Is masturbation a sin?

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Benjamin5

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I am 18 year’s old and I’ve been trying to stop this for year’s now. I’ve heard some people say it is a sin and some that say it isn’t and that it’s perfectly natural. I used to do it 4-5 times a day. When I heard it was supposedly a sin, I tried to stop it. It then went from once a day, to once every two days, to once a week. I am trying my hardest to stop but it seems like a week is my limit. When I heard it was supposedly a sin, I feel dirty after doing it. I always feel dirty. I was wondering if it really is a sin or not…
 
Are you Catholic? If you are, Church teaching leaves no room for doubt that it IS an objectively ‘gravely disordered action’ (aka grave matter).

You know what ‘grave matter’ means? It means that if you know it is grave matter and do it willingly then it is indeed a mortal (serious) sin. If either of those two conditions is not met, it is of course possible that it is a venial (less serious) sin. It doesn’t mean it’s automatically not a sin at all.

This section from the Catechism might help:

"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."138 “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."139

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, if not even reduce to a minimum, moral culpability."

That last paragraph means in your particular situation it is possible (but not certain) that for you it might be a minor sin or no sin at all. The best way to find out is to seek guidance from a TRUSTWORTHY priest - why you’d ask anyone else when most people are as likely to be wrong as yourself is beyond me. By the way, a priest who will tell you that as a blanket rule it is fine and natural is not trustworthy.
 
Yes. Grave matter, full knowledge with willfull consent equals mortal sin . Stop.
 
fear_n0_evil said:
Yes. Grave matter, full knowledge with willfull consent equals mortal sin . Stop.
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It’s not as easy as just stopping.
You’ve done well by getting to a week. Next try for a week and two days… then a week and three days. Once you get over the two week mark, you will hopefully be passed it. But remember, the battle with sin, particularly lust, lasts our whole lifetimes. Say three Hail Marys before you go to bed for purity. That has been recommended by many saints for purity.
 
It is a sin. There is no question of that because it is a misuse of body, in particular sexual capacity. It is similar to having sexual relations outside of marriage.

Whether or not it is a mortal sin depends on the circumstances (age, history of habit, free will). This probably will sound confusing: it is always a grave matter and can be a serious (mortal) sin.

The good news is that God is very forgiving and has given us the gift of Confession. It’s a difficult habit to break, but we absolutely can do so. And when we fail, there is always the chance to seek reconciliation.
 
It depends on what religious affiliation you are. And also how you interpret your religion.
 
Yes, masturbation is a grave sin. From the Catechism:
Catechism of the Catholic Church:
**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, if not even reduce to a minimum, moral culpability.
Click to expand...
 
Benjamin5 said:
I am 18 year’s old and I’ve been trying to stop this for year’s now. I’ve heard some people say it is a sin and some that say it isn’t and that it’s perfectly natural. I used to do it 4-5 times a day. When I heard it was supposedly a sin, I tried to stop it. It then went from once a day, to once every two days, to once a week. I am trying my hardest to stop but it seems like a week is my limit. When I heard it was supposedly a sin, I feel dirty after doing it. I always feel dirty. I was wondering if it really is a sin or not…
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As is pointed out, it is grave sin, but look a what you have to overcame so far. 4 times a day, to once a week is something to be proud of. Course I haven’t come into battle with this and hopefully never will, but from what I learned this is one of the must difficult ones to over come. The important thing to remember is that when you fall, you must right away pick yourself up and confess it. 👍
 
Becoming in full communion with the teachings of the church is a gradual process. As you accept one teaching it becomes easier to accept the next.

Personally I found daily rosaries help. It is hard to want to masturbate if you know your mother is watching.
 
Benjamin5 said:
I am 18 year’s old and I’ve been trying to stop this for year’s now. I’ve heard some people say it is a sin and some that say it isn’t and that it’s perfectly natural. I used to do it 4-5 times a day. When I heard it was supposedly a sin, I tried to stop it. It then went from once a day, to once every two days, to once a week. I am trying my hardest to stop but it seems like a week is my limit. When I heard it was supposedly a sin, I feel dirty after doing it. I always feel dirty. I was wondering if it really is a sin or not…
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have you been to that thread Why is M a sin much less a mortal sin…

or something like that?
 
Benjamin5 said:
I am 18 year’s old and I’ve been trying to stop this for year’s now. I’ve heard some people say it is a sin and some that say it isn’t and that it’s perfectly natural. I used to do it 4-5 times a day. When I heard it was supposedly a sin, I tried to stop it. It then went from once a day, to once every two days, to once a week. I am trying my hardest to stop but it seems like a week is my limit. When I heard it was supposedly a sin, I feel dirty after doing it. I always feel dirty. I was wondering if it really is a sin or not…
Click to expand...
Why is masterbation even a sin, let alone a mortal sin? is the name of the thread in this forum… some good info there…
 
hi:) actually many are still confused about this matter but according to our faith grave matter + consent + full knowledge =mortal sin. By the way I’m also 18 and looking for friends:grouphug: who could share me their battles won against impurity. To confess, I also have struggles with what you have and I think all men are struggling about this because of our weakness. I believe no matter how much we offended God, He will appreciate our efforts in following him . Please pray for me:signofcross:,:gopray: I’ll pray for you as well.🙂 Be pure; be holy and be happy.:):blessyou:
 
truth_hunter said:
actually many are still confused about this matter but according to our faith grave matter + consent + full knowledge =mortal sin. By the way I’m also 18 and looking for friends:grouphug: who could share me their battles won against impurity. To confess, I also have struggles with what you have and I think all men are struggling about this because of our weakness. I believe no matter how much we offended God, He will appreciate our efforts in following him . Please pray for me:signofcross:,:gopray: I’ll pray for you as well.🙂 Be pure; be holy and be happyblessyou:
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i will pray for you.

have to admit though, gets kinda old when pepole act like only men struggle with this … or am i the only woman who will* admit *having a strong sex drive??

i haven’t committed this sin in yrs… and if i with my strong “drive” can do this anyone can…

i would bet my desires (physcal ) are stronger than even most men’s… but no way to prove it, huh?? 😃

just saying all this cause it reminds me of the double standard… like men are supposed to be into sex but its slutty if a woman likes it… :rolleyes: yet God made women and men equal in this dept. You are young so maybe you haven’t encountered such a thing??

anyhow just speaking my mind… 🙂
 
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