Masturbation addiction/ absolution

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I mean thanks for consiantly quoting the exact same passage from the catechism consistently in every post. I get it!

Nonetheless, it says that it can be reduced in sinfulness based on moral culpability and what not. I want to stop and try to stop and consistently fail. Am I sinning? I really only have a good opportunity to receive absolution twice a year. I love God and want to do His will in every aspect of life.

I don’t know. I know that since trying again to stop just under a week ago, I’ve been in horrible pain and been horribly tempted. I doubt I am going to be able to hold out much longer.

I don’t want to sin! I don’t want to keep masturbating! What am I doing wrong.
 
Kingsolomont said:
Basically that didn’t help. Half of you said don’t worry about it. Half said that I was going to hell. I don’t understand all of this. The Catholic Church is kind of unclear about he subject. The bible days nothing of the sorts. The magisterium agreed that it was a mortal sin, however they also dispelled the theory that earth orbited the sun rather than the other way around until like the 1900s. I’ve been told the magisterium is infallible. Is that true? It is written by humans and humans make mistakes.

Also, I’ve heard that other religions treat it as a tool to help avoid greater sin. I understand that it “cheapens” true marital sex, but I don’t understand.

Also, my question was really if I am sinning. I don’t want to masturbate, I have a few slight mental imbalances as well as am horribly addicted. Am I doing it willfully? I don’t want to be doing it yet I feel compelled to. I just don’t understand this ****. Am I going to hell? I love God and try to serve Him in every way possible yet I fail nearly every night! What do I do. So far no amount of praying has helped me at all.

Also, I hate the idea of going to get absolution every time I do it because I feel like that “cheapens” the sacrament of reconciliation.

What do I do?
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Let me be clear and I hope uncomplicated;
  1. It is a sin;
  2. The degree of culpability my be lessened by force of habit or other factors, but don’t make the mistake of using that as an excuse.
  3. The Church has teaching authority on matter of morals and faith. The Church has no authority, and claims none, in matters of cosmology, astrophysics and numerous other matters. That individual church authorities may have in the long past sought to impose a view outside there sphere of authority and competence changes nothing.
  4. The Bible does not claim to be exhaustive in identifying every evil. The Catholic Faith inherently bases itself on Scripture + Tradition & for this purpose the Church “teaches”.
  5. If you are truly remorseful - & it seems you are! - and continue to fight the good fight, you won’t be going to hell.
  6. It is impossible to “cheapen” the sacrament of Reconciliation by using it in good faith. In my view, there is not a requirement to dash to confession on a daily basis - indeed few churches offer confession every day. Weekly confession would be a fine thing.
Do your best. Avail yourself of the other advice (about other aspects of your life). You will be fine.
 
JamesTheJust said:
The Church is clear on the subject:
CCC 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.”

The idea that the Church taught geocentrism (that the Sun orbits the Earth) is a myth exacerbated by modern secular culture. In fact, Copernicus was devout and remained good friends with Church officials even after his proposition of the heliocentric model. For more info, see here:
socrates58.blogspot.com/2010/11/geocentrism-not-at-all-infallible-dogma.html?m=1

Though the Magisterium is comprised of sinful humans, it is guided by the Holy Spirit to never teach error (cf. John 16:13).

Sex is ordained by God to be the act by which we express our love and create life; it is beautiful, but to separate it from its necessary consequence, life, is gravely wrong.

Don’t be afraid! One can never wear out or cheapen the sacrifice of Jesus, for it is infinite. If you do all you can to stop, and seek forgiveness in Christ, God will understand. 🙂
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It was Galileo that lroposed the model to the church. They forced him to redact his statement and placed him under house arrest. They then admitted that they were wrong after he had died. I understand that it is exploited by secular culture, but doesn’t it disprove the infallibility? I’m not trying to take authority away from the church in anyway. Trust me. I am a full believer. However I don’t UNDERSTAND how the magisterium can be infallible if they have made errors!
 
Rau said:
Let me be clear and I hope uncomplicated;
  1. It is a sin;
  2. The degree of culpability my be lessened by force of habit or other factors, but don’t make the mistake of using that as an excuse.
  3. The Church has teaching authority on matter of morals and faith. The Church has no authority, and claims none, in matters of cosmology, astrophysics and numerous other matters. That individual church authorities may have in the long past sought to impose a view outside there sphere of authority and competence changes nothing.
  4. The Bible does not claim to be exhaustive in identifying every evil. The Catholic Faith inherently bases itself on Scripture + Tradition & for this purpose the Church “teaches”.
  5. If you are truly remorseful - & it seems you are! - and continue to fight the good fight, you won’t be going to hell.
  6. It is impossible to “cheapen” the sacrament of Reconciliation by using it in good faith. In my view, there is not a requirement to dash to confession on a daily basis - indeed few churches offer confession every day. Weekly confession would be a fine thing.
Do your best. Avail yourself of the other advice (about other aspects of your life). You will be fine.
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Thank you, that did help.
 
Eagle1937 said:
“I’m afraid that masturbation is always mortally sinful”

Actually, the Bible is quiet on this subject. Old and New Testaments.

And if masturbation is a mortal sin, it would be in the 10 Commandments. And plastered all over the Bible as a mortal sin and have ceremonies to purge and correct this sin.

If anything, people associate masturbation with guilt…But, in the end, a benign event that one out grows…
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I was wondering why the poster said that as well. “Forgive someone 7 times 70 times if necessary” OP. Just keep trying and resisting to the best of your ability. Remember, even hardened men in the military crack under interrogation, our bodies can only resist temptation for so long. I would say like others here you are fine, God will not hate you or condemn you if you keep trying. Keep seeking reconciliation. That’s all you can do.
 
I can relate to you, friend. 🙂 We are the same age, and both struggling with masturbation.

Masturbation isn’t something that you can just quit cold turkey. It takes time, maybe even years, to quit. Eventually, you’ll get it down to masturbating only twice a day. Then once a day. Then once every other day. Then once a week. Then once a month. Then then you’re free. I’m still on once a week.

What can really help you is prayer and frequent participation in the sacraments. Try to attend daily Mass and go to Confession daily. Also start attending Eucharistic Adoration.

What can really help is the Chaplet of Saint Michael and the Rosary.

Just relax, buddy. It takes time. 👍
 
I know this will sound lame perhaps, but it is something that can really make a difference if you are sincere. Pray the rosary daily. If possible schedule the rosary when you are most at risk. The Virgin Mother of God will hear your prayers and add her prayers to yours and you will be astounded at the results, if your sincerely mean to stop. But otherwise keep trying. It is not a good habit.
 
Kingsolomont said:
It was Galileo that lroposed the model to the church. They forced him to redact his statement and placed him under house arrest. They then admitted that they were wrong after he had died. I understand that it is exploited by secular culture, but doesn’t it disprove the infallibility? I’m not trying to take authority away from the church in anyway. Trust me. I am a full believer. However I don’t UNDERSTAND how the magisterium can be infallible if they have made errors!
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Heliocentrism actually began when Copernicus published De revolutionibus orbitium coelestium in 1543.

Galileo Galilei later took up the view, and he certainly received opposition. He was, eventually, placed under house arrest (in a mansion), but only after he issued a book that literally called the Pope an idiot. However, when the Church arrests someone, it is an act, not a teaching. This is a vital distinction; Popes and Church officials can promote or do incorrect or sinful things, but they are protected by the Holy Spirit from teaching wrongly on faith and morals.

If you haven’t yet, I heavily suggest that you read the paper to which I linked in my last post. It deals expertly with this subject.

To go back to the original subject: just try your best. That’s all you can do. God understands.
 
Thank you all for the fantastic feedback. I really do appreciate it. I will take a lot of it to heart. Keep me in your prayers is all I ask. Thanks!
 
Kingsolomont said:
It was Galileo that lroposed the model to the church. They forced him to redact his statement and placed him under house arrest. They then admitted that they were wrong after he had died. I understand that it is exploited by secular culture, but doesn’t it disprove the infallibility? I’m not trying to take authority away from the church in anyway. Trust me. I am a full believer. However I don’t UNDERSTAND how the magisterium can be infallible if they have made errors!
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I hope my earlier answer addressed this - Church teaching on the faith and morals is free from error, and hence there are no instances of any such error. Individuals may have said wrong things, or done wrong things, but such is not “Church Teaching”.
 
JamesTheJust said:
The Church is clear on the subject:
CCC 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.”

The idea that the Church taught geocentrism (that the Sun orbits the Earth) is a myth exacerbated by modern secular culture. In fact, Copernicus was devout and remained good friends with Church officials even after his proposition of the heliocentric model. For more info, see here:
socrates58.blogspot.com/2010/11/geocentrism-not-at-all-infallible-dogma.html?m=1

Though the Magisterium is comprised of sinful humans, it is guided by the Holy Spirit to never teach error (cf. John 16:13).

Sex is ordained by God to be the act by which we express our love and create life; it is beautiful, but to separate it from its necessary consequence, life, is gravely wrong.

Don’t be afraid! One can never wear out or cheapen the sacrifice of Jesus, for it is infinite. If you do all you can to stop, and seek forgiveness in Christ, God will understand. 🙂
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James, in the catechism it says immaturity lessens culpability. Psychological issues lessen culpability - not directed at the OP - but he is not fully formed psychologically. Who really is? I would say the angels are there, fully formed, but most of us humans are never fully in control of our human emotions so even if we sin, it is VERY hard for someone who is catholic and struggling with all their might to resist to be guilty of committing a mortal sin.

On the other hand, someone in complete control who knows fully and completely what they are doing and then does it with no psychological issues of depression or otherwise is in mortal sin. Otherwise I can’t see why a 16 year would be in mortal sin, he should understand that it could be a mortal sin but to say he is committing a mortal sin is another thing. He should confess and struggle but really, a 16 year old? Why would you tell a young teenager he is committing a mortal sin without telling him he isn’t 100% culpable? He is 16, he is no way in charge of his faculties, are you trying to confuse the poor lad? When I read your post, I want to be sure I am reading it right, are you saying this young man is committing a mortal sin? Did I read that right or did I miss something?
 
kingston1 said:
James, in the catechism it says immaturity lessens culpability. Psychological issues lessen culpability - not directed at the OP - but he is not fully formed psychologically. Who really is? I would say the angels are there, fully formed, but most of us humans are never fully in control of our human emotions so even if we sin, it is VERY hard for someone who is catholic and struggling with all their might to resist to be guilty of committing a mortal sin.

On the other hand, someone in complete control who knows fully and completely what they are doing and then does it with no psychological issues of depression or otherwise is in mortal sin. Otherwise I can’t see why a 16 year would be in mortal sin, he should understand that it could be a mortal sin but to say he is committing a mortal sin is another thing. He should confess and struggle but really, a 16 year old? Why would you tell a young teenager he is committing a mortal sin without telling him he isn’t 100% culpable? He is 16, he is no way in charge of his faculties, are you trying to confuse the poor lad? When I read your post, I want to be sure I am reading it right, are you saying this young man is committing a mortal sin? Did I read that right or did I miss something?
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Read my later post. I address this.

While severe addictions and lack of complete psychological faculty do lessen culpability, it is difficult to discern when these conditions apply. Better to be safe than sorry, or, better to assume one has mortally sinned than defile Christ’s Body by consuming it unworthily.

BTW: I’m 14 myself. 👍 😃
 
Kingsolomont said:
Hello, I am new to Catholic Answers. I am 16 and am a practicing catholic in every sense of the phrase. But I have an issue. When I was 14 I began to masturbate. It was before I knew it was a mortal sin. By the time I realized it was a grave sin I was already horribly addicted. I’ve since been trying to stop. My spiritual life has taken a major hit. I used to be unquestionably faithful to God. Now I find my self constantly doubting Him (which is sinful in itself!)

Regardless, this being advent I went to receive reconciliation for my many heinous sins. This vein almost the 6th time since my addiction started. I confessed my sins hoping this time is be able to quit. Now, 6 days later, I am being consumed by unclean desires to masturbate. I have finals coming up and I literally can’t focus. I wanted to at least try to stop for the duration of Advent. However I feel like that isn’t going to happen.

To complicate the story, I’ve tested positive for having Asperger’s syndrome on multiple unofficial screenings. I’ve thought that I’ve had it for years but have never been “officially” tested. I’m afraid to ask my parents because they will be weird about it. Also, I’ve been professionally diagnosed with anxiety. I don’t want you to get the idea that I am mentally challenged. I go to a normal school, I act normal(though I am extremely introverted and awkward), my grades are normal, I can drive, and whatnot. But I think it definitely has an affect on me not being able to quit. I am not compelled to do it in public or anything like that but when I’m at home I will sometimes stop what I’m doing and go masturbate.

Any way, I don’t know how to quit. I don’t want to sin, I don’t want to displease God. I can’t seem to stop. If I could just turn off my desire I would. It is ruining my life. I know that for a sin to be mortal you have to be in full consent. I don’t know if I am in full consent. I really don’t want to do it but when it comes right down to it I do feel like I “choose” to do it. Even though I don’t really think it was fully my choice. I really don’t know. I feel like my mental “imbalance” if you will I’d somewhat at fault. However since it is not official I don’t feel like I can attribute it to it without feeling guilty.

My only other thing is that should I manage to abstain for a great period of time, I feel like I would do something far worse to satisfy my addiction. I don’t know what to do. My next chance of receiving absolution isn’t until lent and should God forbid, some freak accident occur, I don’t want to die out of favor with God.

Here is the think. I don’t want to go to confession every day so I can end up failing. I feel like that is just disrespectful to God. However I hate the idea of the possibility of not being able to spend eternity with God.

My friends say how they can stop when they want. (They all think it is just okay to masturbate. Which makes me wonder if they will all go to hell. They know its wrong… Anyway) I can’t stop. If I could I would really. If I could just go home and never do it again I would.

I’m at a real loss. Any feedback will be appreciated. Growing up in such a secular world is so hard.
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What you need to do is discuss this with your Confessor to find out when and if it’s a mortal sin. Tell him your age and about the Asperger’s.

I can see some mitigating factors here.

Also, if you have Aspergers, I wonder if there isn’t some OCD going on.
 
JamesTheJust said:
Read my later post. I address this.

While severe addictions and lack of complete psychological faculty do lessen culpability, it is difficult to discern when these conditions apply. Better to be safe than sorry, or, better to assume one has mortally sinned than defile Christ’s Body by consuming it unworthily.

BTW, check out my profile; I’m 14 myself. 👍 😃
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You’re 14! Wow. You write very well! I agree, better safe than sorry, but I just don’t want to confuse the OP into getting even more frustrated because he will fail again.

When we fought in Korea our military men had no idea how to resist torture and interrogation and many cracked but thought they should be tough enough to withstand the pressure. This broke them even further because they saw themselves as failures. No one is tough enough, for all intents and purposes. So, the military made a policy to train GIs before they went to combat and gave them a code to live by. In the code it is clear you are to resist with all your might but remember you are not superman so if you fail, you did your best.

I know interrogation and the OP’s subject are different but each of us bears our burdens differently. I hope the OP knows he is not alone in being weak and by weak I mean human. We can only resist so long and our psychological state overwhelms us.

Thanks James!
 
Kingsolomont said:
I mean thanks for consiantly quoting the exact same passage from the catechism consistently in every post. I get it!

Nonetheless, it says that it can be reduced in sinfulness based on moral culpability and what not. I want to stop and try to stop and consistently fail. Am I sinning? I really only have a good opportunity to receive absolution twice a year. I love God and want to do His will in every aspect of life.

I don’t know. I know that since trying again to stop just under a week ago, I’ve been in horrible pain and been horribly tempted. I doubt I am going to be able to hold out much longer.

I don’t want to sin! I don’t want to keep masturbating! What am I doing wrong.
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Don’t despair. I’m not a priest, but given your age and what you have described I doubt that you have the full consent of the will necessary for it to be a mortal sin. It would still be a venial sin, but it would not be sufficient to remove you from a state of grace. That is just my opinion. Also, if it is a mortal sin, if after having failed to resist and engaging in the act, you make an act of perfect contrition (that is, you repent to God out of a motivation that you are sorry for having offended him) and resolve to go to confession the next time you have a chance, it will be forgiven then. You would need to follow through and go to confession the next time you could though. Again though, based on what you have said, I doubt it is mortally sinful in your situation, although you should still try to resist to the extent you can.

I hope this helps, and remember God loves you and knows your heart, that you are struggling with this and trying to stop. He will not forsake you in this time of need.
 
well, first of all, about the going to Hell no one can tell you if you are going, the Church does not says who are in Hell, she says that there are people there but can’t say who.

second: the fact that you feel that it might cheapen the sacrament of confession, makes me think that you actually are doing it right, the problem would be if you just go to confession but did nothing to overcome this.

third: the Church is never wrong in morality issues, but can be mistaken in other stuff like the inquisition. same as the Pope infalibility, not everything that the Pope says its correct, just special stuff like cannonizations and Ex Cathedra talks.

fourth: what i think we all here are trying to tell you is like a saying in spanish goes: “no te preocupes, ocupate” that means “dont get worried get busy” just do your best, go to confession as soon as posible and dont live in fear.
 
Check out pornnomore.com/ it’s a Catholic shoe and offers quite a bit of help!! remember that satan knows about all our weak points, but God does too!!
 
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