Help me... Please

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frisbee115

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First off, sorry if his is in the wrong forum. But more importantly…
for the past 5 years I have been addicted to masturbation and pornography. Recently, however, I discovered Jesus (I grew up in a catholic family, but was really an atheist pretending to be a Catholic, even though I had been baptized as a baby), and have been trying to quit both of those habits, but every time I fail after a couple of days. What can I do to quit? I know that if I keep going down this path, I will go to hell, and, obviously, I do NOT want that!

Thanks!
~frisbee115
 
Yeah, this is better served in the “Ask an Apologist”, “Prayer Intentions” or “Liturgy and Sacraments” (“Catholic Living” subforum) areas of the website. But no matter, you are struggling and should be supported everywhere.

Many, many, many (many!) people struggle with this particular sin. You are not alone, either in struggling with it or in wanting to stop it. I think there are probably various books and other materials offered on this topic in the Catholic Answers bookstore, but really the best thing you can do is pray.

David the prophet and psalmist is our model in so many things, including repentance. Look what he wrote in Psalm 51, in confession to God of his sin with Bathsheba:

1 Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your loving kindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,[a]
And blameless when You judge.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.

My advice to you: Learn to pray this psalm (there is more to it, but this seems most fitting for your situation). Learn to pray it carefully and reverently, and most of all sincerely. Pray it often. The psalms are powerful, and no Christian who keeps them will be easy prey for the Devil.
 
frisbee115 said:
First off, sorry if his is in the wrong forum. But more importantly…
for the past 5 years I have been addicted to masturbation and pornography. Recently, however, I discovered Jesus (I grew up in a catholic family, but was really an atheist pretending to be a Catholic, even though I had been baptized as a baby), and have been trying to quit both of those habits, but every time I fail after a couple of days. What can I do to quit? I know that if I keep going down this path, I will go to hell, and, obviously, I do NOT want that!

Thanks!
~frisbee115
Click to expand...
You need to trust in Jesus Christ. Masturbation and pornography are evils, but Christ is on your side in conquering them!

Masturbation is often a symptom of loneliness, frustration, or stress. Pornography is an affront to the human dignity of the men an woman who participate on video. Both have the effect of damaging the human person, and damaging authentic human relationships.

Unlike what you see on TV, relationships are more than sex and making out. You need to reflect on what friendship is, and start living it. Christ is the extreme, but authentic, example of friendship: “No greater honor is this, than to lay down one’s life for friend”.

You need to pray for the people hurt hurt by participating in pornography. Praying for them helps create a human relationship with them, not a relationship of exploitation. You need to humanize them!

You need to reflect pray for your own needs that you may be neglecting, and offer them up to the Lord, who already knows your needs. You have needs for companionship, for rest, for physical activity. You need to take care of yourself not just excise a bad habit. You need to humanize yourself!

Ultimately, masturbation and pornography use are symptoms of a damaged humanity. You need to slowly repair this damage. Fall not into despair - Jesus, our Lord, is on your side!
 
Folkks, not for anything, but if this post belongs anywhere (and I’m not sure it does,) it’d be in another forum.
 
True, this subject would be best suited for another form than ‘Eastern Catholicism’.

I have seen numerous threads on CAF regarding this pernicious addiction. I just don’t recall which forum they were in.

If you don’t get some redirection from this particular thread, come back this evening when there are more members signed in. I feel certain there are members here who have overcome this and they can advise you. We are all sinners, but we never lose hope.

God bless.
 
Thank you all for your responses! I’ll use all the resources you guys (or girls) gave me to overcome this! 😃
And could a moderator or administrator kindly move this to the appropriate forum? Thanks!

~frisbee115
 
I know this is probably in the wrong forum. I just have know idea which one it should go under.
Anyway, is it a sin to read books books about magic? I’m not talking about any black magic lesson books or anything, but about books like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. The Bible says that witchcraft should never be practiced, but is it a sin to read books like Harry Potter purely for entertainment?
 
frisbee115 said:
I know this is probably in the wrong forum. I just have know idea which one it should go under.
Click to expand...
Probably moral Theology. Please PM a moderator and ask that it be moved. Use the triangle on the right. And don’'t forget to ask them to move the “help me” thread too.
 
It belongs in moral theology… Which is also, unfortunately, the most difficult, contradictory, place on CAF. ):

I’m just going to say that it’s fiction. It’s not swaying you to go practice actual witchcraft, it’s just fantasy. There’s nothing wrong with it, and plenty of good messages in each series.
 
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