Determining arousal?

[GodThenFootball]

Probably an odd question, but it’s been keeping me up all night, and when I confessed it to a priest I received no answer to whether it was sinful.

In short, is a brief non-masturbatory touch to determine if one is aroused (to determine if it’s maybe time to focus on another activity etc.) a mortal sin? Or a sin at all? Obviously the correct thing to do is ignore what is going on. Sometimes I’ll be on facetime with my girlfriend before bed and become aroused just by looking at her face and sometimes I’ll try to loosen clothing around the area and then briefly check myself to see if arousal has subsided at all.

Everything in my reason says that while not the best idea this is probably a venial sin at most. However, for some reason I feel riddled with guilt. I’ve never been diagnosed with scruples but am still trying to form my consciense after all of my teenage years and into my 20’s were riddled with sin.

Thanks for any peace of mind that can be provided, I don’t want to have to go to confession next time I’m at mass (I would have to miss communion) and I don’t want to receive communion outside a state of grace. Hope you can see my conundrum.

God bless

 

[Lea101]

It doesn’t sound like lust because it doesn’t seem like you do it to seek pleasure from it…?

But I don’t get the need for the touch though? Maybe some guys here would help you out, idk.

 

[thistle]

In short, is a brief non-masturbatory touch to determine if one is aroused (to determine if it’s maybe time to focus on another activity etc.) a mortal sin?

Frankly, I don’t get the touching to see if you are aroused. If you are a guy then you know when you are aroused. You certainly do not have to touch yourself to find out!!

 

[GodThenFootball]

Yes. To an extent. But when discomfort arises I loosen my clothing. When I think it’s subsided enough to put things back to normal, I would have a habit of checking myself. Thankfully much more infrequent now and something I want to eliminate completely. Just unsure if it is sinful, I guess.

I’ve been doing my utmost to avoid as I recover from some pretty bad habits of sin.

 

[metanoia1]

Resist the urge to touch. If you don’t touch then that’s one less action you need to be concerned about being a sin. Practice makes perfect. Think of it like cruise control in a car. If the car has cruise control and you use it when appropriate there is no need to be looking over your shoulder so to speak and slamming on the brakes every time you see law enforcement. You are already not speeding. Cuts down on the stress of the journey.
No touch, no worries. No speeding, no worries.