if they are impure and if I sinned by entertaining them (for several seconds several times throughout the day). Was I thinking of my husband as an “object” to satisfy my own needs? (I do love him and am committed to him) but since I have been having other unwanted thoughts lately and since I have been feeling overwhelming “need” as well, I am thinking this is bordering on lust and at the very least venial sin. Any thoughts on whether this is mortal or venial sin? I hope it’s not mortal b/c I went to communion on Sunday.

 

[JRKH]

First of all, I’m glad that you have a regular confessor who is helping you. When I see these kinds of questions, my first response is always to talk it over with your confessor…

However, in this case I think I’m pretty safe in saying it is NOT an impure thought to think about your husband in this way from time to time. In fact, in my mind, such thoughts come under the heading of foreplay…
Naturally anything can be taken to extreme - like where such thoughts interfere with your normal functioning…but I’ll leave that between you and your confessor.

As to the other “impure thoughts”, I will share a meditation that helped me immensely when I was struggling with similar issues. When I caught myself being tempted, having impure thoughts, etc, I prayed,
“Lord, Take me to the foot of the cross”.
I then visualized the hard, rough hewn wood of the cross going into the dark ground that was soaked wet with the sweat and Blood of our Lord as it dripped from His feet. He suffered for my sins.
This image and the associated thoughts were enough to break the temptation.

Hope this helps.

Peace
James

 

[Veronica97]

Thank you for your thoughts. They were of great comfort to me. I have been a baptized Catholic now for 14 years, but I have just recently come to understand the WHY behind some of the Church teachings that I have disagreed with. I am trying to learn all I can about what God wants from me so I can be more pleasing to him. Thank you again for your post.

 

[Wesley7]

You can have them. In the Philokalia it talks about having a “bridle” and harnessing the power of your thoughts.