Becoming discouraged/temptations to impurity

[Veronica97]

Does anyone else ever feel like the more they receive the Sacraments, pray the rosary, try to live a Holy life, etc., the more temptations against purity arise? It seems like often very soon after I’ve gone to Confession (I’ve been going about every 5 weeks or so) AND received the Eucharist AND/or prayed a rosary, I have terribly impure dreams and terrible physical desires and temptations to impurity upon awakening. This happened to me today. I went to confession yesterday, prayed a rosary last night, and received the Eucharist at Mass this morning. I was tired this afternoon, so I lay down for a nap, and you guessed it, I fought impure desires while tossing and turning/half-awake. This upset me a lot. Then I got up and still was feeling so much physical desire that I could not help but focus on it. I began to fear that I was starting to lose control of my senses, so I quickly focused on something else. Now I am afraid that I may have mortally sinned, and I feel so disheartened. I do have anxiety and scruples, and I sometimes think my anxiety and fear of sinning doesn’t help matters. I just feel discouraged that I regularly receive the Sacraments and pray, and the last thing I want to do is commit mortal sin…and the very next day after Confession I feel like I may have mortally sinned already. Does this happen to anyone else?

 

[oldgraymare2]

Veronica97,

Please don’t get discouraged. I think that this is normal, where the closer you try and get to God, these things happen.

I have had similar experiences happen to me, especially while I was going to Adoration on a regular basis. It was horrible. I felt tempted in all kinds of terrible ways. I just kept focusing on going, and the temptations passed.

What might also help you is if you read about the Saints. They faced all different kinds of temptations, too. We have them to look up to.

 

[Immensus]

The priest who is helping me back into Catholicism told me that Satan wants us for himself and will at times put us under sustained attack. This is what is happening to you.

I have benefited from wearing my chain crucifix 24/7 and clutching it and praying during moments of weakness and fear.

 

[tawny]

Praying for you.

 

[esieffe]

Yes it does happen! The adversary “turns up the heat” so to speak, when we get closer to God. The answer is not to back away in shame, but to confess our sins and redouble our efforts. Shame is the biggest weapon in Satan’s munitions against Christians. It would seem that Catholic’s are particularly vulnerable to it. Why is that? It is because we are closer to God.

Christ knows of our struggles and out temptations. Put the Lord and his Holy Mother first. Confess and then shrug it off. That is what Satan does NOT want you to do. He would rather you crawl away in misery and tell yourself that it is too late and you might as well “let go.”

It is NEVER too late. Keep fighting and you will be ok. If you find that this does not help, consider joining the Angelic Warfare Confraternity who’s mission is to fight this very thing.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

 

[ClearWater]

Does anyone else ever feel like the more they receive the Sacraments, pray the rosary, try to live a Holy life, etc., the more temptations against purity arise? It seems like often very soon after I’ve gone to Confession (I’ve been going about every 5 weeks or so) AND received the Eucharist AND/or prayed a rosary, I have terribly impure dreams and terrible physical desires and temptations to impurity upon awakening. This happened to me today. I went to confession yesterday, prayed a rosary last night, and received the Eucharist at Mass this morning. I was tired this afternoon, so I lay down for a nap, and you guessed it, I fought impure desires while tossing and turning/half-awake. This upset me a lot. Then I got up and still was feeling so much physical desire that I could not help but focus on it. I began to fear that I was starting to lose control of my senses, so I quickly focused on something else. Now I am afraid that I may have mortally sinned, and I feel so disheartened. I do have anxiety and scruples, and I sometimes think my anxiety and fear of sinning doesn’t help matters. I just feel discouraged that I regularly receive the Sacraments and pray, and the last thing I want to do is commit mortal sin…and the very next day after Confession I feel like I may have mortally sinned already. Does this happen to anyone else?

Yes.

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blest is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

 

[zubaV10]

Remember what St. Paul said - Fight the Good Fight and keep the Faith! You aren’t alone in this. We all doubt our faith at some point or another, but remember that your Faith will emerge stronger than ever.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

Does anyone else ever feel like the more they receive the Sacraments, pray the rosary, try to live a Holy life, etc., the more temptations against purity arise? It seems like often very soon after I’ve gone to Confession (I’ve been going about every 5 weeks or so) AND received the Eucharist AND/or prayed a rosary, I have terribly impure dreams and terrible physical desires and temptations to impurity upon awakening. This happened to me today. I went to confession yesterday, prayed a rosary last night, and received the Eucharist at Mass this morning. I was tired this afternoon, so I lay down for a nap, and you guessed it, I fought impure desires while tossing and turning/half-awake. This upset me a lot. Then I got up and still was feeling so much physical desire that I could not help but focus on it. I began to fear that I was starting to lose control of my senses, so I quickly focused on something else. Now I am afraid that I may have mortally sinned, and I feel so disheartened. I do have anxiety and scruples, and I sometimes think my anxiety and fear of sinning doesn’t help matters. I just feel discouraged that I regularly receive the Sacraments and pray, and the last thing I want to do is commit mortal sin…and the very next day after Confession I feel like I may have mortally sinned already. Does this happen to anyone else?

Sometimes it is difficult to determine if we have given sufficient reflection to what we did. The main thing is to be honest with ourselves. Try to determine if there is anything you are doing which may be leading to this problem. I would advise not taking long naps, go for short " power naps. " Set the alarm for no more than 45 min. Do not take a nap after meals, take a walk instead. Get regular exercise. Avoid any kind of entertainment which may be causing these thoughts and desires. Keep busy. Tell you confessor about your temptations, ask his advise. If you have serious doubts about whether you have given consent, confess them as temptions or tell them and explain that you are not sure - be careful not to rationalize. Read your Catechism on Penance - all of it. Perhaps you should go to confession every week for awhile.

Prayers, " …be not afraid, " ( John Paul II )

Linus2nd

 

[Veronica97]

Sometimes it is difficult to determine if we have given sufficient reflection to what we did. The main thing is to be honest with ourselves. Try to determine if there is anything you are doing which may be leading to this problem. I would advise not taking long naps, go for short " power naps. " Set the alarm for no more than 45 min. Do not take a nap after meals, take a walk instead. Get regular exercise. Avoid any kind of entertainment which may be causing these thoughts and desires. Keep busy. Tell you confessor about your temptations, ask his advise. If you have serious doubts about whether you have given consent, confess them as temptions or tell them and explain that you are not sure - be careful not to rationalize. Read your Catechism on Penance - all of it. Perhaps you should go to confession every week for awhile.

Prayers, " …be not afraid, " ( John Paul II )

Linus2nd

I had a bad feeling before I even lay down for a nap yesterday that I was going to experience impure dreams. I wish now I had resisted the urge to take a nap. I used Holy Water and asked the Lord to preserve me from impure dreams. Still, I was anxious and my heart was beating fast when I lay down. I kind of tossed and turned and struggled half-awake at times with impure feelings. So when I got up and went to the computer (just to Facebook, email, etc.), I was very upset that I was physically aroused, but was strongly focused on it. When I felt that I might lose control of my senses, I struggled against that. There was a temptation at that point to experience pleasure, but I resisted. Still, my mind kept going back to feelings of physical desire, even throughout the day. I wasn’t thinking any impure thoughts or desiring to do anything illicit–it was more just a feeling of physical arousal. I couldn’t be intimate with my husband b/c I had my period. I am not 100% sure this is mortal sin, but I feel it’s at least grave matter and am thinking about going to confession. I think one problem is that I have OCD/scruples and I sometimes wonder if fear doesn’t bring some of these things on. The other thing is, that until my reversion 2.5 years ago, I did given into sins of impurity regularly. I sometimes feel I can’t watch anything or listen to anything or look at anyone b/c impure thoughts will crowd upon me. I am very careful about what I watch, and yet, even on “The Waltons” there will occasionally be a trigger. I guess I am thinking, if I am going to Adoration, praying the Rosary, going to Confession regularly, and going to Mass more than once a week, and I’m still possibly falling into mortal sin, what chance do I have? I do think the devil wants to cripple me b/c I often pray for and encourage others who have fallen away, and I also promote the rosary. Exercise is a good idea–not as easy in this terrible snowy, cold weather we’re having as it will be in the spring.

 

[AnonymousGuest]

When I was on a diet, trying to lose a few pounds, all I could do was think about food. Because the diet was my daily focus, so was the feeling of being deprived of the restricted foods.

I decided that dieting was not good because it brought too much focus to the temptation. I told myself to just do the best I could by eating healthier and forgiving myself for the occasional lapse in will-power. I found by not giving constant, daily, focus to what I was eating (and not eating) I did so much better losing weight by not thinking about it.

Sometimes giving too much worry to your temptation(s), makes them stronger than they would have been by just ignoring them.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

I had a bad feeling before I even lay down for a nap yesterday that I was going to experience impure dreams. I wish now I had resisted the urge to take a nap. I used Holy Water and asked the Lord to preserve me from impure dreams. Still, I was anxious and my heart was beating fast when I lay down. I kind of tossed and turned and struggled half-awake at times with impure feelings. So when I got up and went to the computer (just to Facebook, email, etc.), I was very upset that I was physically aroused, but was strongly focused on it. When I felt that I might lose control of my senses, I struggled against that. There was a temptation at that point to experience pleasure, but I resisted. Still, my mind kept going back to feelings of physical desire, even throughout the day. I wasn’t thinking any impure thoughts or desiring to do anything illicit–it was more just a feeling of physical arousal. I couldn’t be intimate with my husband b/c I had my period. I am not 100% sure this is mortal sin, but I feel it’s at least grave matter and am thinking about going to confession. I think one problem is that I have OCD/scruples and I sometimes wonder if fear doesn’t bring some of these things on. The other thing is, that until my reversion 2.5 years ago, I did given into sins of impurity regularly. I sometimes feel I can’t watch anything or listen to anything or look at anyone b/c impure thoughts will crowd upon me. I am very careful about what I watch, and yet, even on “The Waltons” there will occasionally be a trigger. I guess I am thinking, if I am going to Adoration, praying the Rosary, going to Confession regularly, and going to Mass more than once a week, and I’m still possibly falling into mortal sin, what chance do I have? I do think the devil wants to cripple me b/c I often pray for and encourage others who have fallen away, and I also promote the rosary. Exercise is a good idea–not as easy in this terrible snowy, cold weather we’re having as it will be in the spring.

You are obsessing. You need to have a definite plan of action. No naps, no matter how tired you feel. Moderate you diet. Eat sparingly, cut out the coffee, tea, soda, sweets, that is one thing all the Saints did. When you feel drowsy get up and walk around the house if nothing else, do stand in place exercising. Even if it is cold outside, you can bundle up and walk up and down in the yard or the street. Get involved in a hobby. Volunteer outside the house. Get a job. Keep busy.

Commit yourself to reading and studying the entire Catechism, including the footnotes, this will give you something constructive to do. Read the Bible every day at least 15-30 mins. Read good literature, G.K. Chesterton is facinating and instructive, C.S. Lewis, etc.
You can commit yourself to learning Latin, Math, Science, and becoming expert at it, or anything else that will keep your mind busy.

Remember you cannot commit a mortal sin unless, the matter is grave, you know it is grave and you give deliberate and full concent.

Don’t give up, that is what Satan wants you to do.

Linus2nd

 

[Veronica97]

You are obsessing. You need to have a definite plan of action. No naps, no matter how tired you feel. Moderate you diet. Eat sparingly, cut out the coffee, tea, soda, sweets, that is one thing all the Saints did. When you feel drowsy get up and walk around the house if nothing else, do stand in place exercising. Even if it is cold outside, you can bundle up and walk up and down in the yard or the street. Get involved in a hobby. Volunteer outside the house. Get a job. Keep busy.

Commit yourself to reading and studying the entire Catechism, including the footnotes, this will give you something constructive to do. Read the Bible every day at least 15-30 mins. Read good literature, G.K. Chesterton is facinating and instructive, C.S. Lewis, etc.
You can commit yourself to learning Latin, Math, Science, and becoming expert at it, or anything else that will keep your mind busy.

Remember you cannot commit a mortal sin unless, the matter is grave, you know it is grave and you give deliberate and full concent.

Don’t give up, that is what Satan wants you to do.

Linus2nd

YOU ARE SO RIGHT!!! I came to some of these conclusions myself late yesterday evening. I’ve decided that when this happens, I need to get busy with something else RIGHT AWAY! I prayed a rosary last night, I read scripture, and even though I realized that I probably shouldn’t have any wine b/c it makes things worse, I had a few sips anyway. And I also ate some candy, even though I knew deep down that I need to “conquer the flesh”. But today after reading your post, I realized that I NEED to forgo those things for awhile as discipline. I made myself get out of bed this morning when I woke up, instead of going back to sleep. No more daytime naps for any reason except illness!! Because even though I don’t take a nap very often, every time I do, I am sorry that I did!! I slept holding my rosary last night, and I had decent dreams. We took down the tree today, and I busied myself with rearranging and cleaning. I am hungry, but I am not going to have a snack–I’m going to wait until dinner. I am planning on going to Confession on Saturday even though I am not completely certain I have mortally sinned. I think I have had a breakthrough. I am sick of living this way. THANK YOU!!!

 

[sebastian1213]

Does anyone else ever feel like the more they receive the Sacraments, pray the rosary, try to live a Holy life, etc., the more temptations against purity arise? It seems like often very soon after I’ve gone to Confession (I’ve been going about every 5 weeks or so) AND received the Eucharist AND/or prayed a rosary, I have terribly impure dreams and terrible physical desires and temptations to impurity upon awakening. This happened to me today. I went to confession yesterday, prayed a rosary last night, and received the Eucharist at Mass this morning. I was tired this afternoon, so I lay down for a nap, and you guessed it, I fought impure desires while tossing and turning/half-awake. This upset me a lot. Then I got up and still was feeling so much physical desire that I could not help but focus on it. I began to fear that I was starting to lose control of my senses, so I quickly focused on something else. Now I am afraid that I may have mortally sinned, and I feel so disheartened. I do have anxiety and scruples, and I sometimes think my anxiety and fear of sinning doesn’t help matters. I just feel discouraged that I regularly receive the Sacraments and pray, and the last thing I want to do is commit mortal sin…and the very next day after Confession I feel like I may have mortally sinned already. Does this happen to anyone else?

Aside from the Most Holy Mother, seek the intercession of St. Philomena. Virgin/Martyr killed at age 13 for refusing Roman Emperor Diocletian her virginity. Powerful with God.

 

[sebastian1213]

I had a bad feeling before I even lay down for a nap yesterday that I was going to experience impure dreams. I wish now I had resisted the urge to take a nap. I used Holy Water and asked the Lord to preserve me from impure dreams. Still, I was anxious and my heart was beating fast when I lay down. I kind of tossed and turned and struggled half-awake at times with impure feelings. So when I got up and went to the computer (just to Facebook, email, etc.), I was very upset that I was physically aroused, but was strongly focused on it. When I felt that I might lose control of my senses, I struggled against that. There was a temptation at that point to experience pleasure, but I resisted. Still, my mind kept going back to feelings of physical desire, even throughout the day. I wasn’t thinking any impure thoughts or desiring to do anything illicit–it was more just a feeling of physical arousal. I couldn’t be intimate with my husband b/c I had my period. I am not 100% sure this is mortal sin, but I feel it’s at least grave matter and am thinking about going to confession. I think one problem is that I have OCD/scruples and I sometimes wonder if fear doesn’t bring some of these things on. The other thing is, that until my reversion 2.5 years ago, I did given into sins of impurity regularly. I sometimes feel I can’t watch anything or listen to anything or look at anyone b/c impure thoughts will crowd upon me. I am very careful about what I watch, and yet, even on “The Waltons” there will occasionally be a trigger. I guess I am thinking, if I am going to Adoration, praying the Rosary, going to Confession regularly, and going to Mass more than once a week, and I’m still possibly falling into mortal sin, what chance do I have? I do think the devil wants to cripple me b/c I often pray for and encourage others who have fallen away, and I also promote the rosary. Exercise is a good idea–not as easy in this terrible snowy, cold weather we’re having as it will be in the spring.

I understand your point about feelings of arousal, even without impure thoughts. I have had Satan attack me with this, even while praying! As you soidify your efforts to grow in grace, the devil will “up his game”, so to speak. Hold fast and invite Christ into the "mix’ to fight the battle.

 

[fred_conty]

Does anyone else ever feel like the more they receive the Sacraments, pray the rosary, try to live a Holy life, etc., the more temptations against purity arise? It seems like often very soon after I’ve gone to Confession (I’ve been going about every 5 weeks or so) AND received the Eucharist AND/or prayed a rosary, I have terribly impure dreams and terrible physical desires and temptations to impurity upon awakening. This happened to me today. I went to confession yesterday, prayed a rosary last night, and received the Eucharist at Mass this morning. I was tired this afternoon, so I lay down for a nap, and you guessed it, I fought impure desires while tossing and turning/half-awake. This upset me a lot. Then I got up and still was feeling so much physical desire that I could not help but focus on it. I began to fear that I was starting to lose control of my senses, so I quickly focused on something else. Now I am afraid that I may have mortally sinned, and I feel so disheartened. I do have anxiety and scruples, and I sometimes think my anxiety and fear of sinning doesn’t help matters. I just feel discouraged that I regularly receive the Sacraments and pray, and the last thing I want to do is commit mortal sin…and the very next day after Confession I feel like I may have mortally sinned already. Does this happen to anyone else?

Jesus himself was tempted in the desert three times by the devil. Why? To show us the way.

Our virtuous muscles grow bigger when we exorcise them. Our love of God is proven when we sacrifice ourselves to his will. Temptations are good for us because God uses this to help us grow in the image of Jesus. We really should rejoice that he allows us to be tempted so that we can show how much we do love him.

But it does take prayer and penance to be strong in our weakness. Sometimes penance is overlooked. But penance is a very good way to build ourselves up to saying no. It dosen’t have to be a severe penance but one that is done everyday. For example no entertainment between certain hours or no food and drink between certain hours. The difference in the spiritual life is rather noticed quickly. Many only think of this during Lenten season, but it is very valuable all during the year.

Mary most pure is the one to turn to in times of great stress. Get a miraculous medal, have it blessed, and wear it. She promised that she would give GREAT and ABUNDANT graces to those who wore it, asked for grace, and had trust in her to fulfill that promise. But always ask Mary for a GREAT grace and not just a grace. Once you ask, then go about your buisness for you will be ok from that moment on. But remember you must ask and not just assume. She will take care of it every time.

May God bless and keep you. May God’s face shine on you. May God be kind to you and give you peace.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Does anyone else ever feel like the more they receive the Sacraments, pray the rosary, try to live a Holy life, etc., the more temptations against purity arise? It seems like often very soon after I’ve gone to Confession (I’ve been going about every 5 weeks or so) AND received the Eucharist AND/or prayed a rosary, I have terribly impure dreams and terrible physical desires and temptations to impurity upon awakening. This happened to me today. I went to confession yesterday, prayed a rosary last night, and received the Eucharist at Mass this morning. I was tired this afternoon, so I lay down for a nap, and you guessed it, I fought impure desires while tossing and turning/half-awake. This upset me a lot. Then I got up and still was feeling so much physical desire that I could not help but focus on it. I began to fear that I was starting to lose control of my senses, so I quickly focused on something else. Now I am afraid that I may have mortally sinned, and I feel so disheartened. I do have anxiety and scruples, and I sometimes think my anxiety and fear of sinning doesn’t help matters. I just feel discouraged that I regularly receive the Sacraments and pray, and the last thing I want to do is commit mortal sin…and the very next day after Confession I feel like I may have mortally sinned already. Does this happen to anyone else?

You’re a better person than I am.

I note you say you have a tendency towards anxiety and scruples. And that is what the devil is playing on - not a natural tendency to “terribly impure dreams and terrible physical desires and temptations”. If you took a self inventory, the reality is that you’d have to admit you’d be very unlikely to put these desires into practice.

The adversary is not trying to get you to sin in the sexual physical sense. He knows that’s probably a waste of time in your case.

What he is doing, and doing quite successfully, is playing on your real weaknesses - anxiety and scruples.

So the best thing you can do when these things happen is to wake up, **and literally tell him to rack off. **Then see what happens. You might find you get a different response, but if you do, you’ll know what he’s really aiming at.

I’ll repeat - your weakness is not moral impurity. Your weaknesses are anxiety and scruples, and that is what he’s playing on. And the more you let yourself get upset by it, the more he’ll keep doing it.

 

[sebastian1213]

You’re a better person than I am.

I note you say you have a tendency towards anxiety and scruples. And that is what the devil is playing on - not a natural tendency to “terribly impure dreams and terrible physical desires and temptations”. If you took a self inventory, the reality is that you’d have to admit you’d be very unlikely to put these desires into practice.

The adversary is not trying to get you to sin in the sexual physical sense. He knows that’s probably a waste of time in your case.

What he is doing, and doing quite successfully, is playing on your real weaknesses - anxiety and scruples.

So the best thing you can do when these things happen is to wake up, **and literally tell him to rack off. **Then see what happens. You might find you get a different response, but if you do, you’ll know what he’s really aiming at.

I’ll repeat - your weakness is not moral impurity. Your weaknesses are anxiety and scruples, and that is what he’s playing on. And the more you let yourself get upset by it, the more he’ll keep doing it.

I was told by a priest just last week to say nothing to the devil, rather to ask Jesus to enter into the fight; that we need do nothing. Other than that, just flee the situation (occupy yourself with something else)

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Well, you’re better to listen to the priest than me.

However I think my point is still valid that the devil is trying to discourage you, and to him the sexual temptations are just a means to an end. He’s not trying to get you into a sexual situation, but he is interested in playing on your tendency to anxiety and scruples, because he knows you are getting discouraged.

Your OP title said it all - “DISCOURAGEMENT”. That’s what it’s about.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

YOU ARE SO RIGHT!!! I came to some of these conclusions myself late yesterday evening. I’ve decided that when this happens, I need to get busy with something else RIGHT AWAY! I prayed a rosary last night, I read scripture, and even though I realized that I probably shouldn’t have any wine b/c it makes things worse, I had a few sips anyway. And I also ate some candy, even though I knew deep down that I need to “conquer the flesh”. But today after reading your post, I realized that I NEED to forgo those things for awhile as discipline. I made myself get out of bed this morning when I woke up, instead of going back to sleep. No more daytime naps for any reason except illness!! Because even though I don’t take a nap very often, every time I do, I am sorry that I did!! I slept holding my rosary last night, and I had decent dreams. We took down the tree today, and I busied myself with rearranging and cleaning. I am hungry, but I am not going to have a snack–I’m going to wait until dinner. I am planning on going to Confession on Saturday even though I am not completely certain I have mortally sinned. I think I have had a breakthrough. I am sick of living this way. THANK YOU!!!

Good, I expect good things from you. Read the section in the Catechism dealing with Penance and Sin. It may help. Remember, you cannot commit a sin in your sleep and when half awake or in that period between wakefullness and sleep, the tossing and turning stage it is very doubtful that a serious sin could be committed, but you can discuss that with your confessor.

Linus2nd.

 

[Veronica97]

You’re a better person than I am.

I note you say you have a tendency towards anxiety and scruples. And that is what the devil is playing on - not a natural tendency to “terribly impure dreams and terrible physical desires and temptations”. If you took a self inventory, the reality is that you’d have to admit you’d be very unlikely to put these desires into practice.

The adversary is not trying to get you to sin in the sexual physical sense. He knows that’s probably a waste of time in your case.

What he is doing, and doing quite successfully, is playing on your real weaknesses - anxiety and scruples.

So the best thing you can do when these things happen is to wake up, **and literally tell him to rack off. **Then see what happens. You might find you get a different response, but if you do, you’ll know what he’s really aiming at.

I’ll repeat - your weakness is not moral impurity. Your weaknesses are anxiety and scruples, and that is what he’s playing on. And the more you let yourself get upset by it, the more he’ll keep doing it.

The reality is, I did indulge in impure thoughts and acts regularly for YEARS, until 2 1/2 years ago. At that time, I watched some videos on Hell, and then I repented completely and went to confession for the first time in 7 years So the devil does know I refuse to act on these feelings, and he has been enjoying my scruples/anxiety in more ways than just this these past 2 1/2 years. He is very aware that I have been praying for others and trying live a good life.