Masterbation and confession

[Husker2162790]

I am 15 years old and I had an addiction to masterbation and pornography when I was younger. When I realized that this was against my catholic faith I tried to quit over and over again without result. I finally was able to hold the urge off for about 4 or 5 weeks and then I could not any longer and I masterbated for a short period of time. I have gone another couple of days without doing this and will try hardest not to do it again. I go to mass 2 or more times a week but I am only able to go to confession when my school does about twice a year. I dont know if I should not recieve Eucharist and if I commited a mortal sin.

 

[1love]

If you’re not sure whether or not you’re in a state of grace, it is best to err on the side of caution and don’t receive communion. Make a spiritual communion during Mass instead until you are able to go to confession.

Twice a year is not ideal…if you call a priest he will usually make an appointment to hear your confession, especially if you can’t receive the Eucharist.

 

[MichaelHowling]

Most priests will work with you so you can get your confession heard…you need to try harder to get to confession. What is making it hard for you.

 

[Husker2162790]

The hardest thing for me about confession is confessing to my priests in my parish because I know them very well and feel as if they would think of me differently

 

[billcu1]

I am 15 years old and I had an addiction to masterbation and pornography when I was younger. When I realized that this was against my catholic faith I tried to quit over and over again without result. I finally was able to hold the urge off for about 4 or 5 weeks and then I could not any longer and I masterbated for a short period of time. I have gone another couple of days without doing this and will try hardest not to do it again. I go to mass 2 or more times a week but I am only able to go to confession when my school does about twice a year. I dont know if I should not recieve Eucharist and if I commited a mortal sin.

There is another issue here. I’ve had this problem too and there can be circumstances that limit or change culpability. I take several medications for anxiety and can’t stand to go without it. This doesn’t change the fact it’s a mortal sin only that it’s possible that your circumstance might be different. You need to let your priest know these things.

 

[1love]

The hardest thing for me about confession is confessing to my priests in my parish because I know them very well and feel as if they would think of me differently

Please read this article, which addresses your exact concern as well as some other common concerns about confession.

lifeteen.com/my-side-of-the-confessional-what-is-it-like-for-a-priest/

Don’t let pride get you down. Pride tells us that our sins are SO AMAZING, the priest will be horrified when he hears them. That is not so. One priest estimated that about 70% of the confessions he hears involve sins of impurity. You are not alone and if your priest thinks any differently of you, it will be because he admires your strength in trying to overcome a habitual sin.

 

[MichaelHowling]

It would show a great deal of trust in Christ if you used these priests (trust me…they’ve heard it all and probably committed similar sins as well!) Masterbation is one of the MOST COMMON sins from what I understand!

Priests are SINNERS among sinners to help sinners.

Remember what Christ said to St. faustina: When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity." (1602

I think it would be an awsome act of trust to go to these priests (if you know them to be good and holy priests.).

A real man can acknowledge who he is, face the conseqences, move on and grow!

If you just can’t go to them…is there any other parishes around you? You can call a parish and make an appointment, you can go when they have public confession.

God bless

 

[credoicxc]

Husker,

According to paragraph 2354 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, pornography is “a grave offense,” and according to 2352 masturbation is “a gravely disordered action.” For an actual sin to be mortal, it must, according to paragraph 1857, (1) be a grave matter, (2) be committed with full knowledge, and (3) be committed with deliberate consent.

I am happy to hear that you realized pornography and masturbation are against the Catholic faith. You should also keep in mind that these things are against our Heavenly Father. He loves us so much and when we fall into these sinful things we are trespassing against His goodness and each time it’s another sin our Redeemer took upon His shoulders.

My empathy is definitely with you, for I also struggle. So far it has been over a month since I looked for pornography and I keep having to get back up and try again to subdue the temptation to masturbate. Don’t beat yourself up or even hate yourself for giving into temptation. Just know you have let down your loving Father who is in Heaven, be sorry for having done so, strongly resolve to never do these sins again, pray to God for help, and ask the Saints to pray for you.

Until you have gone to Confession for all mortal sins (and venial sins that burden your conscience), simply don’t receive the Eucharist.

And remember, some day God may send you a sweet, caring, faithful, loyal young woman who will be your wife. I encourage you to be a man of purity for her — she may be out there somewhere striving to be the same for you.

 

[aspirant]

The hardest thing for me about confession is confessing to my priests in my parish because I know them very well and feel as if they would think of me differently

Your priests hear these sins confessed frequently. It’s not unlikely that your priests have shared the same or similar struggles. Most of us have struggled for the virtue of chastity, most of us have had to confess sins against the virtue of chastity. Do not be afraid. Jesus loves you very much. He wants to give us the graces we need even more than we want to receive them. An honest confession can be very liberating.

Don’t beat yourself up or even hate yourself for giving into temptation. Just know you have let down your loving Father who is in Heaven, be sorry for having done so, strongly resolve to never do these sins again, pray to God for help, and ask the Saints to pray for you.

I agree completely. As I wrote elsewhere in the forums:

aspirant:

Do not dwell on feelings of guilt-- your enemies will try to ensnare you in it, hoping you will despair. Instead, focus on contrition: Acknowledge that you did wrong, confess your sin honestly, resolve to do good, focus on starting fresh. And when you start fresh, my best advice is to focus on the goal. When we’re always thinking over and over “I will not do X, I must not do X, I should not do X,” we’re always thinking of X. This can become another sort of trap. Instead, focus on what you do want: “I should do Y, I will do Y.” If you were a runner wanting to finish the race, you’d keep your eyes on the road ahead, not what lies behind. Focus not on the vices you want to avoid, but rather on the virtues you want to cultivate…

Focusing on the virtues you want to cultivate-- what they really mean and how you can actually attain them-- will help. God gives you the power to do this, if you are willing to receive it.

This can involve changing the patterns of your behavior… Think about where you’re going and what you’re doing. Will your choices help you to cultivate the virtues you’re working toward?

If you make bad choices along the way, acknowledge that you did wrong, confess your sin honestly, resolve to do good, focus on starting fresh. Each moment is a new chance to do the right thing. God will give you the power to do it. Focus on the virtues you want to cultivate and the best means to do it.