Can you assist me with sexual understanding?

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Ok, sorry, this thread might disturb some, but I really want to ask this question. This sort of makes me embarrased because I don’t normally ask such things.

My question is in relation to lust & natural attraction to the other sex (in my case women).
To what extent can you find a women attractive? I find myself in a situation of confusion because from my understanding, allowing sexual attraction is sin. I look at girls which I would, under non-religious standards, find emotionally and sexually attractive; however, I find myself out of habit of avoiding sin to instantly supress such thoughts. This goes to an extent that I will find no other human being attractive. I have found out that finding a girl in my instance attractive is not sin in itself, but how do I know when this attraction turns into lust? I know as Catholics we must not have lustful thoughts, but does that rule out all thoughts given by attraction altogether? Sorry if I am not being clear enough, I just find this topic really hard to explain. I have never had a catholic teach me on sexual morality before. 😊
 
I’m not entirely sure the answer but i’ll tell you what I think. You shouldn’t look at any women to get aroused. You should have an sexual desires about them. Now obviously thoughts can happen but you should no consent to them. Sexual attraction is not a sin. It was created but God but it can be twisted into ways that are not morally correct. Look around you. One of the sacraments of the Church is Marriage. If people didn’t have sexual attraction their would be a lot more people who wouldn’t be married. I think it is fine to see people you like and say “I like that person”. You should stop when these thoughts become lustful.

Edit:
Say I missed apart of the answer. The thoughts or desires become lustful when you look at the female to get aroused or want to get arousal from her.
 
=PiousTemplar;8096465]Ok, sorry, this thread might disturb some, but I really want to ask this question. This sort of makes me embarrased because I don’t normally ask such things.
My question is in relation to lust & natural attraction to the other sex (in my case women).
To what extent can you find a women attractive? I find myself in a situation of confusion because from my understanding, allowing sexual attraction is sin. I look at girls which I would, under non-religious standards, find emotionally and sexually attractive; however, I find myself out of habit of avoiding sin to instantly supress such thoughts. This goes to an extent that I will find no other human being attractive. I have found out that finding a girl in my instance attractive is not sin in itself, but how do I know when this attraction turns into lust? I know as Catholics we must not have lustful thoughts, but does that rule out all thoughts given by attraction altogether? Sorry if I am not being clear enough, I just find this topic really hard to explain. I have never had a catholic teach me on sexual morality before. 😊
It becomes BOTH unhealthy and sinful when:
  1. Freely encouraged
  2. Leads you to other sinful acts such as masturbation, or fornication outside of marriage.
Prayer and a sincere desire with the help of God are whats needed.

May God Bless and PROTECT you my friend,
Pat
 
Yes, learn about chastity and theology of the body from Jason Evert and Christopher West

chastityislove.blogspot.com/

They healed my sexuality.

As regards to looking at women, you should read about St. Peter of Alcantara from the Life of St. Teresa of Avila

And what an excellent likeness in the person of that blessed friar, Peter of Alcantara, God
has just taken from us! The world cannot bear such perfection now; it is said that men’s health is grown feebler, and that we are not now in those former times. But this holy man lived in our day; he had a spirit strong as those of another age, and so he trampled on the world. If men do not go about barefooted, nor undergo sharp penances, as he did, there are many ways, as I have said before, of trampling on the world; and our Lord teaches them when He finds the necessary courage. How great was the courage with which His Majesty filled the Saint I am speaking of! He did penance—oh, how sharp it was!—for seven-and-forty years, as all men know. I should like to speak of it, for I know it to be all true.

He spoke of it to me and to another person, from whom he kept few or no secrets. As for me, it was the affection he bore me that led him to speak; for it was our Lord’s will that he should undertake my defence, and encourage me, at a time when I was in great straits, as I said before, and shall speak of again. He told me, I think, that for forty years he slept but an hour and a half out of the twenty-four, and that the most laborious penance he underwent, when he began, was this of overcoming sleep. For that purpose, he was always either kneeling or standing. When he slept, he sat down, his head resting against a piece of wood driven into the wall. Lie down he could not, if he wished it; for his cell, as every one knows, was only four feet and a half in length. In all these years, he never covered his head with his hood, even when the sun was hottest, or the rain heaviest.

He never covered his feet: the only garment he wore was made of sackcloth, and that was as tight as it could be, with nothing between it and his flesh; over this, he wore a cloak of the same stuff.

He told me that, in the severe cold, he used to take off his cloak, and open the door and the window of his cell, in order that when he put his cloak on again, after shutting the door and the window, he might give some satisfaction to his body in the pleasure it might have in the increased warmth. His ordinary practice was to eat but once in three days. He said to me, “Why are you astonished at it?
it is very possible for any one who is used to it.” One of his companions told me that he would be occasionally eight days without eating: that must have been when he was in prayer; for he was subject to trances, and to the impetuosities of the love of God, of which I was once a witness myself.

His poverty was extreme; and his mortification, from his youth, was such,—so he told
me,—that he was three years in one of the houses of his Order without knowing how to distinguish one friar from another, otherwise than by the voice; for he never raised his eyes: and so, when he was obliged to go from one part of the house to the other, he never knew the way, unless he followed the friars. His journeys, also, were made in the same way. For many years, he never saw a woman’s face. He told me that it was nothing to him then whether he saw it or not: but he was an aged man when I made his acquaintance; and his weakness was so great, that he seemed like nothing else but the roots of trees. With all his sanctity, he was very agreeable; though his words were few, unless when he was asked questions; he was very pleasant to speak to, for he had a most clear understanding.

Many other things I should like to say of him, if I were not afraid, my father, that you will say, Why does she meddle here? and it is in that fear I have written this. So I leave the subject, only saying that his last end was like his life—preaching to, and exhorting, his brethren. When he saw that the end was comes he repeated the Psalm,403 “Lætatus sum in his quæ dicta sunt mihi;” and then, kneeling down, he died.

Since then, it has pleased our Lord that I should find more help from him than during his life. He advises me in many matters. I have often seen him in great glory. The first time he appeared to me, he said: “O blessed penance, which has merited so great a reward!” with other things. A year before his death, he appeared to me being then far away. I knew he was about to die, and so I sent him word to that effect, when he was some leagues from here. When he died, he appeared to me, and said that he was going to his rest. I did not believe it. I spoke of it to some persons, and within eight days came the news that he was dead—or, to speak more correctly, he had begun to live for evermore.
Behold here, then, how that life of sharp penance is perfected in such great glory: and now he is a greater comfort to me, I do believe, than he was on earth. Our Lord said to me on one occasion, that persons could not ask Him anything in his name, and He not hear them. I have recommended many things to him that he was to ask of our Lord, and I have seen my petitions granted. God be blessed for ever! Amen.

But how I have been talking in order to stir you up never to esteem anything in this life!—as if you did not know this, or as if you were not resolved to leave everything, and had already done it! I see so much going wrong in the world, that though my speaking of it is of no other use than to weary me by writing of it, it is some relief to me that all I am saying makes against myself. Our Lord forgive me all that I do amiss herein; and you too, my father, for wearying you to no purpose. It seems as if I would make you do penance for my sins herein.
 
From the Autobiography of St. Anthony Mary Claret book

THE FIFTH VIRTUE: MORTIFICATION

I knew that I could not practice modesty without the virtue of mortification, so with God’s grace, I bent all my forces on acquiring that, cost what it might. In the first place, then, I strove to deprive myself of every pleasure in order to give pleasure to God. Without knowing how, I felt obliged to fulfill what was a mere proposal. My mind was faced with

choosing between my pleasure and God’s, and because my mind saw the glaring inequality between the two, even in the slightest matter, I would be forced to choose what then seemed more pleasing to God. I would joyfully abstain from the pleasure in question, to give pleasure to God. This is still the way it is with me in all things: eating, drinking, resting, talking, looking, hearing, going somewhere, etc. God’s grace has greatly helped me in practicing mortification. I now know that mortification has been an essential need for me in working effectively for souls and in praying as I ought. I have received special encouragement in practicing mortification from considering the example set by Jesus, Mary, and the Saints. I have read their lives carefully, with an eye to how they practiced mortification, and I have taken many notes from some of them such as St. Bernard and St. Peter of Alcantara. I read of St. Philip Neri that after 30 years of hearing the confession of one of Rome’s most famous beauties he had no idea what she looked like. In my own case I can vouch for the fact that I know the many women who go to confession to me by their voice, rather than by their appearance. The fact is, I never look women in the face because it makes me blush and I get embarrassed. Not that they cause me temptations–thank God, I no longer have any just a sort of blushing I can’t explain. Thus I quite naturally and unconsciously observe that often repeated maxim of the Fathers, “Let your conversation with women be brief and to the point, with eyes downcast.” I hardly know how to prolong a conversation with a woman, however good she might be. In a few serious words I say what has to be said concerning her case; then I send her off immediately, without looking to see whether she is poor or rich, beautiful or ugly. When I was giving missions throughout Catalonia, I was a guest in rectories, where I stayed during the mission, and I can’t remember ever looking at the face of any woman, even if she happened to be the priest’s housekeeper, servant, or relative. Thus, it has happened that, on my return to Vich or some other town after an absence of some time, a woman would come up to me and say, “Father Claret, don’t you recognize me? I’m the housekeeper at such-and-such a parish, where you stayed several days giving a mission.” Of course I couldn’t recognize her, never having looked at her, and so, with eyes downcast, I would just ask, “And Father so-and-so, the pastor-he’s well, I hope?” I had another experience that I know would have been impossible without a very special grace from God. During my six years and two months’ stay in Cuba, I confirmed over 300,000 people, more of them women than men and more of these younger than older. But if someone were to ask me to describe the typical face and figure of the women of the island, I would have to say I could not, despite the fact that I had confirmed so many of them. I simply took a rapid glance at where their forehead was and then closed my eyes and kept them closed while I confirmed them. Besides this natural blushing of mine in the presence of women, which prevents me from looking at them, I have the further reason of wanting to benefit the people. I remember reading years ago that a famous preacher went to a town where he preached so effectively that afterwards people were saying, “What a holy man!” But one malicious wag remarked, “He may be a saint, but he certainly had an eye for the women!” This remark was enough to undo all the good results the preacher had gained in that town and canceled all the fruits of his preaching there. I have also noticed that people form a poor opinion of a priest who does not mortify his eyes. In reading of Jesus Christ, I observed that He was always very mortified and modest in his glances. The evangelists are always careful to note the number of times He lifted up his eyes, as if it were something most unusual. I always strove to mortify my sense of hearing. Thus, I took no pleasure in useless conversations or idle words. I couldn’t abide or tolerate uncharitable conversations; if someone started one, I would either leave, change the subject, or frown in disapproval. I also disliked listening to conversations about food, drink, money, worldly things, or politics. I didn’t care for reading newspapers and would say that I preferred reading a chapter from the Holy Bible, in which I would read the truth, to reading newspapers, which are ordinarily full of lies and trivia. I strove continuously to mortify myself in speaking. All the things I didn’t like hearing, I didn’t like talking about, either. I resolved never to talk about what I had said in my sermons. I knew well enough how I myself disliked hearing others prate about their delivery, and I thought that I would only displease others if I spoke of such things. This is what led me to resolve never to talk about my preaching but to preach as well as I could and leave the rest in God’s hands.
 
If anyone offered me some advice on my preaching, I would accept it gratefully, without excusing my practice or giving reasons for it. Then I would try to correct any fault as best I could. I have already pointed out that some people act like hens who, having laid an egg, begin to cackle and so lose it. This is much like the case of some ill-advised priests who, after they have done some good deed or heard confessions or given a sermon, go around looking for little tidbits to satisfy their vanity. They talk complacently about what they’ve said or how they’ve said it. Just as I myself am disgusted listening to such talk, I can well imagine that I would disgust others if I were to do the same.

So I resolved never at all to talk about these things. One thing I really couldn’t bear was to hear any talk about things heard in the confessional, not only because of the danger of breaking the seal of confession but also because of the very bad impression such talk makes on people. So I resolved never to speak of topics or persons involved in confession, of how long it had been since someone had made his last confession, or whether or not someone had made a general confession. In short, I couldn’t endure hearing priests talk about persons, topics, or times in connection with confession. If someone came to ask my opinion, I couldn’t bear to hear him start, “I have this case–what shall I do?” I would tell him to express himself always in the third person, e.g., “Suppose a confessor was faced with such and such a problem; what should he do to solve it?” One thing that the Lord gave me to understand is that it is important for a missionary to deny himself in taking food and drink. The Italians have a saying to the effect that no one gives credit to saints who like to eat. People would like to think of missionaries as men who are more heavenly than earthly and that we are like saints’ statues that don’t need to eat or drink. In this respect, our Lord has given me the very special grace of being able to get along without eating, or with eating very little. I had three reasons for not eating. First, because I was able not to–I had no appetite, especially when I had to do a lot of preaching or had to hear large numbers of confessions. Second, on certain occasions when I did have some appetite, I wouldn’t eat, especially when I was about to start on a trip, so

as not to be heavy on my feet. Finally, I abstained from eating in order to edify people because I noticed that they were always watching me. Thus I ate very little even though I was hungry. Whenever I did eat what was set before me, I always took very little and the poorest that was offered. If I arrived at a rectory at an inconvenient hour, I asked the cook for a little soup and an egg-- nothing more. For I never ate meat then and I still don’t. Not that I wouldn’t like it, but I know that abstaining from it is very edifying. The same goes for wine. Of course I like wine, but I haven’t taken any for years, outside of the ablutions at Mass. I never drink spirits or liquor, either, although I like them and have tasted them in the past. I have come to know that abstaining from food and drink is very edifying and is much needed to counteract the sad excesses that take place at table nowadays. I was in Segovia on September 4, 1859 and while I was making my meditation, at 4:25 in the morning, Jesus told me, “You must teach your missionaries mortification in eating and drinking, Anthony.” A few minutes later the Blessed Virgin said, “If you do, you will have great results, Anthony.” At that time I was preaching a mission in the cathedral of Segovia to priests, nuns, and laity.

One day, as we were at table together, someone told the story of how the former bishop, a very zealous man, had exhorted a group of priests to go out and give missions, which they did. After walking for a good stretch they were hungry and thirsty and, since they had brought some food along with them, they sat down to have lunch. While they were eating, a delegation from the town to which they were going arrived to greet them. But when the delegation found them all eating, the priests lost so much prestige in the eyes of the delegation that their mission proved totally ineffectual. Thus the story went. I have no idea why it was told, but as far as I was concerned it came to me as a confirmation of what Jesus and

Mary had told me. Past experience has shown me how edifying this practice can be in a missionary, and I still find it useful today. Many banquets are held at the palace–there were even more at an earlier date–and I am always one of the invited guests. If I can, I excuse myself from attending; if this doesn’t work, I attend. On these days, however, I eat the least. It is my custom to take only a spoonful of soup and one

small piece of fruit–nothing more. I drink no wine, only water. Everyone sees me, of course, and all are highly edified. I have been told that before I arrived in Madrid there were some excesses at table. Indeed, it is no wonder because such a variety of rich courses, exquisite dishes, and excellent wines were served, all an invitation to over-indulgence. But since I have been forced by duty to attend, I have not noticed the slightest display of intemperance. On the contrary, it seems to me that the other guests take less than they need when they see that I am not eating. Often while we are still at table the guests seated on either side talk to me about spiritual matters and want to know what church I hear confessions in so that they can go to confession there. To give still greater edification, I have refrained from smoking or taking snuff. Furthermore, I have never said or even hinted that I prefer any one thing to another. This, of course, is an old habit with me. The Lord had already given me this heavenly blessing while my dear mother (R.I.P.) was still alive.
 
She died without ever knowing what I liked best. Because she loved me so much and wanted to please me, she would sometimes ask me whether I liked this or that. I would answer that whatever she chose for me was what I liked best. Then she would say, “I know, but there is always something we like better than something else.” I would still tell her that what she gave me was what I liked best. Naturally I, like everyone else, prefer some things to others; but the spiritual joy I feel in doing the will of others is far greater than that of any particular physical preference, so that I was telling my mother the truth. Besides mortifying myself in sight, hearing, speech, taste, and smell, I also strove to practice some particular acts of mortification. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I took the discipline. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays I wore the cilice. If circumstances were such that I couldn’t take the discipline, I would do some equivalent penance such as praying with my arms outstretched in the form of a cross or kneeling on my fingers. I am well aware that worldly people, who lack the spirit of Jesus Christ, ridicule or even condemn such mortifications; but I remember the teaching of St. John of the Cross concerning this.
He says that if anyone tells you that you can be perfect without practicing external mortification, you should pay him no heed. Even if he worked miracles to confirm what he says, you should regard them as illusions. I can see that St. Paul mortified himself and said so publicly: “I chastise my body and bring it into subjection, lest having preached to others I myself become a castaway.” All the saints down to this day have done so. Rodriguez relates that the Blessed Virgin told St. Elizabeth of Hungary that ordinarily no spiritual grace comes to the soul except by means of prayer and bodily affliction. There is a maxim, “Give me blood and I will give you spirit.” Woe to those who are enemies of the scourging and cross of Christ!

Also, hear about Pure in heart, they are a group of catholics in ireland, who struggles with chastity in the modern world. They will give you guidance, and share the same feelings that you have
youtube.com/watch?v=kCoNeGn-itQ

Chastity is the answer. Chastity is love.
 
You were asking a question about when “physical attraction” becomes “lust”. At age 16, its pretty hard to avoid lusting, but as you get older its gets a bit easier (I’m 23 by the way).

Avoiding lust is about respecting yourself and other people, particularly respecting woman. A glance or two at a woman is totally unavoidable, and is not at all sinful - its a reflect. However, “gawking” at a woman is disrespectful, and thus a sign that you are lusting.

Attraction is natural, and you shouldn’t suppress it. As long as you are being respectful to woman, then you doing OK!.
 
Ok, sorry, this thread might disturb some, but I really want to ask this question. This sort of makes me embarrased because I don’t normally ask such things.

My question is in relation to lust & natural attraction to the other sex (in my case women).
To what extent can you find a women attractive? I find myself in a situation of confusion because from my understanding, allowing sexual attraction is sin. I look at girls which I would, under non-religious standards, find emotionally and sexually attractive; however, I find myself out of habit of avoiding sin to instantly supress such thoughts. This goes to an extent that I will find no other human being attractive. I have found out that finding a girl in my instance attractive is not sin in itself, but how do I know when this attraction turns into lust? I know as Catholics we must not have lustful thoughts, but does that rule out all thoughts given by attraction altogether? Sorry if I am not being clear enough, I just find this topic really hard to explain. I have never had a catholic teach me on sexual morality before. 😊
Do you have any relation to Jesuits?
I give you may opinion.
To what extent can you find a women attractive?
To the extent you find her attactif.
from my understanding, allowing sexual attraction is sin
In my opinion, no.
under non-religious standards,
I dont think there is a religious and non-religious way to find attractive a woman.
however, I find myself out of habit of avoiding sin
It is not a sin
to instantly supress such thoughts
Is it a good strategy? what for? I dont do that! If you work in a shopping center, above all, in public relations or with feminine public, you will end the day with a nervous breakdown. For me, it would be, with the job I have.
TThis goes to an extent that I will find no other human being attractive.
The strategy lead to this. I could not follow well what you meant by that but it seems not very good.
I know as Catholics we must not have lustful thoughts
You must define lust first.
I have never had a catholic teach me on sexual morality
I think that this something that must be learnt rather than taught.

My opinion

We are animals and so we are born, we live and we die. God made us co-workers in the renovation of life, through the power of sex. And God wants life and wants life on Earth. That is why sex power is so overpowering that compels Man, sometimes, to do things the wrong way. God wants life, and, as man is imbalanced through Original Sin, sex, in him, is often imbalanced.

To wish sexually a woman is the most naturally thing in the world. Someone wrote here that this is indecent, remember what millions of men would be thinking of your mother and sisters. I feel that it is too puritanical feel something and come out with the idea that you did not feel. Or else, that you did not consent. If you did not consent, it was there!

I think that whatever comes to my mind is natural. It comes from the unconscious, and Freud and his followers explained that very well. Sometimes, explaining this to my students I tell that they repress their anger when the teacher scolds them and then, at night, they dream of strangling the teacher. All of them laugh, I know it is true. No harm, it is just a dream. They are not going to strangle the teacher. At least up to now, no one did it to me…😃

Sex dreams are the same. They come from the unconscious. Many people think that if you allow sex thoughts, then you spring into action… Nothing wronger. I guess (but i may be wrong) that it is the repression of thoughts that lead to irregular behavior. The dreams and thoughts are a way of the unconscious “letting off” steam from the boiling pressure cooker of the sexual instinct in the unconscious.

Many times, you say to Yourself, dont dont dont dont, and you do it. Or else, you MustDo, MustDo, MustDo, MustDo and you procrastinate and dont do. St. Paul used to say that we do the evel that we dont want and dont do the good that we want, an extraordinary sentence from the great Apostle.

We were educated in a Puritanical way. So, the pressure cooker blew and on the 60ties, all kinds of aberrations came in music, drugs, free love, and son on and the repercutions go until now.

I am a Yoga instructor and I lead the meditation this way. Relax and contemplate your thoughts and: “dont repress, dont adhere, dont analyze”, let them go and fly away, when and how they want. An old lady, very gentle and polite, interrupted me: “Sorry, I cant do this”. “Why?” - asked I. “Its that to my mind come inconvenient thoughts!”. I told to change meditation, of course, I would not want to change a lifetime of habits of so gente (i miss her!) Lady.

But the young generation must know other ways of balancing oneself but repressing thoughts.

Cheers …👍
 
We are animals :confused:

No, we are human beings created in the image and likeness of God who is love. God is a mystery. Sex is a mystery.

Listen to Christopher west instead, he explains in a remarkable way about Pope John Paul II’s theology of the body
 
👍
…And I can say that if he tries to instantly avert his eyes from every single pretty girl he sees then he will foster an anxiety about temptation that will actually feed the temptation he is seeking to minimize.
The better thing to do is avoid situations that are known to be dangerous (i.e., that pose a significant risk of significant temptation) and to otherwise relax and move on when temptation does appear.
 
Wow, thankyou guys, I did not expect so many answers. This has helped me alot. God Bless.
 
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