Is masturbation ALWAYS considered a mortal sin?

[scimitar60]

I find it hard to believe that Masturbation is a mortal sin…
Like, it’s not that serious compared to other sins is it? (not saying that some sins aren’t serious)

Say, Ive been calling myself ’ Catholic ’ for about 8 months now. I have masturbated on a regular basis, probably once a day, for the past 15 years of my life. I’m in RCIA at the moment. I found out Masturbation was ‘Mortal’ about 6 months ago and have been trying to stop. (cut down alot which Im happy about, I go about a week at a time before stuffing up now) For the first 3 months I considered stopping and stopped ‘Ejaculating’ every day, but still did it; just not to point of ejaculation. Does this mean Ive commited mortal sin like 5000 times in my life? Or has it only count as a mortal sin for the past 6 months?

 

[Art321]

I find it hard to believe that Masturbation is a mortal sin…
Like, it’s not that serious compared to other sins is it? (not saying that some sins aren’t serious)

Say, Ive been calling myself ’ Catholic ’ for about 8 months now. I have masturbated on a regular basis, probably once a day, for the past 15 years of my life. I’m in RCIA at the moment. I found out Masturbation was ‘Mortal’ about 6 months ago and have been trying to stop. (cut down alot which Im happy about, I go about a week at a time before stuffing up now) For the first 3 months I considered stopping and stopped ‘Ejaculating’ every day, but still did it; just not to point of ejaculation. Does this mean Ive commited mortal sin like 5000 times in my life?

Hello there! I was just looking at your thread and just felt that I needed to respond. If I am correct, there have been a number of threads on this subject already. Anyway, here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says:

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*

I think this should help a bit. And personally as a guy myself, I find masturbation to be completely disgusting. I hope you can overcome your problem with it. Just pray to God whenever you have the urge to do it.

 

[scimitar60]

Hello there! I was just looking at your thread and just felt that I needed to respond. If I am correct, there have been a number of threads on this subject already. Anyway, here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says:

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

I think this should help a bit. And personally as a guy myself, I find masturbation to be completely disgusting. I hope you can overcome your problem with it. Just pray to God whenever you have the urge to do it.

Thanks for the quick reply!
Once I have stopped for a while, I think of it as disgusting too!
Seems that when I do it again that thought goes away, but I will stop soon enough! I promise that!

 

[Art321]

Thanks for the quick reply!
Once I have stopped for a while, I think of it as disgusting too!
Seems that when I do it again that thought goes away, but I will stop soon enough! I promise that!

No problem! Glad I could help a fellow Catholic! Best of luck and God bless!

 

[vera_dicere]

Thanks for the quick reply!
Once I have stopped for a while, I think of it as disgusting too!
Seems that when I do it again that thought goes away, but I will stop soon enough! I promise that!

That’s the problem with sins like this, if people do them enough they loose any real concern for the fact they are wrong. Like someone having sex out of wedlock, or cursing. I mean, you start out saying the small swear words and then next thing you know you dont’ see a problem with the big doozey ones.

as hard as it is, just try and keep not doing it, maybe mark on your calandar each day that you haven’t done it, then you can see how well your’e doing with progressing away from this most addictive of sins, and hopefully with each day, it becomes less adn less appealing to you.

Also, get plenty of exercise, or a hobby, somethign to exhaust your mind and body before you go to bed in the hope that you just won’t feel like masturbating.

God bless you!

 

[scimitar60]

That’s the problem with sins like this, if people do them enough they loose any real concern for the fact they are wrong. Like someone having sex out of wedlock, or cursing. I mean, you start out saying the small swear words and then next thing you know you dont’ see a problem with the big doozey ones.

as hard as it is, just try and keep not doing it, maybe mark on your calandar each day that you haven’t done it, then you can see how well your’e doing with progressing away from this most addictive of sins, and hopefully with each day, it becomes less adn less appealing to you.

Also, get plenty of exercise, or a hobby, somethign to exhaust your mind and body before you go to bed in the hope that you just won’t feel like masturbating.

God bless you!

Thanks!

 

[markomalley]

I find it hard to believe that Masturbation is a mortal sin…
Like, it’s not that serious compared to other sins is it? (not saying that some sins aren’t serious)

Say, Ive been calling myself ’ Catholic ’ for about 8 months now. I have masturbated on a regular basis, probably once a day, for the past 15 years of my life. I’m in RCIA at the moment. I found out Masturbation was ‘Mortal’ about 6 months ago and have been trying to stop. (cut down alot which Im happy about, I go about a week at a time before stuffing up now) For the first 3 months I considered stopping and stopped ‘Ejaculating’ every day, but still did it; just not to point of ejaculation. Does this mean Ive commited mortal sin like 5000 times in my life? Or has it only count as a mortal sin for the past 6 months?

Masturbation is always considered “grave matter.”

Whether or not an action (or inaction) is a mortal sin is dependent upon three factors:

1. Is the issue objectively grave matter
2. Were you aware that the issue was grave matter
3. Did you freely consent

For a full explanation of why masturbation is grave matter, you might wish to read the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s document, Declaration on certain questions concerning sexual ethics – Persona humana, 12/29/1975…particularly section IX, which specifically deals with masturbation.

Frankly, if you honestly were not aware, you were not aware. While the act in of itself is grave matter, you cannot be held accountable for it:

There are, of course, those who are struggling with invincible ignorance about our most holy religion. Sincerely observing the natural law and its precepts inscribed by God on all hearts and ready to obey God, they live honest lives and are able to attain eternal life by the efficacious virtue of divine light and grace. Because God knows, searches and clearly understands the minds, hearts, thoughts, and nature of all, his supreme kindness and clemency do not permit anyone at all who is not guilty of ** deliberate **sin to suffer eternal punishments.

- Pope Pius IX, Quanto Conficiamur Moerore, 7 (On Promotion of False Doctrines) August 10, 1863
​

You appear to be in a condition of habitual sin. If the sin you are in is habitual, you have lost the ability to make a free-will choice on the matter. This is NOT giving you a pass on the matter. God can give you the graces necessary to break the habit. Just as God can give one the graces necessary to break an addiction to drugs or anything else. But it requires prayer and determination on your part.

As an aid to that, having a proper understanding of the spiritual significance of sexuality is really important. I would suggest to you a series of talks given by Pope John Paul II during his Wednesday audiences from 1979 through 1984 that are generally identified as the “Theology of the Body.” Note: I do not recommend any of the many books written about the subject by third parties…read the Holy Father’s words and let them speak to your soul. A directory of English language translations of those talks can be found at this link. Taken one at a time, they provide a bite sized chunk that you can read in a few minutes and then meditate on throughout the day. And that would be how I’d suggest you read them.

 

[user3856530]

If I didn’t masturbate, I would be seriously worried about my fertility and reproductive health. Male fertility reduces with age, just as female fertility. It’s best to have fresh sperm to reproduce.

 

[DexUK]

Don’t worry, you’re not going to become infertile through lack of masturbatory activity.

I’d recommend you investigate how your body works a little more.

Spermatozoa are constantly renewed. Increasing age can reduce the rate at which that happens (as well as affect the production of the seminal fluid) but sexual inactivity will have no bearing. At the very worst, if you had been inactive for years, by the second or third ejaculation you would have ‘freshly minted’ spermatozoa again.

Unused sperm degrades and dealt with by the body naturally. There ARE some scientists who believe that sexual inactivity might raise the chances of certain types of cancer, however it is not by any means a settled scientific position that this is so - indeed other scientists claim the direct opposite.

If I were you I would rest easy about my reproductive health. Celibacy and chastity should not have any quantifiable effect upon it.

 

[14er]

A note of caution: If, after a length of time, you feel like you have conquered this sin, get rid of that feeling. If after a month, or six months, or six years have gone by without commiting this sin, the danger is always lurking around the corner. Always be cautious because temptation will be with you until the end of your earthly life.

 

[BlueShadow123]

Yeppers, and I’ll tell ya why.

First off, when you masturbate you can’t NOT think of anything sexual. You DO think of sexual things, and thats called lusting and lusting is a sin and thinking any sexual thoughts outside of marriage is a sin. So, keep your hands off.

 

[user3856530]

If I don’t masturbate then I get a pain in my lower abdomen. After a while, my sperm seems to congeal. There’s something not quite right there. Why should my body be sending me pain signals?

First off, when you masturbate you can’t NOT think of anything sexual. You DO think of sexual things, and thats called lusting and lusting is a sin and thinking any sexual thoughts outside of marriage is a sin. So, keep your hands off.

What if you think about your wife?

 

[06convert]

If I don’t masturbate then I get a pain in my lower abdomen. After a while, my sperm seems to congeal. There’s something not quite right there. Why should my body be sending me pain signals?

What if you think about your wife?

You should see a doctor. That isn’t right. Your wife is a human being worthy of dignity and respect just like any other person. To use her as an object of your pleasure is just as wrong as using the girl walking down the street or the one you see at the store. It’s contrary to the plan God has for us.

 

[BlueShadow123]

If I don’t masturbate then I get a pain in my lower abdomen. After a while, my sperm seems to congeal. There’s something not quite right there. Why should my body be sending me pain signals?

What if you think about your wife?

Well I wouldn’t ever masturbate and think of my ‘wife’ because I wouldn’t have one. I am not male, im female, so if anything it’d be my husband. Second off if I was married, I wouldnt need to masturbate because I would be MARRIED.

And to answer your question, I know what you’re getting at. Ejaculating actually does have MANY MANY MANY benifits for your body. More than one would think, both physically and mentally. Which would make sense that god designed that to happen in a marriage.

However, my response on why it was wrong is the churches teachings. If you are an atheist or agnostic, it really doesn’t matter what you do when you’re alone.

 

[user3856530]

Well I wouldn’t ever masturbate and think of my ‘wife’ because I wouldn’t have one. I am not male, im female, so if anything it’d be my husband. Second off if I was married, I wouldnt need to masturbate because I would be MARRIED.

Fair enough
I quoted you, but I suppose I should have specified ‘spouse’.

Why would being married make a difference? Being married, I don’t expect sexual intercourse whenever I like.

Your wife is a human being worthy of dignity and respect just like any other person. To use her as an object of your pleasure is just as wrong as using the girl walking down the street or the one you see at the store. It’s contrary to the plan God has for us

It’s interesting that you believe I’m not respecting my wife. She is an ‘object of my pleasure’. I also love her, and believe her to be an equal. What’s wrong with that?
Should I not enjoy thinking about having sex with my wife?

 

[thirdworld]

It’s interesting that you believe I’m not respecting my wife. She is an ‘object of my pleasure’. I also love her, and believe her to be an equal. What’s wrong with that?
Should I not enjoy thinking about having sex with my wife?

She is absolutely not an object of your pleasure and should not be treated as such. Masturbation is a mortal sin, plain and simple. There are no ways around it. If you masturbate you are in a state of mortal sin and headed to hell.

 

[ccross]

I have been researching this matter for about 5 years now(ok, my whole life). Here is what I have discovered. Don’t worry so much about the sin and realize what you are doing to yourself. When a person masturbates he expels obscene amounts of necessary energy(energy that you need for other more important purposes). That is why you get so tired directly afterwards(the Chinese even forbid masturbation in their top athletes). You have much work to do everyday, Gods work included. When you spend mental and physical energy, as well as your precious time pleasing yourself you cripple yourself to doing the next right thing.
When you quit you may find that the extra energy is nice. You may have some nocturnal emissions if your mind is still “occupied” during the day, trust me. But if you simply take your mind off of it and keep busy than it will become nothing to you, until your ready to make a baby. The fact that your body thinks it is making a baby is the reason why it takes so much energy to begin with(recreating a second you takes a ton of energy).
Do yourself a favor, give it up completely. You will be amazed at the things you can accomplish when you don’t waste your time.

ccross

 

[OraLabora]

She is absolutely not an object of your pleasure and should not be treated as such. Masturbation is a mortal sin, plain and simple. There are no ways around it. If you masturbate you are in a state of mortal sin and headed to hell.

You’re kidding right?

 

[DexUK]

When a person masturbates he expels obscene amounts of necessary energy(energy that you need for other more important purposes). That is why you get so tired directly afterwards

That is completely incorrect.

Apart from the obvious traits of sexual climax, another effect of it is to cause the release of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins not only cause a feeling of euphoria and well-being but also have analgesic properties and it’s this effect that causes the person to experience tiredness, which is nothing to do with ‘obscene amounts’ of energy being ‘expelled’.

As with other arguments I’ve read on this site elsewhere, it doesn’t do the moral message any good for it to be tied up with incorrect science, since if I were trying to convince someone of the goodness of the message by backing it up with fallacies, they’re likely to reject both the ‘facts’ AND the message. People, please do our faith a favour, and only back up arguments with demonstrable real science.

 

[06convert]

It’s interesting that you believe I’m not respecting my wife. She is an ‘object of my pleasure’. I also love her, and believe her to be an equal. What’s wrong with that?
Should I not enjoy thinking about having sex with my wife?

Your wife should give you pleasure, but not be an object or someone that’s there to just give you an orgasm. If that was the case, why are you even married?

Your pleasure should come from serving her and the free and mutual gift of yourselves to each other. Per Catholic wedding vows you must love each other freely, totally, faithfully, and be open to new life. This includes in the bedroom.