Dealing with impure thoughts

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Jan_Tesarik

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Hello

I am sorry if I posted this in the wrong section.
At first I would like to mention that I got christened not even a year ago. Before being christened, I was doing what most other non-christian guys do - like masturbation and watching nasty stuff. So after I became christian, I tried to stop doing all of these things. But I am still having problems with having impure thoughts and not only that. I confess it on every confession and I feel that maybe I am becoming better at controlling my urges. The problem is that after every confession, even though I feel I got better at controlling my thoughts and desires, I feel I am sinning greatly when doing things I didnt find so serious before the confession. I always feel like I am walking on thin ice. The things I am dealing with on daily basis are the impure thoughts - memories of what I have seen before being christened and I really try hard to dump these thoughts once they come into my mind but I just cant do it on many occasions. The thoughts that come to my mind that I have problems blocking are mostly about looking at women wearing revealing outfits, usually at their breasts. Also another thing I do that I am not proud of is when I am on the internet or in the public and I see a woman that is good looking and let’s say “well endowed”, I find it hard to look away and I find myself looking at her again. I am praying to God for chastity but I still think I am commiting a lot of sins, but I cannot tell if they are mortal or not. I truly want to get rid of this, but its so hard for me because of my past. So can someone please help me clarify the gravity of my sins? I really need to know if I should go to the confession again or if I can recieve the host.

Thanks in advance
Jan
 
First - and I cannot stress this enough - talk about this issue with your confessor. He should be able to give you some guidance, maybe some reading suggestions etc.

Now - to the actual issues.
What you are experiencing is quite common - one might say universal - especially to the new convert. I liken such things to undertaking a new diet and exercise program.

When a person takes on something big - like diet and exercise - they will generally understand in their mind the things they need to do - but actually being able to incorporate these changes and so forth takes time and diligence AND a recognition that there will be ups and downs…As any trainer or diet book or whatever will tell you…Perseverance is the key. So to in the spirit life. Persevere. 👍

As to the seriousness of the impure thoughts…random thoughts are not sinful. Taking the diet reference again - if “chocolate cake” pops into the dieter’s head, or if the see some or smell some, but they do not eat…they have not messed up their diet.
If they intentionally think of chocolate cake and dwell on it…the likelihood of eating it is much greater.

Now - it is a bit different with impure thoughts since Jesus tells us that “looking with lust” is the same as actually committing adultery - - BUT - - this still requires that one engage the consciousness and choose to dwell on the thought.

Random thoughts that are dismissed as soon as you become aware of them are not sins.
If you do find yourself swelling on impure thoughts…Most likely venial sin, a momentary lapse into a bad habit…something you are working to overcome…
These are worth confessing in order to gain the grace to persevere and overcome.

Hope this helps a bit.

Peace
James
 
Yes, the best way to handle this is to pray the Rosary,for threw her Intercssion,Our Lady will help us overcome our weakenness. I know it this world its hard too do because of all the things that are on T.V.,and the way they dress,or when your out in public,some women go to far in showing to much,so just keep saying the Rosary. Our Lady will never failed to help us.
 
Many struggle with this aspect of their lives and many continue to attempt to overcome the saturation that has encamped in their lives. It is much like quitting any addiction, and with JESUS CHRIST it can/will be done. Remember by loving GOD we do as he asks us to the best of our ability.

You have confessed that want to stop you just have to allow GOD through his son JESUS to change your perception and discover the truth to the misrepresentation of those acts that have corroded for a time.

The body is the temple of the holy spirit is one truth. Lust is identified as another in regards to that practice, and do not mistake any corruptive pattern in your life with just you yourself and not discerning possible enemy(demonic)tactics of oppression and possession. Sometimes we do not clearly see the road ahead, because the enemy has encamped around us and blinded us into submission or captivity. Creating a cesspool of inappropriate conduction and behavior.

Lean not on your own understanding, but on the GRACE of GOD through his son lord JESUS.

Praise be to GOD the heavenly father and his son lord JESUS CHRIST forever>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 
Jan_Tesarik said:
Hello

I am sorry if I posted this in the wrong section.
At first I would like to mention that I got christened not even a year ago. Before being christened, I was doing what most other non-christian guys do - like masturbation and watching nasty stuff. So after I became christian, I tried to stop doing all of these things. But I am still having problems with having impure thoughts and not only that. I confess it on every confession and I feel that maybe I am becoming better at controlling my urges. The problem is that after every confession, even though I feel I got better at controlling my thoughts and desires, I feel I am sinning greatly when doing things I didnt find so serious before the confession. I always feel like I am walking on thin ice. The things I am dealing with on daily basis are the impure thoughts - memories of what I have seen before being christened and I really try hard to dump these thoughts once they come into my mind but I just cant do it on many occasions. The thoughts that come to my mind that I have problems blocking are mostly about looking at women wearing revealing outfits, usually at their breasts. Also another thing I do that I am not proud of is when I am on the internet or in the public and I see a woman that is good looking and let’s say “well endowed”, I find it hard to look away and I find myself looking at her again. I am praying to God for chastity but I still think I am commiting a lot of sins, but I cannot tell if they are mortal or not. I truly want to get rid of this, but its so hard for me because of my past. So can someone please help me clarify the gravity of my sins? I really need to know if I should go to the confession again or if I can recieve the host.

Thanks in advance
Jan
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You will be tempted in this way because your memory is not easy to wipe clean. And also your passion is going to be greater because of your past sins. Its similar to a sprained ankle. Once the ankle is sprained it is so easy to sprain it again because the muscles in the ankle are weak and damaged.

The other thought is that the satan knows human nature and he is going to use all he can against you. I don’t know if you have had an evil thought just spring into your mind from nowhere. Since satan can’t be seen, we can’t say for sure it is him, but probably it is. You can be sure he is not going to leave you alone.

And you’re also up against all the filth in electronic media constantly reminding you ever so gently to commit sin, as well as everyone in hollywood making light of sin. Then it is that your defenses are let down and a flood of bad stuff comes into your mind to haunt you later.

You have a war going on here. It is pretty much the same as everyone else except you’re just new to the war and are inexperienced in the battlefield. Any normal male has problems in the battlefield, it is just that some are stronger and more experienced.

You have something in your arsenal that can help you in this warfare, and that is Mary most pure. She will direct you, if you so choose, so you won’t be stepping on all the spiritual mines and walking into all the traps. She will lead you and give you strength in times when you bog down. She will know what is the best for you and lead you there.

You might want to consecrate(commit completely) your body, mind, and soul, to Mary in your own words, “Mary, from this day forward, I consecrate myself completely to you and put my entire life in your hands to lead me to your divine son.” Say it everyday to her for she truely loves you. It will make a difference.

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

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=545162​

Has Mary ever appeared to YOU???​

I have not had any personal experiences of Our Lady appearing but I would like to share with you a story about my Grandfather.
My Grandfather served in the First World War and he was a RSM regimantal sergeant major.He was given orders one day to take the men from the trenches in a certain direction.Now that day as he was about to follow orders and go in ‘that direction’ Our Lady appeared to him (and others were witnesses) she did not speak but stood with her arm pointing in the other direction to which my Grandfather’s orders were.Grandad took the men in the direction Our Lady pointed.Later that day it was confirmed that if they had gone in the direction they were ordered to go they would have all been killed. I would not be here among other things!
My Grandad was awarded many medals during the war one for bravery.He never got into trouble for disobeying orders.It was documented in the catholic church.I never knew this story until my Grandfather’s funeral.Our Priest Fr Collins produced the article as documented in the bulletin when my Grandfather died in 1968.
 
This is something I’d like to work on, after seeing and doing so many immoral things it will be hard to forget them.
 
Blood_Angel said:
This is something I’d like to work on, after seeing and doing so many immoral things it will be hard to forget them.
Click to expand...
When I made my confession a year ago after having been away from God, the Faith and the Church for the better part of my adult life, the priest told me something that helped.

*Just because you confess a sin, doesn’t mean you are wiping it from your memory bank. You will still remember those sins. Don’t let it get you down. Remember you are forgiven by God, and let them go right on out of your mind. *

I took it to mean not to dwell on the past, accept what I’ve done, that I’ve been forgiven for it by the Lord, and not to let those memories drag us down that path again. Our human minds don’t work like that. Although, it’s ironic that our minds can forget those sins when we are ‘under the gun’ of confession and working to make a good confession, yet remember it 5 minutes later once we are out of the confessional. Sometimes I feel like I should return immediately to the confessional…“Bless me Father for I have sinned; it’s been 5 minutes since my last confession!”
 
Thank you all so much for your answers. I will try hard to become stronger to be able to defeat all those temptations. I know that with the help of God, I can win this war. 😉

May God bless you all
 
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