Impure thoughts, near occasion of sin and mortal sin?

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mymamamary

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Dear forum

The sports section of the “local” newspaper had a picture of high school girls basketball. One of the girls had a good looking face and as I’m accustomed to pray in those instances “Her face is good looking LORD, but not good looking enough to make me lose my soul”. I then picked up the newspaper a second time, perhaps to glance at her face, but also to prove that I wasnt looking to have a impure thought. I had thoughts come into my head, but I started to pray JESUS i trust in you, to make them leave…

Am I guilty of any mortal sin??

Or am I being a worry wart again??
 
What did your spiritual director say? Have you spoken to him? Has he given you guidance?

If you haven’t contacted him, you need to do so.

If you do not have a spiritual director, you need to get one.

(Yes, I copy and paste this every time you ask, “Is this a sin.”)
 
I know, but Im scared. I know this forum isnt going to help, but actually it does at times.

Back to my question, Is it only impure if I WILLINGLY, 100%, totally enjoy having the thoughts? because I dont think I did and its causing me alot of pain… 😦
 
mymamamary said:
I know, but Im scared. I know this forum isnt going to help, but actually it does at times.

Back to my question, Is it only impure if I WILLINGLY, 100%, totally enjoy having the thoughts? because I dont think I did and its causing me alot of pain… 😦
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Do you have a spiritual director?

This is a serious question. Simply answer yes or no.
 
I do.

However, Its hard to reach him. Its nothing personal at all, I love him, he is an excellent Priest, young, energetic (only ordained 4 years), kind, loving and he cares for me as well etc. however He is busy on the dates that I would most like to meet with him… He is busy on sundays and that is the only time that I could meet with him…
 
It doesn’t sound as though you had complete consent so you probably did not commit a mortal sin. It was perhaps a venial one.
 
Sounds like you were just -looking- at a pretty girl. perfectly normal and natural for a heterosexual man (myself included) to enage in.

Now if you started having explicitly sexual thoughts about her, you would then be drifting into sinful area.
 
You go to confession at least once a week, right? Well, when you have one of these “is it a mortal sin?” moments, just confess it on confession day and try not to worry about it in the meantime. I always know when I am in mortal sin, and I just confess as soon as possible. When I am unsure if its mortal sin, I confess it also, just in case.

try not to panic. Confession day is coming up…until then, just ask God’s forgiveness in prayer, until you see your priest again.
 
mymamamary said:
Dear forum

The sports section of the “local” newspaper had a picture of high school girls basketball. One of the girls had a good looking face and as I’m accustomed to pray in those instances “Her face is good looking LORD, but not good looking enough to make me lose my soul”. I then picked up the newspaper a second time, perhaps to glance at her face, but also to prove that I wasnt looking to have a impure thought. I had thoughts come into my head, but I started to pray JESUS i trust in you, to make them leave…

**Am I guilty of any mortal sin??

Or am I being a worry wart again??**
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Guess!😛
 
mymamamary said:
I do.

However, Its hard to reach him. Its nothing personal at all, I love him, he is an excellent Priest, young, energetic (only ordained 4 years), kind, loving and he cares for me as well etc. however He is busy on the dates that I would most like to meet with him… He is busy on sundays and that is the only time that I could meet with him…
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So you don’t get to meet your spiritual director?:confused:
 
I’m so worried about you - it seems that you are becoming so scrupulous that you are not able to lead the normal life of a teenager. Please find some help - start with your spiritual director and then ask your parents if they could find professional help for your. I know you dream of becoming a priest, but unless you are able to find stability within yourself and self confidence, you will not be able to realize your goals. I’m praying that you find peace.
 
JeraldW said:
Sounds like you were just -looking- at a pretty girl. perfectly normal and natural for a heterosexual man (myself included) to enage in.

Now if you started having explicitly sexual thoughts about her, you would then be drifting into sinful area.
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What if I had thoughts that I rejected VIA prayer?? I hate impure thoughts and as soon as I get them, I either A) attempt to distract my mind or B) Clench my jaw, grit my teeth, close my eyes in pain and Pray “JESUS I trust in YOU”
 
mymamamary said:
Dear forum

The sports section of the “local” newspaper had a picture of high school girls basketball. One of the girls had a good looking face and as I’m accustomed to pray in those instances “Her face is good looking LORD, but not good looking enough to make me lose my soul”. I then picked up the newspaper a second time, perhaps to glance at her face, but also to prove that I wasnt looking to have a impure thought. I had thoughts come into my head, but I started to pray JESUS i trust in you, to make them leave…

Am I guilty of any mortal sin??

Or am I being a worry wart again??
Click to expand...
Why do you think it is sinful to admire the beauty of God’s creation? Have you not read the Old Testament “Song of Songs” wherein Christ’s love of the Church is compared to the love of a bridegroom for his spouse? Chapter 4 describes a woman’s beauty in a most charming manner. It would be illlogical to think a man may not notice and evaluate a potential spouse without falling into lust. He may very well fall into love and marry the woman, and is not that how God made us, male and female, and saw that it was good? Our Lord said that if someone looks at a woman with lust, he commits adultery in his heart but He did not say, if a man looks at a woman he sins, only if with lust does he sin. I should keep my remarks limited to this casual observation and advise you to discuss the matter further with your spiritual advisor. Do that in context with an effort to overcome your scrupulosity. God loves you and wants you to get beyond this.
 
Bill1940 said:
Why do you think it is sinful to admire the beauty of God’s creation? Have you not read the Old Testament “Song of Songs” wherein Christ’s love of the Church is compared to the love of a bridegroom for his spouse? Chapter 4 describes a woman’s beauty in a most charming manner. It would be illlogical to think a man may not notice and evaluate a potential spouse without falling into lust. He may very well fall into love and marry the woman, and is not that how God made us, male and female, and saw that it was good? Our Lord said that if someone looks at a woman with lust, he commits adultery in his heart but He did not say, if a man looks at a woman he sins, only if with lust does he sin. I should keep my remarks limited to this casual observation and advise you to discuss the matter further with your spiritual advisor. Do that in context with an effort to overcome your scrupulosity. God loves you and wants you to get beyond this.
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The old testaments “Song of Songs” from the little I peeked into it, is very sensual. 😉 . I dont know if that would be appropriate reading for me, I feel all it would encourage is impure thoughts… Also, How Do I know I lusted???
 
mymamamary said:
The old testaments “Song of Songs” from the little I peeked into it, is very sensual. 😉 . I dont know if that would be appropriate reading for me, I feel all it would encourage is impure thoughts… Also, How Do I know I lusted???
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You’d know.
 
I would know?? What if Im not sure and im srupuluous??

I feel that way every time a thought even pops into my head… being old scrupulous me…

I dont think I enjoyed it… I highy doubt I did, these thoughts cause my intellect alot of pain, I dont want them, I know it sinful, yet they persist…

I gave it a second glance, but as the thoughts tried to barge, I prayed…

is it only lust if I PURPOSEFULLY enjoy the thought? meaning If I sit back and say, “cool thought, let me enjoy this some more” and do nothing about it but let it sit in my mind etc.??
 
mymamamary said:
I would know?? What if Im not sure and im srupuluous??

I feel that way every time a thought even pops into my head… being old scrupulous me…
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Well, if you looked at a woman with sexual thoughts in your head, thats lusting. Just looking at some girl and thinking she is pretty is not a bad thing. Sexual thoughts make the difference.
 
I get the thoughts sometimes, unwillingly, and I pray them out so to speak…

I just dont know. Im stumped and stumped. 😦
 
mymamamary said:
I get the thoughts sometimes, unwillingly, and I pray them out so to speak…

I just dont know. Im stumped and stumped. 😦
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Well, those thoughts will come. I get them too sometimes. Enough to keep me going back to confession once a week. If they seriously bother you, just do what you have been doing…pray them away, turn your mind on something else. Sometimes that works.

They will “pop” into your head when you least expect it sometimes, and knowing you as I do, you are not entertaining those thoughts willingly. So, venial sin, not mortal. Pray them away, and confess them without fail, and you will be ok.
 
mymamamary said:
I do.

However, Its hard to reach him. Its nothing personal at all, I love him, he is an excellent Priest, young, energetic (only ordained 4 years), kind, loving and he cares for me as well etc. however He is busy on the dates that I would most like to meet with him… He is busy on sundays and that is the only time that I could meet with him…
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You need a new one. Most priests will be too busy to meet with you on Sundays. And with your issues, you need someone that can meet with you. A spiritual director doesn’t have to be a priest.

Have you been confirmed? If so, what about your sponsor? If not, how about thinking about who might be your sponsor and talk to them now?

Or even ask the priest if there is someone else you can speak to.
 
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