Is masturbation ALWAYS a mortal sin?

[Neal]

I have never understood why masturbation is a sin. I would think masturbation would be better than being promiscuous. I read an article about this on another site about youth and sexual temptation. It said as long as there are no impure thoughts or pornography that it wasn’t wrong…Also, I read someone’s post about how the male’s body doesn’t have to have this “release.” I am a nursing major, and actually it gets quite painful for males if they don’t. Don’t mean to be too blunt, but I am speaking of fact on this one…

Okay, First of all a man cannot get aroused without porn/lustful thoughts. Second, it is painful only if one gets VERY aroused. As a man I know this for a fact. What you are describing is being “blue balled” (to be blunt) and it only happens when a guy has been under prolonged sexual stimulation and then doesn’t release. This only happens if a guy is involved in a sexual act (like making out, heavy touch contact, etc.) Speaking for myself, this has not happened just because I hadn’t “released” in a few days, (that will happen by itself anyway, as it is how our bodies work) it only happened to me when I was involved with a woman and doing unchaste things…

The problems with masturbation are twofold

1. It’s a sin, plain and simple, the truth of this has been explained by others on this forum.
2. It turns one in on oneself, and is VERY dangerous. It shifts focus onto one’s self in a very selfish act of self gratification. In some ways I think it’s almost as bad as fornication, does more violence to self, but doesn’t do as much violence to others (though lust does do violence to the dignity of others.).

 

[Aquinas74]

Masturbationis GRAVE MATTER NOT MORTAL SIN!! There are conditions that have to be met first!!!

If the conditions are met and one is in a state of Mortal Sin, they should not receive the Eucharist. Here are the conditions…

*  Mortal sin is a sin of grave matter
* Mortal sin is committed with full knowledge of the sinner
* Mortal sin is committed with deliberate consent of the sinner

Masturbation goes directly against the sixth commandment and is therfore a Mortal Sin when the conditions are met.

 

[Benjamin8o8]

man…cant we then compare masturbation to cigaretts. When you smoke, you hurt your body, and who knows you`re most likely KILLING YOURSELF. so Smoking as well as masturbading should be a mortal sin. Now come on, explain me why it shouldnt be. Anybody that smokes a cigarett comits a mortal sin RIGHT???

please pray for me…

 

[ditch]

I think you’re right about the smoking - our priest smokes all the time. You’re doing this because you’re … HUMAN. Talk with you’re doctor - they will let you know it’s completely normal. You were born sexual, the reason you can’t stop is because it’s unnatural. When you FORCE yourself to be without, it can manifest itself into something far more dangerous. Look at all those priests who have molested children over the last 30-40 years. You don’t think that is a direct result of this very thing? (Or do we pretend on this forum that priests don’t harm children, hiding behind the word of God (of all things?)). Talk about the ULTIMATE SIN, and its being performed by the very one you all look up to, and confide in.

 

[j1akey]

I know this is probably going to be completely inappropriate but it kills me to see people constantly questioning themeselves about how they’re going to go to hell just living their lives. I sometimes wonder if people have any joy in their lives because they’re always all so worried about slipping up or doing something wrong.

I smoke on a daily basis, masturbate, regularly have sex with someone I’m not married to, and I use a condom just for that extra bit of sin and I’m perfectly happy.

So even if I think I’m doing nothing wrong I’m sure someone thinks I’m going right to the lava pit so if you need a bad example to measure yourself against then feel free to use me.

 

[Benjamin8o8]

I know this is probably going to be completely inappropriate but it kills me to see people constantly questioning themeselves about how they’re going to go to hell just living their lives. I sometimes wonder if people have any joy in their lives because they’re always all so worried about slipping up or doing something wrong.

I smoke on a daily basis, masturbate, regularly have sex with someone I’m not married to, and I use a condom just for that extra bit of sin and I’m perfectly happy.

So even if I think I’m doing nothing wrong I’m sure someone thinks I’m going right to the lava pit so if you need a bad example to measure yourself against then feel free to use me.

well we can´t really do that, because we don´t know how much influence you had in your life when it comes down to faith and religion. Maybe you come from an environement that brought you up how you are, while on the other hand, we were more influenced by religious people. So you know how the saying goes, the more you have the more is expected. Trust me, we arent misreable, were fighting a good war. Just like how soldier has to go through hell to save his land and family. The same with us. We are fighting the spiritual war so we can overcome death, overcome sin, overcome the world, and reign with Christ for all eternitiy. This is our goal because we have good reasons for believing in the things we do. Really good reasons.

 

[mikebenson]

From a young man’s perspective–

At the risk of sounding blasphemous–I would probably be worried if I weren’t masturbating as a young man. It is something that happens when we are young and our sex drives are raging. You can spout the Catholic party line until you are blue in the face but the fact is that young men play with themselves–it is part of growing up and it is how our sex drives develop. Any man under the age of 30 masturbates regularly–even those on this board. Tell me about the catechism, tell me about mortal sin, tell me about grave matter…I’m telling you about life. And you know what else? If any of you young men had the opportunity to have pre-marital sex with a girl, you would. It’s life, all there is to it. You aren’t going to say to the girl–“Hold on, stop touching me, let me go on the Catholic website and see if they approve!!” I’m not trying to sound anti-God or anything, because I’m pretty sure He knows the way He constructed us and He knows we have raging hormones and sex drives. So stop the holier-than-thou BS, because there are a whole lot of things in life that happen that, while not morally perfect, are normal and part of life. I’m sure most parents would rather have their kid home masturbating than out on the street getting drunk, getting high, stealing, etc.

And, by the way, if it weren’t for lust and sex drives, none of our parents would have ever hooked up.

 

[tjm190]

From a young man’s perspective–

At the risk of sounding blasphemous–I would probably be worried if I weren’t masturbating as a young man. It is something that happens when we are young and our sex drives are raging. You can spout the Catholic party line until you are blue in the face but the fact is that young men play with themselves–it is part of growing up and it is how our sex drives develop. Any man under the age of 30 masturbates regularly–even those on this board. Tell me about the catechism, tell me about mortal sin, tell me about grave matter…I’m telling you about life. And you know what else? If any of you young men had the opportunity to have pre-marital sex with a girl, you would. It’s life, all there is to it. You aren’t going to say to the girl–“Hold on, stop touching me, let me go on the Catholic website and see if they approve!!” I’m not trying to sound anti-God or anything, because I’m pretty sure He knows the way He constructed us and He knows we have raging hormones and sex drives. So stop the holier-than-thou BS, because there are a whole lot of things in life that happen that, while not morally perfect, are normal and part of life. I’m sure most parents would rather have their kid home masturbating than out on the street getting drunk, getting high, stealing, etc.

And, by the way, if it weren’t for lust and sex drives, none of our parents would have ever hooked up.

I’m with you on the masturbation point, but a great deal of people are able to turn town premarital sex

 

[GeorgeSword]

You can’t say “Well, I’m young, so it’s alright”. Doesn’t work that way. While I will agree that most, if not all, young men have done this, it doesn’t make it alright, and I do not think it is something all young me do on a regular basis.

 

[ditch]

You’re right, just 99.7% of young men do it and the rest lie about it.

 

[Benjamin8o8]

You can’t say “Well, I’m young, so it’s alright”. Doesn’t work that way. While I will agree that most, if not all, young men have done this, it doesn’t make it alright, and I do not think it is something all young me do on a regular basis.

I haven´t truly masterbated until the age of 19. Like 2 weeks ago I first commited this “sin”. I just don´t get it, how am I supposed to perfom in bed if I have no experience at all. Isn´t the penis a muscle as well, are you not supposed to exercise it as well?

Guys, I am not condoning this act I just want to learn from you all.

 

[Ocean52680]

Mr. MikeBenson,

Congratulations on returning to the church. As an observing member, I’ve found this forum to be very helpful, especially as I try to grow deeper in my faith. I am not sure why you have such an ax to grind with some of the catechism and your fellow Catholics on this forum. What ever is troubling you seems to have clouded your judgment.

Why are attempting to sanitize (ie. remove the guilt and shame from the grave matter under discussion and recategorize it as “normal”) sin?

By natural law, a sin must always be a FLAW of the human character. With regards to morality, normal is set by God and not by the prevalence of a sin among sinners.

The rules are the rules. We are bound by them whether we like them or not. Our sins have a tendency to turn absolute right and wrong into a question of personal judgment. When this happens, I think we are most vulnerable to the devil.

I’m in my twenties as well. So, I know it’s difficult.

 

[Benjamin8o8]

Mr. MikeBenson,

Congratulations on returning to the church. As an observing member, I’ve found this forum to be very helpful, especially as I try to grow deeper in my faith. I am not sure why you have such an ax to grind with some of the catechism and your fellow Catholics on this forum. What ever is troubling you seems to have clouded your judgment.

Why are attempting to sanitize (ie. remove the guilt and shame from the grave matter under discussion and recategorize it as “normal”) sin?

By natural law, a sin must always be a FLAW of the human character. With regards to morality, normal is set by God and not by the prevalence of a sin among sinners.

The rules are the rules. We are bound by them whether we like them or not. Our sins have a tendency to turn absolute right and wrong into a question of personal judgment. When this happens, I think we are most vulnerable to the devil.

I’m in my twenties as well. So, I know it’s difficult.

Well, I think the issue here is stressing that the act of masturbation can´t always place you in a state where you are doomed for all etnerity if you die without repentence. It just can´t be. Maybe sex before marriage, maybe killing, or stealing something, but masturbation…maybe if it becomes part of your life then sure, that makes sense. But other then that, if I commited the sin and truly regret it afterwards, I think I am still suitable to recieve holy Comunion.

Am I right or wrong?

 

[The_Otaku]

But other then that, if I commited the sin and truly regret it afterwards, I think I am still suitable to recieve holy Comunion.

Am I right or wrong?

You’re wrong. Mortal sin is mortal sin. The nature of the sin doesn’t change because you are truly sorry- even if there are mitigating factors like habit, addiction, etc, it’s still a classifiable mortal sin. In fact, if you were truly sorry, you would go to confession to have that sin forgiven first, as to receive communion in a state of mortal sin, and not in a state of grace, would be another mortal sin on top of that.

We must never receive Jesus when in mortal sin. If you were truly sorry you would make sure to avoid it and to make up for it. For a heart that’s truly sorry, this shouldn’t be a problem or inconvenience- you should want to go to confession first.

 

[Benjamin8o8]

You’re wrong. Mortal sin is mortal sin. The nature of the sin doesn’t change because you are truly sorry- even if there are mitigating factors like habit, addiction, etc, it’s still a classifiable mortal sin. In fact, if you were truly sorry, you would go to confession to have that sin forgiven first, as to receive communion in a state of mortal sin, and not in a state of grace, would be another mortal sin on top of that.

We must never receive Jesus when in mortal sin. If you were truly sorry you would make sure to avoid it and to make up for it. For a heart that’s truly sorry, this shouldn’t be a problem or inconvenience- you should want to go to confession first.

well, I think you´re right…to AN EXTEND.

I´m in mortal sin you say…so if I die right now I spend my eternity in HELL…FOREVER?!

I´m sorry but I don´t believe that. You don´t even know my situation, you don´t know if I truly knew the essense of the sin of masturbation, and you don´t even know if if I cried to God before I commited it. Basicaly you don´t know nothing beside the fact I did commit it. AFTER 19 years!!! This religious battle isn´t a game its a battle. Its not like once you do this you´re going to hell, once you do this you´re saved. It´s much deeper then that. This is why I´m not afraid to recive Holy communion on Sunday afternoon. Because God would point me to the right path. I am not being ingornant trust me. Honestly, I doubt I was ever in mortal sin in my entire life, so its pretty foolish to think this “act” just did the job.

I also want an answer to smoking. Smoking KILLS a human being. And thou shall not kill. So tell me, you´re going to tell me someone who smokes regualry puts himself in danger for being doomed for eternity. Sometimes we have to think this through people.

But you´re right, if I have the CHANCE to go to confession before Mass I am, if not, well Jesus will understand.

 

[whatevergirl]

You’re wrong. Mortal sin is mortal sin. The nature of the sin doesn’t change because you are truly sorry- even if there are mitigating factors like habit, addiction, etc, it’s still a classifiable mortal sin. In fact, if you were truly sorry, you would go to confession to have that sin forgiven first, as to receive communion in a state of mortal sin, and not in a state of grace, would be another mortal sin on top of that.

We must never receive Jesus when in mortal sin. If you were truly sorry you would make sure to avoid it and to make up for it. For a heart that’s truly sorry, this shouldn’t be a problem or inconvenience- you should want to go to confession first.

*You don’t know if this poster is in mortal sin though. Masturbation is ALWAYS grave matter, but not always a mortal sin. For someone to have commited a mortal sin, there has to be three things present:

1. full consent of will
2. must be grave matter
3. sufficient reflection beforehand

Please do not tell someone he/she is in mortal sin…you nor I could possibly know that. If the person is in mortal sin, one should refrain from receiving the Eucharist. The nature of the sin is always grave but it’s not always mortal. *

 

[whatevergirl]

well, I think you´re right…to AN EXTEND.

I´m in mortal sin you say…so if I die right now I spend my eternity in HELL…FOREVER?!

I´m sorry but I don´t believe that. You don´t even know my situation, you don´t know if I truly knew the essense of the sin of masturbation, and you don´t even know if if I cried to God before I commited it. Basicaly you don´t know nothing beside the fact I did commit it. AFTER 19 years!!! This religious battle isn´t a game its a battle. Its not like once you do this you´re going to hell, once you do this you´re saved. It´s much deeper then that. This is why I´m not afraid to recive Holy communion on Sunday afternoon. Because God would point me to the right path. I am not being ingornant trust me. Honestly, I doubt I was ever in mortal sin in my entire life, so its pretty foolish to think this “act” just did the job.

I also want an answer to smoking. Smoking KILLS a human being. And thou shall not kill. So tell me, you´re going to tell me someone who smokes regualry puts himself in danger for being doomed for eternity. Sometimes we have to think this through people.

But you´re right, if I have the CHANCE to go to confession before Mass I am, if not, well Jesus will understand.

*When in doubt, confession is always there for us! I will keep you in my prayers…you’re right, sometimes it is a battle, when it comes to staying pure…but God is always good, and He is there for us, always. *

 

[Benjamin8o8]

*When in doubt, confession is always there for us! I will keep you in my prayers…you’re right, sometimes it is a battle, when it comes to staying pure…but God is always good, and He is there for us, always. *

Thank you whatever girl, this means a lot to me. Glad to hear I am in your prayers, I appreciate that deeply. Thanks again

 

[shoewindow3000]

You can try to justify sin in your own eyes, but sin is sin. Whether you like it or not, masturbation IS a form of sexual immorality.

Any time you may be tempted, instead of giving in, consider how Christ was tempted by Satan during His Passion. He could have easily chosen not to have gone through His Passion, but He did. He was tempted to the point where He was sweating blood! But He resisted temptation and took up His cross.

God disciples His children, which is proof of His love.

Remember what St. Paul said: God doesn’t allow any temptation into your life that is impossible to overcome.
Paul also said that any temptation you face has already been faced by everybody else in the world!
So anytime you are tempted, offer it as a sacrifice to God, and in this way you glorify God!
You know how Jesus bore His cross? Well, this is part of YOUR cross to bear in life, and as Jesus said, “Unless you are willing to take up your cross, you cannot be My disciples.”

Also remember that every sin you commit in your life caused Jesus to suffer during His Passion. Jesus created you and knows you personally, and you personally were on His mind during His persecution and His crucifixion. You were His motivation to carry on, even though He was being beaten and tortured.

Also remember that even though God is just, He is merciful.

Jesus said to St. Faustina that heaven and earth would pass away before my Mercy didn’t embrace a soul that trusted in It.(I don’t remember the exact wording)

Here is something to ponder:

In eternity you CANNOT be tempted!!!

It may seem bad now, having to resist these temptations, but in eternity, they cannot bother you. No temptation can!
Let’s say you live to be 85 years old. Even if you should face this temptation 50 times a day, every day for the rest of your life, what’s a few decades of suffering trials compared to eternal bliss with the Lord? It is not like you will have to spend eternity resisting temptation. There is an end to temptation when you die.

 

[Newbie2]

I have never understood why masturbation is a sin. I would think masturbation would be better than being promiscuous. I read an article about this on another site about youth and sexual temptation. It said as long as there are no impure thoughts or pornography that it wasn’t wrong…Also, I read someone’s post about how the male’s body doesn’t have to have this “release.” I am a nursing major, and actually it gets quite painful for males if they don’t. Don’t mean to be too blunt, but I am speaking of fact on this one…

No, it does not get “quite painful for males if they don’t”. Perhaps emotionally, but not physically. That’s one of the oldest lies in the book, quite frequently by young men to their girlfriends.

Do not fall into the trap of relativity. Masturbation is better than promiscuity so it’s OK. It’s better than rape too, or murder. I’m afraid that excuse lacks merit.

I know this is probably going to be completely inappropriate but it kills me to see people constantly questioning themeselves about how they’re going to go to hell just living their lives. I sometimes wonder if people have any joy in their lives because they’re always all so worried about slipping up or doing something wrong.

I smoke on a daily basis, masturbate, regularly have sex with someone I’m not married to, and I use a condom just for that extra bit of sin and I’m perfectly happy.

So even if I think I’m doing nothing wrong I’m sure someone thinks I’m going right to the lava pit so if you need a bad example to measure yourself against then feel free to use me.

OK…and all this makes you happy? To be a slave to your passions?

From a young man’s perspective–

At the risk of sounding blasphemous–I would probably be worried if I weren’t masturbating as a young man. It is something that happens when we are young and our sex drives are raging. You can spout the Catholic party line until you are blue in the face but the fact is that young men play with themselves–it is part of growing up and it is how our sex drives develop. Any man under the age of 30 masturbates regularly–even those on this board. Tell me about the catechism, tell me about mortal sin, tell me about grave matter…I’m telling you about life. And you know what else? If any of you young men had the opportunity to have pre-marital sex with a girl, you would. It’s life, all there is to it. You aren’t going to say to the girl–“Hold on, stop touching me, let me go on the Catholic website and see if they approve!!” I’m not trying to sound anti-God or anything, because I’m pretty sure He knows the way He constructed us and He knows we have raging hormones and sex drives. So stop the holier-than-thou BS, because there are a whole lot of things in life that happen that, while not morally perfect, are normal and part of life. I’m sure most parents would rather have their kid home masturbating than out on the street getting drunk, getting high, stealing, etc.

And, by the way, if it weren’t for lust and sex drives, none of our parents would have ever hooked up.

So you and I were conceived in Lust? I think you misunderstand the concept of married love vs. lust.

A good second example of false relativism; that if kids are home masturbating, they won’t be out doing those other things, as if kids are forced to make one choice over the others.

“It’s life, and that’s all there is to it”? Close. I’d say rather it’s our sinful nature and weakness, that is extremely difficult to tame.

BTW, you are sounding “Anti-God”. He’s aware of our sinful nature, but instructs us to be holy as our heavenly father is holy. That to you may be “holier than thou” BS, but most of us take it to heart and try our best to achieve this ideal, to one extent or another. I, for one, do not consider our Lord’s instruction to be “holier than thou” BS.

I haven´t truly masterbated until the age of 19. Like 2 weeks ago I first commited this “sin”. I just don´t get it, how am I supposed to perfom in bed if I have no experience at all. Isn´t the penis a muscle as well, are you not supposed to exercise it as well?

Guys, I am not condoning this act I just want to learn from you all.

Rest assured, when the time comes, everything will work fine. Your body is prepared to do it’s duty with no prior practice. Married love and it’s expression is so much more than “performance”.

BTW, your…um…isn’t a muscle that needs exercise on your part. It “exercises” itself during the sleep cycle. That’s why sometimes guys wake up…to use a common term, with “morning wood”. Not need to give it a workout.

well, I think you´re right…to AN EXTEND.

Freudian slip?

You can try to justify sin in your own eyes, but sin is sin. Whether you like it or not, masturbation IS a form of sexual immorality.

.

Good post, and that’s an excellent way of looking at masturbation as sin.