Masturbation problem. Or not

[redroverwod]

Yeah, so I have a problem with masturbation. I go to confession after a few weeks of rejecting communion and whatnot. But I don’t really feel bad about it. Sometimes I’ll just do it just for the sake of doing it when I’m bored.

I know it’s SUPPOSED to be wrong. And I DO go to confession for it [you know, after giving myself a few weeks of freedom to do it without worrying about the loss of the state of grace ] and promise myself I won’t again. Thennn after a short period of time [maybe a few weeks. sometimes two. sometimes one. sometimes even a day.], I do it again.

It’s whatever. I don’t really even care anymore. I used to do it once, then be so horrified with myself that I wouldn’t dare do it again, and then go to confession as soon as possible. Now, when I do it, I barely even feel guilty. Then I do it frequently, waiting weeks before I might go to confession. I’m afraid my confessor is beginning to think I’m a whore.

And yes, I’m a girl.

I don’t feel like God is offended, because I don’t feel guilty. And I don’t see how anyone COULD feel guilty, because it’s just so simple. Acting on natural desires. I know, I know, those types of desires are for one thing only. But whatever. The desire is still there, and trying to hinder it saying it’s a horrible sin and God is disappointed is almost stupid. Point is I don’t feel guilty.

 

[BigFellaMick]

I don’t feel like God is offended, because I don’t feel guilty. And I don’t see how anyone COULD feel guilty, because it’s just so simple. Acting on natural desires. I know, I know, those types of desires are for one thing only. But whatever. The desire is still there, and trying to hinder it saying it’s a horrible sin and God is disappointed is almost stupid. Point is I don’t feel guilty.

Reading that all I see is “I” “I” “I”. Its not about you miss its about God. We’re supposed to model our lives after Christ. Yes we are all sinners who fall short and we will stumble the rest of our lives, BUT, we must continue to seek penance to try our best to honor Christ. I’m a 23 year old man so I am 100% understanding of your situation as I admit to masturbating a lot as well. Fortunately I still feel ashamed afterwards. You shouldn’t let that feeling of comfort with the sin set in. Whether it be satans influence or just an inherently twisted human nature you’re essentially giving up. And this isn’t a lecture by any stretch but I’m saying I can understand where you’re coming from. It’s an addiction. If you can’t break the habit on your own than please seek help. Life is possible abstaining from masturbation. The urge will always come back but learn to find ways to occupy your time and thoughts to prevent such occurrences. Remember the age old saying of idle hands are the devils playground. I wish you luck miss and pray you find the strength to overcome our wicked weakness

 

[redroverwod]

Reading that all I see is “I” “I” “I”.

Well yeah because it’s MY problem we’re talking about here.

Yes we are all sinners who fall short and we will stumble the rest of our lives, BUT, we must continue to seek penance to try our best to honor Christ. I’m a 23 year old man so I am 100% understanding of your situation as I admit to masturbating a lot as well. Fortunately I still feel ashamed afterwards. You shouldn’t let that feeling of comfort with the sin set in. Whether it be satans influence or just an inherently twisted human nature you’re essentially giving up.

The problem I’m trying to convey here is that I don’t feel at all motivated to stop “falling short” and “stumbling”, because it doesn’t seem like a stumble, and I don’t feel ashamed. Therefore, I can’t say I care to try to “improve”.

 

[Equites_Christi]

Ok, thank you for declaring to the world how guilt-free you feel.

And thank you for, at the same time, declaring to the world how guilty you feel. You still know, somewhere, that it’s not right.

[you know, after giving myself a few weeks of freedom to do it without worrying about the loss of the state of grace ]

Do you wait a few weeks after breaking your arm to go to the hospital so you have a few weeks of ‘freedom’ to not worry about breaking it again?

I am going to speculate that your struggle became so hard that you eventually threw your hands up. Child of God, I know very well how hard the struggle is. The fact that you struggled at all shows there is goodness in you. And as long as there is that goodness, you will know that masturbation is not alright and you will thirst for the joy and peace only chastity can give.

You know the Church declares it to be wrong. And your conscience is not the universal standard. Plenty of people do wrong and don’t feel bad about it. Your choice is either to accept the Church or reject it, there is no leeway here.

So stop (barely) fooling yourself, and take His outstretched hand. There is no happiness for you in sin. Trust in His plan for you and His desire for your greatest good.

You can do it!

 

[redroverwod]

Your choice is either to accept the Church or reject it, there is no leeway here.

Yep, and I do. I accept it. I just can’t make myself feel guilty about this. Sorry.

So stop (barely) fooling yourself, and take His outstretched hand. There is no happiness for you in sin. Trust in His plan for you and His desire for your greatest good.

He hasn’t exactly helped me out with this. I’ve asked for guidance, grace, and help before. And look where it’s gotten me?

 

[Equites_Christi]

If you can’t make yourself feel guilty about it, you can at least try to fight it anyways, out of respect for God and His laws. That’s accepting the Church. Take up your shield once more.

Where it’s gotten you is you gave up. That wasn’t Him. Because you fall doesn’t speak of His weakness, it speaks of ours. He will give you the strength you need if you will take it, and forgiveness for every sin. It takes patience, perseverance and incredible willpower. Have faith.

 

[Tyler1234]

I know how this feels redroverwood… I’ve experienced it too… Just starting to get over it though

I’ve found that one of the best ways to get through it is just to challenge your wil power… Once you’ve Gone for a substantial time you’ll already be devoted to trying to abstain from selfish pleasure, and would hate to see your streak end.

I know you don’t feel too guilty, but please just try this? It worked for me

God bless!

 

[Ignatius]

Yeah, so I have a problem with masturbation. I go to confession after a few weeks of rejecting communion and whatnot. But I don’t really feel bad about it. Sometimes I’ll just do it just for the sake of doing it when I’m bored.

I know it’s SUPPOSED to be wrong. And I DO go to confession for it [you know, after giving myself a few weeks of freedom to do it without worrying about the loss of the state of grace ] and promise myself I won’t again. Thennn after a short period of time [maybe a few weeks. sometimes two. sometimes one. sometimes even a day.], I do it again.

It’s whatever. I don’t really even care anymore. I used to do it once, then be so horrified with myself that I wouldn’t dare do it again, and then go to confession as soon as possible. Now, when I do it, I barely even feel guilty.

Dearest sister, please do not let your conscience entirely die. Our real joy is in living in a Godly way and the closer we come to this, the more real happiness we will have. Please continue to ask Our Lord to help you cultivate a good conscience and to bring you closer to Him. You will never regret it. You must know that any pleasure derived illicitly is gone almost as soon as it is done. Go after the Everlasting Joy of Christ.

 

[0129141]

You know its wrong: that’s a start. Perhaps you should reflect that you could die any day, and that you stand a good chance of eternal damnation if you keep your habit up. Even if you "get lucky: and die in the state of grace, do you think you’re goin’ to have a quick trip through purgatory. You need penance, penance, penance. Perhaps the thought of hell will shake you out of your imdifferentism. And a read through The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola would not hurt either.

 

[underacloud]

Catholics accept that God teaches us through the Church. We are obliged to form our own consciences with regard to the teachings of the Church. If you know that the Church teaches something to be a sin, you need to conform to that, regardless of whether or not you agree or feel guilt.

The point being that as individuals we lack the wisdom to judge sin for ourselves. There are certain things that we intuitively know to be wrong (murder, theft) and others that we might not intuitively know (such as masturbation), but need to understand further the potential consequences of our actions. God knows what is best for us, and to presume that something is not sinful when we know that God is telling us that it is, is to presume that we have more wisdom than God. This is, of course, absurd.

If you trust that the Catholic Church is the true church of God, then you ought to believe her when she teaches you that masturbation is sinful and offensive to God. Your love of God should be enough motivation to try to stop. Your guilt should stem from your understanding that God is offended, even if you don’t fully understand why.