I'm distraught by masturbation and impure thoughts

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callmeChris

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I have recently been feeling the Holy Spirit touch me the past week or so after a year or two years of just not really being a practicing Catholic (basically a spiritual relapse); Barely praying, not attending mass as much, not praying the rosary and just not really being in touch with the Church. I haven’t masturbated in like 3 almost 4 days straight which for my age and personally for me is a milestone since I have a tendency to just fall into temptation. Today I masturbated 4 times throughout the day. I just feel so guilty and wrong and disapointed that amid my prayer to my angel, offering my day to God and a full day of work I still found time to commit this sin not once but FOUR times. I’ve approached the forums numerous times in the past asking for prayers that I may overcome or at least become better at avoiding this sin and I will continue to do so believing in the power of prayer. Please my friends, please pray for me that God may take pity on me and have mercy.
 
You are in my prayers. There was a thread earlier - last month about this issue and I wrote some advices. I’m not sure if anyone finds them useful, but it’s how I cooperate with the grace of God regarding this temptation and it can be used to deal with other kinds of temptaion.

(I think it’s the third comment from the top down… under my name)
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthrea…light=impurity
 
Jesus loves you more than you can know, Chris, and He is only too happy to bestow His mercy on you once more.

I was being attacked with disgusting impure thoughts and after my priest anointed me they went away for good.

Don’t be too hard on yourself, don’t be discouraged and keep up the good fight! 🙂

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help, or sought your intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in your mercy, hear and answer me.
Amen.
 
Chris…I want to tell you what worked for me.

Last summer I was having some really strong urges to masturbate after changing my anti-depressant meds. I kept falling into this sin almost everyday for several weeks. I was praying the rosary everyday, and I think the Chaplet of Divine Mercy too. I kept crying out to Jesus, Mary, my guardian angel, to no avail…nothing worked. Then one day when I was crying out to them the thought came into my head (no doubt by the Holy Spirit) to pray to the Holy Souls in Purgatory to help me. I have read a long time ago that we can actually pray to them like we pray to saints. So I did.

Right then and there I cried out to them, and the thought came to my mind to specifically ask those souls that are in purgatory for ‘sexual sins’, to help me. Almost immediately I felt that the sexual urge was taken away. I just couldn’t believe it. I was fine for a whole week, then suddenly I had the strong urge again, and again I cried out to those souls, and again the urge left me. I think that God allowed me to have those urges again so I could help some more of those souls, because everytime they help us, they are getting relief and getting closer to getting to Heaven. I haven’t had any more strong urges after that time. The mild urges I can control, and only come once in a while. I believe God leaves me with the mild urges so I can offer them up as a suffering for my sins and for others.

Please pray to them (the souls in purgatory), many of us never think about doing that…you will help them much if you do, not to mention the help you will get.

God Bless…I will pray for you !!!
 
4 times? What? :confused:

And didn’t you stop at least once to regain control of yourself?

I don’t want to be judgmental , but like this it’s not “falling” into the sin . It’s deliberate. You knew what you were doing the 1st time and maybe you couldn’t resist, but afterwards why?

How much free time do you have on your hands? Maybe you could do something productive everyday as to distract yourself. I’m 100% sure you can control yourself, but something’s making you doubt your choice.
 
Praying to the Holy Spirit to give you guidance, direction, strength, fortitude & wisdom to overcome your temptations.
 
Longing said:
How is masturbation a sin??
Click to expand...
Well if we think about it, one of the reasons masturbation is a sin is because it ‘enslaves’ us to our body…it’s addicting, like a drug. We should want to always be in control of our desires, in control over our bodies. Satan loves it when we are enslaved to anything…we cannot rise to holiness.

It’s also a sin because it degrades/lowers the sexual act which God made to be a beautiful act for a man and a woman for procreation not for self gratification. God gave us sexual urges and made sex pleasurable so people would do it, otherwise people wouldn’t pro-create. He didn’t make it pleasurable for us to focus on the pleasure, and take away the possibility of life coming from the act, which is what humanity has been doing for a long time with contraceptives (another big sin), and masturbation. So basically whenever anyone has sex, they are suppose to be open to life coming from it…otherwise they shouldn’t have sex.

If anyone can add any other explanation as to why masturbation is a sin, please do so.
 
Saint Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O’ Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen.

†

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

†

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

†

Prayer to Our Lady of Mental Peace

O Lady of Mental Peace,
Mother of Tranquility
and Mother of Hope,
look upon callmeChris in this time
of weakness and unrest.

Teach her searching heart
to know that God’s Love
for her is unchanging and
unchangeable, and, that
true human love can only
begin and grow by touching
His Love.

Let your gentle Peace -
which this world cannot give
  • be always with her.
    And, help her to bring this
    same Peace into the lives
    of others.
Our Lady of Mental Peace,
  • Pray for us!
    Amen.
 
Longing said:
How is masturbation a sin??
Click to expand...
It’s objectively sinful because it’s a misuse of the sexual faculties. Our sex organs are designed to be used with someone of the opposite sex, within the bond of marriage.

Specifically, to engage in the pleasure aspect of sex but purposely thwart the reproductive aspect of sex is the problem. (It’s the same reason contraception is sinful: a couple is engaging in the act without really engaging in the full act.)

A commonly used analogy is the eating disorder called bulimia. Proper eating involves enjoying the food but then letting the purpose of that food follow its course. To engage in bulimia is sinful because the person would be partaking of the meal but then thwarting the biological purpose of food. The whole thing becomes a sham.

The official Catechism discusses masturbation in paragraph 2352:
“By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. ‘Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.’ ‘The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose.’ For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of ‘the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved.’
To form an equitable judgment about the subjects’ moral responsibility and to guide pastoral action, one must take into account the affective immaturity, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety, or other psychological or social factors that lessen or even extenuate moral culpability.”
 
You’re not alone, I’ve had similar struggles. Remember the difference between guilt and shame…guilt tells you you did something wrong, but you’re not a bad person. Shame tells you you are a bad person, it’s imbedded in you.

There’s an “Impurity Addiction Support Group” in the Group Forums, it may be helpful to you if you want to check it out

Prayed for you
 
“Let the enemy rage at the gate, let him knock, let him push, let him cry, let him howl, let him do worse; we know for certain that he cannot enter, save by the door of our consent”.
St Francis De Sales

“Out Lord permits us to fall in little matters, so that we may humble ourselves and know that if we overcome certain great temptations, it is not by our own strength”.
St Francis De Sales

St Padre Pio suffered greatly in the matter you are being tested now. Have courage and ask him to pray for you. I also have fallen in this snare many, many times. It isn’t easy, but look at the bigger picture. You are being tested- and God doesn’t allow the enemy to press harder than God knows you have the strength for. I managed to stop this months ago and although it hasn’t been easy, it’s definitely getting easier! I am only ever tested now in this manner in my sleep- and always wake up ever so thankful knowing it was all just a dream.

When the thoughts come on- turn immediately to God! Repeat the Hail Mary over and over until the feeling passes. She will come help you! The devil is terrified of our Holy Mother… he won’t stick around long once she intervenes!

Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
 
Vivian42 said:
4 times? What? :confused:

And didn’t you stop at least once to regain control of yourself?

I don’t want to be judgmental , but like this it’s not “falling” into the sin . It’s deliberate. You knew what you were doing the 1st time and maybe you couldn’t resist, but afterwards why?

How much free time do you have on your hands? Maybe you could do something productive everyday as to distract yourself. I’m 100% sure you can control yourself, but something’s making you doubt your choice.
Click to expand...
Vivian,

Its possible it is as you suggest here of the OP, but you’d be surprised. Sometimes God allows people to be severely and strongly tempted. We can’t judge. Honestly, we can’t judge. Its the whole 'by the grace of God go I ’ thing.
 
Prayer To Confess Pornography Involvement/Masturbation

Dear Heavenly Father, You have told us in Your Word to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. I acknowledge that I have given in to fleshly lusts, in the form of masturbation that wage war against my soul. I thank You that in Christ my sins are forgiven, but I have transgressed Your holy law and given the enemy an opportunity to wage war in my members. I come before Your presence to acknowledge these sins and to seek Your cleansing that I may be freed from the bondage of sin. I now ask You to reveal to my mind the ways that I have transgressed Your moral law and grieved the Holy Spirit so that I may stay pure in body and soul before You. I ask this, my Lord, strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peters and Paul, and all the Saints and Angels of Heaven, and powerful in the holy authority of Your Name.
Amen.
 
I know what your going threw, I to have a problem with masturbation,but I tried to control it, for I don,t want too offended Mary,who said that does,that think-of Immoral thought,s in their mine,or look at sex movies,many people well end up in hell ,because of this. So the only way is to go too confession,and forgiven,s,and then tried to avoid it from their on.Praying for you. :gopray2::gopray2:
 
Saint Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O’ Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen.

†

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

†

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

†

Prayer to Our Lady of Mental Peace

O Lady of Mental Peace,
Mother of Tranquility
and Mother of Hope,
look upon callmeChris in this time
of weakness and unrest.

Teach her searching heart
to know that God’s Love
for her is unchanging and
unchangeable, and, that
true human love can only
begin and grow by touching
His Love.

Let your gentle Peace -
which this world cannot give
  • be always with her.
    And, help her to bring this
    same Peace into the lives
    of others.
Our Lady of Mental Peace,
  • Pray for us!
    Amen.
Jesus, Help Me!

In every need let me come to You with humble trust,
saying:
Jesus, help me!
In all my doubts, perplexities, and temptations:
Jesus, help me!
In hours of loneliness, weariness and trials:
Jesus, help me!
In the failure of my plans and hopes, in disappointments,
troubles and sorrows:
Jesus, help me!
When others fail me, and Your Grace alone can assist me:
Jesus, help me!
When I throw myself on Your tender Love as Savior:
Jesus, help me!
When my heart is cast down by failure, at seeing no good
come from my efforts:
Jesus, help me!
When I feel impatient, and my cross irritates me:
Jesus, help me!
When I am ill, and my head and hands cannot work and
I am lonely:
Jesus, help me!

Always, always, in spite of weakness, falls and short-
comings of every kind:
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, help me and never forsake me!

Amen

†
 
angels_808 said:
So basically whenever anyone has sex, they are suppose to be open to life coming from it…otherwise they shouldn’t have sex.

If anyone can add any other explanation as to why masturbation is a sin, please do so.
Click to expand...
So a newly wed couple must never have sex unless they want to have a baby?
 
Take it a day at a time. Instead of swearing it off forever, just promise yourself when you wake up that you won’t do it “today.” Then do the same thing again the next day. Since you are doing it multiple times in a day, you could try to wean yourself off by going down to once a day, once every two days, etc.

Stay far away from explicit sexual content, whether visual, written, or auditory.

And, most importantly, pray.
 
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