Besides prayer, it’s also important to remove yourself from the environment where the temptation exists – sometimes forcefully, if necessary. St. Benedict is known for throwing himself in thorn bushes to escape hard-to-beat temptations. Now, you don’t need to injure yourself physically – God forbid – but you do need to find a way to walk away.
During Confession, you conclude: “I firmly reslove, with the help of Thy Grace, to sin no more
and to avoid the near occasion of sin.”
This is a prescription for preventive medicine. But it isn’t a passive thing (you don’t just
hope you’re not put into the situation again wherein you’re tempted). Rather, it’s a call to action: You must analyze what environment leads you to sin, and make every effort to avoid that situation.
Specifically, in your case, what leads you to sin? **Do you sin at, or after, wild nights on the town? **(Then avoid these types of parties, and drop the friends who lead you into it.)
Do you buy pornographic magazines at the neighborhood candy store? (Then get your bubble gum somewhere else, like the relatively sterile supermarket.)
Do you come home from work, plop yourself on the couch and flip on the Playboy Channel or some adult pay-per-view movie? (Then cancel your cable; have the company remove those channels; or install channel-blocking software and have a friend set the password so that you can’t undo it later in a moment of weakness.)
Do you create fantasies for yourself and commit these impure actions in your bed? (Then go to bed only when you’re tired, after doing some spiritual reading, and fall asleep while praying a long rosary, rosary beads in -hand.)
Do you get into trouble at your computer, surfing the Internet? (Then place the computer in a public area. Install pornography-blocking software and make sure someone else sets the password so you can’t undo it later. Also,
set your DNS server to ScrubIT. In dire situations, when you can tell you’re getting tempted, then quickly turn the computer off and walk out of the room. Go for a walk outside.)
Do you do it now because it’s become habit? Because you’re bored, antsy, or don’t know what else to do? (Then break the habit! Pick up a new one: Running, weight lifting, martial arts… Cooking, piano, violin… Eeking your way slowly through the entire
Harvard Classics & Shelf of Fiction.)
The counterbalance to avoiding temptation is to include things in your life that will help with your struggle. Praying every morning and evening (or throughout the day) is a must. Go to Mass at least every Sunday – but try to find times to pop-in during the week, too. Make frequent use of Confession, and do your penance promptly. Find a
spiritual director. Develop and follow a daily sequence of
lectio divina (spiritual reading). Also, find friends who will help. If you have dated ‘loose’ girls, then stop now. Look for a woman who shares your commitment to remaining pure. You can help each other along this path.
. God bless.
we’ll get the long and the short of it 
