Confession, again and again and again!

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Yes, Jesus says we are to forgive 77 times.

What about confession? Yes, we can go again and again as long as we are determined to not sin again.

With me, it is extremely hard as i just keep sinning and then confession. Sinning, then confession!!! Same sins, week in, week out!!! I am sick of it!!

I am trying very hard but i keep getting the devil sitting on my shoulder (Not physically!) And me sinning while he is probably laughing at me.

I really dont know how to break the cycle?

I pray regularly, daily the Rosary, Divine Office and other prayers. I have sought guidance from a coupe of priests but still i sin!!
 
What is it that you are afraid will happen if you stop whatever “sin” you are committing? I’d wager (play money) that when you finally stop whatever it is that you’re doing you’ll find that there was nothing to fear and you could have stopped ages ago. I’m not saying stopping unwholesome behavior is easy by any stretch, but developing good habits in place of bad habits is possible with effort. Some bad habits are easier to drop than others of course but this is part of the journey. How boring if everything were peachy keen all the time. Blessings to you and yours.
 
Get a regular confessor and work with him. One needs to avoid the near occasions of mortal sin and take other steps to overcome such patterns. Reasonable penance and mortification (talk with the Priest). Prayer, the Sacraments etc.

Repent and turn to Jesus - do not give up.

If we should fall into sin let us remember Jesus of Nazareth: The Lamb and the Good Shepherd

"Jesus is called the Lamb: He is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. Someone might think: but how can a lamb, which is so weak, a weak little lamb, how can it take away so many sins, so much wickedness? With Love. With his meekness. Jesus never ceased being a lamb: meek, good, full of love, close to the little ones, close to the poor. He was there, among the people, healing everyone, teaching, praying. Jesus, so weak, like a lamb. However, he had the strength to take all our sins upon himself, all of them.

“But, Father, you don’t know my life: I have a sin that…, I can’t even carry it with a truck…”.

Many times, when we examine our conscience, we find some there that are truly bad! But he carries them. He came for this: to forgive, to make peace in the world, but first in the heart. Perhaps each one of us feels troubled in his heart, perhaps he experiences darkness in his heart, perhaps he feels a little sad over a fault… He has come to take away all of this, He gives us peace, he forgives everything. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away sin”: he takes away sin, it’s root and all! This is salvation Jesus brings about by his love and his meekness. And in listening to what John the Baptist says, who bears witness to Jesus as the Saviour, our confidence in Jesus should grow. Many times we trust a doctor: it is good, because the doctor is there to cure us; we trust in a person: brothers and sisters can help us. It is good to have this human trust among ourselves. But we forget about trust in the Lord: this is the key to success in life. Trust in the Lord, let us trust in the Lord! “Lord, look at my life: I’m in the dark, I have this struggle, I have this sin…”; everything we have: “Look at this: I trust in you!”. And this is a risk we must take: to trust in Him, and He never disappoints."

~Pope Francis

vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/homilies/2014/documents/papa-francesco_20140119_omelia-parrocchia-sacro-cuore-gesu_en.html

"Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” who goes in search of lost sheep, who knows his sheep and lays down his life for them (cf. Mt 18:12-14; Lk 15:4-7; Jn 10:2-4, 11-18). He is the way, the right path that leads us to life (cf. Jn 14:6), the light that illuminates the dark valley and overcomes all our fears (cf. Jn 1:9; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46).

He is the generous host who welcomes us and rescues us from our enemies, preparing for us the table of his body and his blood (cf. Mt 26:26-29; Mk 14:22-25); Lk 22:19-20) and the definitive table of the messianic banquet in Heaven (cf. Lk 14:15ff; Rev 3:20; 19:9). He is the Royal Shepherd, king in docility and in forgiveness, enthroned on the glorious wood of the cross (cf. Jn 3:13-15; 12:32; 17:4-5)."

~Pope Benedict XVI

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20111005_en.html

Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy. Christ, who told us to forgive one another “seventy times seven” (Mt 18:22) has given us his example: he has forgiven us seventy times seven. Time and time again he bears us on his shoulders. No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by this boundless and unfailing love. With a tenderness which never disappoints, but is always capable of restoring our joy, he makes it possible for us to lift up our heads and to start anew. Let us not flee from the resurrection of Jesus, let us never give up, come what will. May nothing inspire more than his life, which impels us onwards!"

~ Pope Francis

EVANGELII GAUDIUM
 
A lot of it is in the mind. Lusting after someone. Impure thoughts. Impure emails and then Adultery!! Over a year of the same cycle of lies and sins. Yes, the wife knows. We are still together.

She does think it stopped last Sept but it has still been going on but not on a regular basis.

I feel sick about it all.
 
As Jesus taught us - If your eye cause you to sin - pluck it out …

(yes that is not to be taken literally but is a way of getting the truth across of what needs to be done…)

Radically remove the near occasions …

By the roots.
 
If you literally mean adultery, and it is with a regular person, then you need to end your relationship with that person today. No “we-can-just-be-friends” stuff. That removes a big “near occasion of sin” right off the bat. With regards to emails, I’d assume it is the same person, so block their email address.
 
If you literally mean adultery, and it is with a regular person, then you need to end your relationship with that person today. No “we-can-just-be-friends” stuff. That removes a big “near occasion of sin” right off the bat. With regards to emails, I’d assume it is the same person, so block their email address.
Yes, it is. And you are right. I have to man up and do the right thing.

Only issue i have is the constant lustful and impure thoughts that pound away in my head over this person! I pray daily for help on this. Confession regular. Seems like i am hitting a brick wall as i fail, fail and fail.
 
I can emphasise. My sins are maybe more everyday, but I’m there in the confessional week after week with the same sins. That can be a frustration, but in a way is is also beautiful that Jesus is always ready to welcome us when we fall and ask Him to help us get back up again.

I really like this line of scripture on sin and confession. Reflect on it. The most important thing is honesty with God and a desire to repent.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us: but if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 St. John 1.8-9
 
Sexual sins are very appealing; they entice the flesh - and the more we feed it, the more insatiable it becomes. The remedy, then, must be strong; we need something that will entice us to purity, so to speak.

Two things are essential to overcoming impurity: holy fear and divine love. Meditate on sin and its consequences. Meditate on what it means to possess God, the Sovereign Good.

To ensure victory, cultivate a tender devotion to your Blessed Mother; form the intention of flying to Mary as soon as you are tempted. “Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!” She will obtain for you the priceless gifts of fear and love. **‘I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.’ **(Eccles. 24:24)

Furthermore, form the intention of getting up right after you fall. The longer we delay our repentance, the harder it is to return to God, and the more likely it becomes that we will give in to the misery of sin, which ultimately conquers those who make no effort to conquer themselves.

If you fall, don’t give in to discouragement. Simply look at Jesus and Mary; speak candidly with them; tell them your fears and doubts if you must, but leave them to your tender Mother and her Divine Son. Our Lord loves to take special care of those who trust in Him.

A Prayer for Holy Fear:
‘Pierce thou my flesh with thy fear: for I am afraid of thy judgments.’ (Ps. 119:120)

A Prayer for Divine Love:
“O Jesus, King of Love, I put my trust in Thy loving mercy!”

Some Advice from St. John Bosco:

“To overcome temptations, use a means I have long found to be quite powerful; kiss Our Lady’s medal. If circumstances suggest otherwise, say ‘Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I offer you my heart and my soul.’ Should the temptation persist, kiss the medal again or repeat your prayer. You will win.”

“Against the beautiful virtue of purity, the devil wages endless war. For goodness sake, my children fight this enemy or it will enslave you. The devil of impurity can be cast only by prayer and fasting.”

“Let us devoutly say a Hail Mary whenever we are tempted, and we will be sure to win.”

Pax!
 
Sexual sins are very appealing; they entice the flesh - and the more we feed it, the more insatiable it becomes. The remedy, then, must be strong; we need something that will entice us to purity, so to speak.

Two things are essential to overcoming impurity: holy fear and divine love. Meditate on sin and its consequences. Meditate on what it means to possess God, the Sovereign Good.

To ensure victory, cultivate a tender devotion to your Blessed Mother; form the intention of flying to Mary as soon as you are tempted. “Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!” She will obtain for you the priceless gifts of fear and love. **‘I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.’ **(Eccles. 24:24)

Furthermore, form the intention of getting up right after you fall. The longer we delay our repentance, the harder it is to return to God, and the more likely it becomes that we will give in to the misery of sin, which ultimately conquers those who make no effort to conquer themselves.

If you fall, don’t give in to discouragement. Simply look at Jesus and Mary; speak candidly with them; tell them your fears and doubts if you must, but leave them to your tender Mother and her Divine Son. Our Lord loves to take special care of those who trust in Him.

A Prayer for Holy Fear:
‘Pierce thou my flesh with thy fear: for I am afraid of thy judgments.’ (Ps. 119:120)

A Prayer for Divine Love:
“O Jesus, King of Love, I put my trust in Thy loving mercy!”

Some Advice from St. John Bosco:

“To overcome temptations, use a means I have long found to be quite powerful; kiss Our Lady’s medal. If circumstances suggest otherwise, say ‘Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I offer you my heart and my soul.’ Should the temptation persist, kiss the medal again or repeat your prayer. You will win.”

“Against the beautiful virtue of purity, the devil wages endless war. For goodness sake, my children fight this enemy or it will enslave you. The devil of impurity can be cast only by prayer and fasting.”

“Let us devoutly say a Hail Mary whenever we are tempted, and we will be sure to win.”

Pax!
Waw, great post! Many thanks indeed!

Which book were those quotes from? Thanks
 
Teabag,

Another realization that has helped me in sins of lust:

As a married person, place your trust in God that He has put you in this marriage to give you the sexual fulfillment you need. He knows what you need, but He also knows what you lack. Sexuality with a spouse is not an avenue to play out your fantasies. It’s a relationship where you are forced to love the spouse as a whole person. You may have to be temperate in your physical relationship as you nurture the emotional side of your marriage. That’s okay. As you grow closer emotionally, it gives meaning to the physical aspect. It’s a good thing that we don’t simply let our lower nature rule us as the animals do. You end up being more fulfilled when you approach your marital embrace as persons, not objects.

For me, this was the breakthrough. When I started putting my trust in God’s wisdom, that He has placed me in my marriage for my emotional and physical fulfillment, a lot of sins became easier to manage. It’s easier for me to turn from these sins because I know that God will provide what I need in the relationship He has given me. I don’t have to seek it out in other ways.
 
A wise old priest once told me, “until the reasons to not sin become stronger than the desire, you’ll continue to fail.”

What this means is, you have to learn that the reason for not committing these sins is stronger than the desire.

Imagine the damage it will do to your family, the hurt the same, if your sin becomes public.

Imagine the damage it does to your soul.

In Buddhism, there is a teaching that says, “lust seeks to possess, and possession will lead to other evils.”

Lies, hatred, jealousy, and even murder can be linked to lust.

So, get it under control.

Jim
 
A wise old priest once told me, “until the reasons to not sin become stronger than the desire, you’ll continue to fail.”

What this means is, you have to learn that the reason for not committing these sins is stronger than the desire.

Imagine the damage it will do to your family, the hurt the same, if your sin becomes public.

Imagine the damage it does to your soul.

In Buddhism, there is a teaching that says, “lust seeks to possess, and possession will lead to other evils.”

Lies, hatred, jealousy, and even murder can be linked to lust.

So, get it under control.

Jim
Thanks. Sound advice
 
Keep praying and returning to the sacraments. The more time you spend in front the blessed sacrament in silence the more your desire will change. Return to confession to get back into a state of grace.
 
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