I have a problem

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DrewC

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I was looking at the 7 deadly sins poll and it got me thinking, my biggest downfall is lust. I know its a horible sin and sometimes I dont know how to control it and I feel im going to go to Hell for it, I truly try my best to fight it but sometimes I just give in.
Anyone have any advice?:confused:
 
Dear Drew, One of the best ways to combat the temptations of lust is to immediately turn your thoughts to the Mother of God.

With all the bombardment we’re all subject through the media, it’s almost impossible to avoid being subjected to these temptations. If I remember correctly (please someone let me know if I’m wrong) Our Lady of Fatima said that more people are suffering in hell as a result of lust than any other sin.

Try and make an effort to choose what you want to put in your mind. Turn away from impure thoughts and imaginations. Once it’s in your mind, it hides in secret only to cause you troubles later.

I’ll remember you in my poor prayers, Drew.
 
Interesting thing my Spiritual Director pointed out: while lust is indeed very damaging, pride is much more harmful to the soul.
 
If your post is sincere, then know that in Christ, all things are possible. Go to confession, confess your sins to the priest, accept your penance and avoid the near occation of sin.

If (when) you sin again, go to confession. Continue to do so, preferably returning to the same confessor, until you realize that you truly have reduced the frequency and extent of your sins. (heck, if nothing else, simply having to repeatedly confess these sins is enough of a deterrent to take some of the fun out of things.)

God Bless you in your efforts. Change is not always easy, but if you seek to do God’s will, He will help you!

CARose
 
Caesar said:
Interesting thing my Spiritual Director pointed out: while lust is indeed very damaging, pride is much more harmful to the soul.
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This is a truth that has been attested to by many of the Saints.

The sad thing is that our current culture has managed to sell the lie that Pride is a good thing.

CARose
 
Polish said:
Dear Drew, One of the best ways to combat the temptations of lust is to immediately turn your thoughts to the Mother of God.

With all the bombardment we’re all subject through the media, it’s almost impossible to avoid being subjected to these temptations. If I remember correctly (please someone let me know if I’m wrong) Our Lady of Fatima said that more people are suffering in hell as a result of lust than any other sin.

Try and make an effort to choose what you want to put in your mind. Turn away from impure thoughts and imaginations. Once it’s in your mind, it hides in secret only to cause you troubles later.

I’ll remember you in my poor prayers, Drew.
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Also, along with the already great advice you have received, I just want to say don’t give into despair! Don’t let the devil push you down to the point where you feel you are going to hell no matter what, that is incredibly dangerous. Remember that Jesus Christ longs to forgive you and help you be rid of your sins, and He is there to pick you up no matter how many times it takes…so long as you are sincere in your sorrow for offending God.

I hope that didn’t make it sound like you shouldn’t worry about sinning, because we certainly need to do everything in our power not to offend God. I just wanted to underscore that you shouldn’t give into despair either. Peace be with you!
 
DrewC said:
I was looking at the 7 deadly sins poll and it got me thinking, my biggest downfall is lust. I know its a horible sin and sometimes I dont know how to control it and I feel im going to go to Hell for it, I truly try my best to fight it but sometimes I just give in.
Anyone have any advice?:confused:
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Drew, you are not alone. I would guess that most guys today have a problem with this, but I am going to tell you how you can overcome it.

Firstly, you need to realize that it is indeed a very serious sin, and it could certainly lead you to hell as you suspect. Our society is so saturated with sexually explicit images that it is nearly impossible to completely avoid it. At Fatima, in 1917, the Virgin Mary said that most people went to hell for sins of the flesh. How much more so today with our sexually saturated society?

Now I am going to tell you how you can overcome this vice. It is going to take an effort on your part, but you can do it.

The first thing to do is to make a firm relosution that if you fall into the sin of lust, you have to fast the next day: no food at all - none. That will be the penance that you impose upon yourself. If you do that faithfully, and pray the Rosary daily for the purpose of overcoming that sin, I predict that you will overcome this vice relatively quick. You will also need to avoid the near occaision of sin, such as the internet.

Needless to say, you also need to go to confession right away if you fall into the sin. I would do a little research and find out if there is a Church in your area that has confession daily. There may be. You should also get in the habbit of going to confession every week, even if you have not done anything too bad. There are always faults that we can find to confess, and you can always reconfess sins of impurity. When you receive absolution, you not only have your sins forgiven, but you aslo receive grace to strengthen you against what you confessed. So, even if you are not guitly of any sin of impurity, you can always reconfess a previously confessed sin, and thereby gain grace to strengthen you in that area.

You can overcome this vice. God will help you, but you must do your part. Your part will be the self imposed penance of not eating the following day after you fall into the sin. That, combined with the Rosary and avoiding the occaision of sin will do it.

Please stay in touch and let us know of your progress.
 
DrewC said:
I was looking at the 7 deadly sins poll and it got me thinking, my biggest downfall is lust. I know its a horible sin and sometimes I dont know how to control it and I feel im going to go to Hell for it, I truly try my best to fight it but sometimes I just give in.
Anyone have any advice?:confused:
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Perhaps you might want to consider wearing the cord of St. Philomena and asking for her help on a daily basis.
 
First off never give up. No matter how many times you fail, always be more determined to do better next time. If you do fail always say a sincere act of contrition afterwards, and be determined to go to confession as soon as you can afterwards.

Develop better prayer habits, and get rid of any habits that may tempt you. Avoid porn like a disease which it is. Don’t watch suggestive movies and stay away from porn sites. Develop other interests, sports, hobbies etc. Read Catholic approved books or the Bible before bedtime.

Pray when you go to bed. Start a rosary before sleeping, most times you will be fast asleep before you get to the seond or third mystery. Focus on the meaning behind each mystery and the words of each prayer. You have a very common problems, and it may take a while to overcome it, be patient and be determined, and know that Jesus is far more powerful than any sin.

Many folks have gone through your situation and the priests have heard it all before. You can and will overcome it.
 
I want to agree with everyone who said turn to the Mary. I don’t say a Rosary every day, but I do carry the Rosary with me. It has help tremondously to remind me to keep my thoughts in check. If I’m having a particulary hard time, I do say the Rosary and it does help. Prayer is wonderful and Mary can add her prayers to yours.
 
I am truly sorry for my sins but sometimes I keep falling and I just dont know what to do. I feel so helpless sometime and I cry for dissapointing God I beg for fogiveness but how many times can he forgive me. And what if I die befor I can go to confession and I going to be damned?😦
 
DrewC said:
I am truly sorry for my sins but sometimes I keep falling and I just dont know what to do. I feel so helpless sometime and I cry for dissapointing God I beg for fogiveness but how many times can he forgive me. And what if I die befor I can go to confession and I going to be damned?😦
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A priest told me that until the reason for not commiting the sin becomes stronger than the desire, you’ll almost always fail against it’s temptation. Prayer, will increase the sense of reason and will eventually take over the desire.

Also, be sure to talk to a priest about this. I have found that some people thought they were commiting the sin of lust, when it was nothing more than sexual desire, which are two different things.

In Christ Jesus
Jim
 
Caesar said:
Interesting thing my Spiritual Director pointed out: while lust is indeed very damaging, pride is much more harmful to the soul.
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Exactly!

You’ve pointed out one sin that you are explicitly guilty of, but we’re guilty of all seven, all of us, each in our own capacity.

However, I just want to remind you of what Caesar said, as in, the Caesar I just quoted. Pride is the worst of the sins. Pride keeps you from even BEGINNING to convert.

Recognize your total dependence on God and truly live like Jesus did. Read the Bible. Say your prayers. Say grace. Go to Mass. Study your faith. Live in the commands of Jesus Christ, our Lord and the Way.
 
DrewC said:
I am truly sorry for my sins but sometimes I keep falling and I just dont know what to do. I feel so helpless sometime and I cry for dissapointing God I beg for fogiveness but how many times can he forgive me. And what if I die befor I can go to confession and I going to be damned?😦
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Just a quick note - if you fear your sin exceeds God’s mercy, this would be a sin of Pride. God’s mercy is infinite, and even your greatest sin is finite. Therefore, there is no sin you can commit that would be more than God could forgive. Trust in Christ. He knew all your sins when He died on the cross to forgive them.

Now, it’s up to you to repent of them and make a firm resolution to amend your life.

God Bless,

CARose
 
As others have said, devotion to Mary can be a very powerful aid in the struggle for chastity. In addition to praying the rosary, try wearing the brown scapular. The scapular has been a great help to me against lust.
 
DrewC said:
Where do I get a brown scapular?
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Some parishes have a small Catholic gift shop on the premises, open at certain times. You can get a Brown Scapular there, or in a local Catholic gift shop.

A priest should bless the Scapular and enroll you in it (it is in his book of how to do it), and from then on, when you need to replace the cloth scapular it is not necessary to have a new one blessed. The blessing transfers to the new scapular.

It is possible, if you do a search online, that one Brown Scapular may be offered free to charge if you send a stamped self-addressed envelope along with the request.

If you prefer to wear the Scapular medal, then if you should lose it and get another, it would have to be blessed each time.
 
Oh, and I should have added…it is consecrating yourself each morning to our Blessed Mother in prayer that is so powerful. The Scapular reminds you of that consecration. At times of temptation you can hold the Scapular in your hand and ask for Our Lady’s intercession.

God bless…
 
Thank you for your remarks everyone I am doind alot better now then I was. We do have a small giftshop in our Parish and I will look for a scapular. When you said scapular I thought you meant a tunic for some reason.
 
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