Masturbation

[TrickyCatholic]

I know you guys might here this alot, especially from teenagers, but I need help. For as long as I have been a teen, I have struggled with masturbation. However recently, it came to light that it was a mortal sin. Does this mean because I masturbate I’m going to hell? My church doesn’t usually have confessions often, but I don’t know what to do. Even if I stop the habit, does it mean my past actions still condemn me? I’m confused… Help anyone?

 

[presidentjlh]

Hey there, TrickyCatholic. Trust me, I know where you’re coming from (18 year old male in college. It ain’t easy, brotha)

First of all, Confession cleanses you of ALL sins, so long as you are honestly sorry and confess to the best of your knowledge (You sound sorry to me, so get to confession in the very near future. Preferably this Saturday, and then attend Mass the next day, as it is Divine Mercy Sunday, a day meant for redemption!)

Second, if when you masturbated, you did not know it is a mortal sin, you are not guilty of mortal sin. For something to be mortal, the following must take place:

1. It must be a grave matter.
2. It must be done with full knowledge of its severity.
3. It must be done with complete willingness.

According to 2, you were not guilty of mortal sin at that time. Now, however, if you masturbate with the full knowledge it is mortal, then yes, that is mortal sin.

HOWEVER

Since the sin of masturbation is so difficult to fight against, the Church has stated there are extenuating circumstances that can reduce the culpability of the sin to being venial. These circumstances are affective immaturity, youth (Someone undergoing puberty), habit, and anxiety, plus more (social/environmental pressures). Now, you cannot decide that you fall under these categories. A priest judges that for you. However, you are to tell him that you are young and this is a habit. I highly suspect this is a venial sin for you.

However, do not think that just because it is a venial sin, you can masturbate as much as you want. You are called to fight against it. However, if you fall to temptation after struggling with it, you are still in a state of grace if the priest says it is a venial sin in your circumstances.

 

[jeanne71350]

Hi there,

I’ve been where you are. I did it for years, since I was 10. I would do it at most 3 times a day. But, I gave it up for Lent this year, and I had some awesome success. It is possible to give it up, and you CAN do it. If you need a buddy to help you, I’d be glad to help you. Send me a Private Message. I know how hard it is.

God Bless

-Jeanne

 

[KaneKatholic]

[QUOTESince the sin of masturbation is so difficult to fight against, the Church has stated there are extenuating circumstances that can reduce the culpability of the sin to being venial. These circumstances are affective immaturity, youth (Someone undergoing puberty), habit, and anxiety, plus more (social/environmental pressures). Now, you cannot decide that you fall under these categories. A priest judges that for you. However, you are to tell him that you are young and this is a habit. I highly suspect this is a venial sin for you
[/QUOTE]

WHAT SATANIC GARBAGE HERE!
PUBERTY ISNT AN EXCUSE AND IAM 16… MY FIREND JUST BECAUSE YOUR IMMATURE IS NO EXCUSE NOW I TRUST THE CHURCH BUT SHOW ME THE DOCUMENT THAT STATES THAT BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE BULL IF YOU MUST SUFFER THAN SUFFER…AND ITS NOT DIFFICULT TO FIGHT AGAINST WHERE THE SCAPULAR …
ps. im clean since my conversion in december

IT IS AN ABUSE AND A MORTAL SIN ALWAYS. SATAN DOSENT CHANGE SIN DOSENT STOP BEING DEADLY IF IT IS DEADLY DONT FILL THIS KIDS MIND WITH THAT BOGUS:mad

 

[KaneKatholic]

I know you guys might here this alot, especially from teenagers, but I need help. For as long as I have been a teen, I have struggled with masturbation. However recently, it came to light that it was a mortal sin. Does this mean because I masturbate I’m going to hell? My church doesn’t usually have confessions often, but I don’t know what to do. Even if I stop the habit, does it mean my past actions still condemn me? I’m confused… Help anyone?

WITH MASTURBATION YOUR MIND IS NEVER CLEAN
AND NOTHING CLEAN CAN ENTER HEAVEN SO FIGHT!!!FIGH!!!FIGHT!!!
DONT GIVE UP WHERE A SCAPULAR PRAY THE ROSARY
KICK THE DEVILS BUTT ASK JESUS FOR HELP DONT IGNORE YOUR GARDIAN ANGEL ASK HIM OR HER OR IT lol
FOR HELP
IT IS ALWAYS MORTAL NEVER VENIAL IM 16 AND I KNOW WHAT IT DOES TO YOU FROM EXPIERIENCE FIGHT AND NEVER GIVE UP

 

[Watchman]

Type louder next time. I could barely hear you.

Venial Sin

 

[presidentjlh]

Since the sin of masturbation is so difficult to fight against, the Church has stated there are extenuating circumstances that can reduce the culpability of the sin to being venial. These circumstances are affective immaturity, youth (Someone undergoing puberty), habit, and anxiety, plus more (social/environmental pressures). Now, you cannot decide that you fall under these categories. A priest judges that for you. However, you are to tell him that you are young and this is a habit. I highly suspect this is a venial sin for you

First of all, be calm, my friend. I understand anger at saying mortal sin is venial sin, but one can show righteous anger in a calm, productive way.

Check the Catechisms, under the subject of sins falling under the commandment of “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery”

Objectively, yes, it is always a mortal sin, but there are subjective circumstances.

 

[jeanne71350]

WHAT SATANIC GARBAGE HERE!
PUBERTY ISNT AN EXCUSE AND IAM 16… MY FIREND JUST BECAUSE YOUR IMMATURE IS NO EXCUSE NOW I TRUST THE CHURCH BUT SHOW ME THE DOCUMENT THAT STATES THAT BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE BULL IF YOU MUST SUFFER THAN SUFFER…AND ITS NOT DIFFICULT TO FIGHT AGAINST WHERE THE SCAPULAR …
ps. im clean since my conversion in december

IT IS AN ABUSE AND A MORTAL SIN ALWAYS. SATAN DOSENT CHANGE SIN DOSENT STOP BEING DEADLY IF IT IS DEADLY DONT FILL THIS KIDS MIND WITH THAT BOGUS:mad

Hello,
I don’t think that we need to shout and be angry here. Even though he said that certian situations would make it less serious, he did say that we are called to fight against it. If someone just says “Oh It’s ok because I’m this this and that, I’m just going to do it and it won’t be a sin.” that is completely wrong. But we all have our battles to fight and our crosses to carry. I know from personal experience, not all of us can just stop. It takes day by day and minute by minute alertness to what’s going on around you, because the next second you can fall. Not all of us are that strong. Each of us needs to fight this in their own way. I don’t think we need the anger and harsh words.

Thank you,
Jeanne

 

[Shameless]

I don’t wish to bring you down here just to share my experience. I am 37, married and have struggled with this for 25+ years. I can only tell you do all you can to stop doing this now! If you continue down this road for years and years, it will be nearly impossible to stop it. I’ve pretty much read it all, done it all. Once the habit is deeply rooted and sin becomes your master, it will be near impossible to get out of it. Take it from someone who has lived it. This is no joke!! Don’t let it take hold of you. Get to confession and make it a good one - don’t leave anything out, be sorry for each and every sin. Your amendment to change your life must be clear and strong. After that, pray daily (good solid prayer), Mass daily, Sunday won’t be enough, you must go more often that that. Confession weekly, or at least once every two weeks. Go to Eucharistic Adoration as often as you can. Again, I say this to “shock” you into what sin really is, and what it really does to us. Far too often in our present age sin is passed over or downgraded. Please never take sin lightly (I’m not saying you did, but if we slack off, it will bit us.) God bless you.

 

[WackBob]

I’ve been stuck in this rut since I was 11 and now I’m 17 and I can see how it is so much harder to uproot now. Your best weapons are recieveing Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist, Confession and saying the Rosary.

Most importantly, pray contantly and repent imediately after you’ve fallen. you will find it much more easier if you try to bring yourself closer to Christ while fighting this.

 

[KaneKatholic]

Hello,
I don’t think that we need to shout and be angry here. Even though he said that certian situations would make it less serious, he did say that we are called to fight against it. If someone just says “Oh It’s ok because I’m this this and that, I’m just going to do it and it won’t be a sin.” that is completely wrong. But we all have our battles to fight and our crosses to carry. I know from personal experience, not all of us can just stop. It takes day by day and minute by minute alertness to what’s going on around you, because the next second you can fall. Not all of us are that strong. Each of us needs to fight this in their own way. I don’t think we need the anger and harsh words.

Thank you,
Jeanne

sorry sin just makes me angry

 

[presidentjlh]

sorry sin just makes me angry

And that is a righteous anger, one that is not bad, but is of love. Just make sure to be rational with it in the future.

Trust me, I understand why you would be angry since you thought I was trying to lead someone astray.

 

[jeanne71350]

sorry sin just makes me angry

It’s fine. I understand where you are coming from, you should be upset. But remember, hate the sin not the sinner. We should respond to people with love, because we should see Christ in all of them.

God Bless

-Jeanne

 

[TrickyCatholic]

What if I am unable to go to Confession?

 

[presidentjlh]

What if I am unable to go to Confession?

If you are truly unable to go to Confession, you should make an act of perfect contrition (Feel sorrow for your sins out of a love for God and say the act of contrition) and promise to make Confession as soon as you can. And remember to make good on that promise.

 

[Langdell]

I’ve been stuck in this rut since I was 11 and now I’m 17 and I can see how it is so much harder to uproot now. Your best weapons are recieveing Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist, Confession and saying the Rosary.

Most importantly, pray contantly and repent imediately after you’ve fallen. you will find it much more easier if you try to bring yourself closer to Christ while fighting this.

To the OP: Almost everyone here has been your shoes. I just want to reiterate that praying the Rosary can be extremely powerful. I started praying it regularly just a couple of weeks ago – some days I get through it all, some days I manage to get through only one or two decades – but I cannot express to you how much closer it has brought me to Christ and how much stronger I feel in battling sin.

.

 

[serad]

hi ! trickycatholic. by now you have probably taken all the suggestions that the other brother’s in CHRIST have given you. very good. now, there’s a little book called “imitation of Christ” by thomas kempis. it’s a really tough book, but it has very good pointers, like the one that says ; catch the bad thought when is entering your mind, and shut the door in it’s face. with practice you will get to know , the tricks that the devil uses to keep you in it’s web of sin. please do pray-talk to our LORD JESUS CHRIST with all you got. There is a quote that I like very much : ! look for JESUS and you will find Him, with open arms, and an open heart He will receive you. hope this help’s. also try finding other parishes that have different times and days for confessions. May GOD bless you all. Your brother in CHRIST, serad.

 

[quodestv]

I can see that there’s some very good discussion going on here, but I can’t help but point out that this entire discussion reeks of the classic “Catholic guilt” stereotype.
People have always masturbated; it’s a natural tendency rooted in animal instinct, the “will of the flesh.” The problem with masturbation arises, in my humble opinion, from the crude and vulgar thoughts that pass through one’s mind. Consistently entertaining images of women in sexual encounters makes every woman appear to be the proximate object of a sexual encounter. This breeds a disorder which Buddhists have aptly called “sickness of the mind.” In other words, one is incapable of escaping a certain chain of thoughts (you might even say that you are *imprisoned *to those thoughts).

For these reasons, I would urge you to attempt to at least control masturbation as it leads to this sickness.
Nonetheless, I feel compelled to say that I DO NOT in any way see masturbation as a moral sin. Teaching such as this within the church is downright condemnable because it leads to the alienation of so many of our youth (caveat: I am only 20). Mortal sins are such as murder, not make-believe sex. I would ask any zealous Catholic, such as “KaneKatholic” this question: "If masturbation is such an evil, such a mortal sin that it makes the person unfit for salvation, then why would God create man with such a vicious propensity to do it? Natural sexual desire is essential to being human and should not be irrationally condemned as evil by guilty Catholics.
My advice would be to get a girlfriend so that you don’t have to masturbate so much; it helps me. Remember that God loves you more than you can imagine; something this trivial does not endanger your relationship with the divine. Approach this rationally.
Yea, cometh the condemnation from the zealous guilt-mongerers…

 

[presidentjlh]

I can see that there’s some very good discussion going on here, but I can’t help but point out that this entire discussion reeks of the classic “Catholic guilt” stereotype.
People have always masturbated; it’s a natural tendency rooted in animal instinct, the “will of the flesh.” The problem with masturbation arises, in my humble opinion, from the crude and vulgar thoughts that pass through one’s mind. Consistently entertaining images of women in sexual encounters makes every woman appear to be the proximate object of a sexual encounter. This breeds a disorder which Buddhists have aptly called “sickness of the mind.” In other words, one is incapable of escaping a certain chain of thoughts (you might even say that you are *imprisoned *to those thoughts).

For these reasons, I would urge you to attempt to at least control masturbation as it leads to this sickness.
Nonetheless, I feel compelled to say that I DO NOT in any way see masturbation as a moral sin. Teaching such as this within the church is downright condemnable because it leads to the alienation of so many of our youth (caveat: I am only 20). Mortal sins are such as murder, not make-believe sex. I would ask any zealous Catholic, such as “KaneKatholic” this question: "If masturbation is such an evil, such a mortal sin that it makes the person unfit for salvation, then why would God create man with such a vicious propensity to do it? Natural sexual desire is essential to being human and should not be irrationally condemned as evil by guilty Catholics.
My advice would be to get a girlfriend so that you don’t have to masturbate so much; it helps me. Remember that God loves you more than you can imagine; something this trivial does not endanger your relationship with the divine. Approach this rationally.
Yea, cometh the condemnation from the zealous guilt-mongerers…

I do not condemn you, my friend. I am 18, and I understand how hard it is to be chaste.

But the Church’s teachings in morality are infallible. They aren’t wrong. Do I enjoy that fact? Not really. But, I gotta suck it up and go with it.

 

[serad]

I can see that there’s some very good discussion going on here, but I can’t help but point out that this entire discussion reeks of the classic “Catholic guilt” stereotype.
People have always masturbated; it’s a natural tendency rooted in animal instinct, the “will of the flesh.” The problem with masturbation arises, in my humble opinion, from the crude and vulgar thoughts that pass through one’s mind. Consistently entertaining images of women in sexual encounters makes every woman appear to be the proximate object of a sexual encounter. This breeds a disorder which Buddhists have aptly called “sickness of the mind.” In other words, one is incapable of escaping a certain chain of thoughts (you might even say that you are *imprisoned *to those thoughts).

For these reasons, I would urge you to attempt to at least control masturbation as it leads to this sickness.
Nonetheless, I feel compelled to say that I DO NOT in any way see masturbation as a moral sin. Teaching such as this within the church is downright condemnable because it leads to the alienation of so many of our youth (caveat: I am only 20). Mortal sins are such as murder, not make-believe sex. I would ask any zealous Catholic, such as “KaneKatholic” this question: "If masturbation is such an evil, such a mortal sin that it makes the person unfit for salvation, then why would God create man with such a vicious propensity to do it? Natural sexual desire is essential to being human and should not be irrationally condemned as evil by guilty Catholics.
My advice would be to get a girlfriend so that you don’t have to masturbate so much; it helps me. Remember that God loves you more than you can imagine; something this trivial does not endanger your relationship with the divine. Approach this rationally.
Yea, cometh the condemnation from the zealous guilt-mongerers…

I do not condemn you, my friend. I am 18, and I understand how hard it is to be chaste.

But the Church’s teachings in morality are infallible. They aren’t wrong. Do I enjoy that fact? Not really. But, I gotta suck it up and go with it.

Dearest brother’s in CHRIST. to you quodestv , catholic guilt stereo type, this is about purity , innocence , love , etc. “will of the flesh”, you have free will, that GOD gave all humans. that means that you can choose; you accept, what comes inside your mind. isn’t that great. remember we have been made by GOD, in His image, by his grace, out of love. and " WE" choose to be with Him or not. society or media, has a lot of control over what we should wear, talk about, be like, act like, etc., and how we should think. so please pray, that by the grace of GOD you can have a better life, with better choices, if you choose or control what you accept that comes and knock’s on your mind-conscious. please acknowledge your free will, as a human being, with animal instinct’s. Pray-talk to JESUS CHRIST and listen with your heart in silence. don’t forget Mary, our mother. may GOD bless you and instruct you. your brother in CHRIST, serad. As for you presidentjlh, I congratulate you on following the moral’s of our church. remember you choose,you accept, you trust, you love, you give. GOD bless you. your brother in CHRIST, serad.