Moral Dilemma - What should I do?

[StevenFrancis]

But the problem lies in the fact that, I don’t want to presume that I will be able to restrain.

This is likely a stupid question, but have you prayed for strength, and HIS protection and help, and then heeded it when he gives you the help in the situation? (You don’t have to answer outloud). The prayer isn’t the only thing. It’s having FAITH, once you have prayed, that He’s there when you’re in the situation.

Just food for thought. I’d talk to a priest in the confessional about purity. I think you’ll get lots of good advice, solutions and ideas about the modern challenges of immodesty, impurity, and the crosses we must carry. Yet, in the end, we have to cooperate in order to cross over into sin. That’s our fault. Not low cut dresses. We can pray that women become more sensitive to male purity someday, but well, this is the United States. I wouldn’t be holding my breath about it if I were you, or going on any hunger strikes. The stereotypical male doesn’t help much either, by perpetuating the stereotype of the easily led and manipulated hound. Hang in there. All things are possible for God. Supplant your will with His. All just advice. Hard to follow advice, but worth it in the end. The best to you, and so sorry for the tragic losses your friend has experienced. My prayers for her and her family. That’s a lot to take on. She needs a good friend, much love, and many prayers.

Blessings,

Steven

 

[MtGargano]

That’s an awfully strong guarantee to make to somebody. Many good Catholics struggle mightily against temptations of the flesh using the means you’ve outlined…and then fall…over, and over again. Catholic devotions aren’t lucky charms that make sin and temptation magically disappear.

When you fall again, and you more than likely will, confess, repent, and try again. I believe Our Lord isn’t so much concerned how many times we fall off the wagon, so to speak, as he is with how many times we get back on it.

Obviously, developing a deep faith and spirituality will help, not hinder one’s struggle. But it will not utterly vanquish it, overnight. There are often deep-seated psychological involved and there is nothing wrong with seeking psychological assistance, as well as Divine. For many, they go hand-in-hand.

Every man is different, and every man’s struggles take on unique dimensions: there isn’t one simple cure for every man’s struggle against temptation. Jesus Christ is the ultimate answer, of course, but there are many different paths to his heart.

Jesus Christ said they that are well are in no need of a physician, but the sick. He came to call sinners…just the sinners of that day ?..i think not. How does he dispense to us sinners today ?..through the Eucharist…medicine for the sick. His Body…Does Jesus just want to treat our symptoms with His Body, or cure us ?..medicine for an eternal life, hows that for a guarantee…?

Adultery and Masterbation are Mortal Sins…grave matter the OP’r has knowledge of…does now anyway…these will always be constant…the only way to cure this is by not consenting any longer…no consent, no sin…receiving His medicine daily at mass, a piece of God Himself, praying the rosary every morning, an hour in front of the tabernacle, wearing the scapular…the last thing the OP’r will want to do is willingly consent to offending God in any manner, let alone by self gratifying himself physically or with lustful thought…will he still be tempted every 21 seconds like most men ?..probably…will the OP’r be nourished with medecine to fight and not consent ? guaranteed…

in the original post, i made no inference towards a cure overnight, in fact i stated he should continue daily, and also, you yourself say in your post that Jesus Christ is ultimately the answer… yet you dont believe He guarantees it ?

I will also guarantee the OP’r will be more interested in comforting his mourning friend than thinking of himself…will you buy that one ?

God Bless

 

[Pregustator]

I wouldnt make this guarantee, if i didnt know it worked

.

You aren’t in any position to make a guarantee, however; you’re just an individual Christian like the rest of us.

When a manufacturer sells a product, the manufacturer guarantees it and then is responsible for it if it doesn’t work.

The official Catholic Church doesn’t guarantee results from private Catholic devotions; how on earth, then, can you? Will you also take responsibility for any failure of the “product” to achieve the results which the “customer” was guaranteed?

…you yourself say in your post that Jesus Christ is ultimately the answer… yet you dont believe He guarantees it ?

He, of course, is in a position to make guarantees, but no, not even He has guaranteed results from consistent dedication to private devotions. Christ has guaranteed that if we believe in Him and follow Him, and end life’s journey in His grace, we will be united to the Father through Him, with Him, and in Him forever. But he never guaranteed us that if we say this prayer or that prayer everyday we will, necessarily, successfully overcome various temptations of the flesh.

I will also guarantee the OP’r will be more interested in comforting his mourning friend than thinking of himself…will you buy that one ?

Yes, in that we are in full agreement.

Incidentally, if I diasgree with you it doesn’t mean I oppose you or dislike you. Sometimes typed words can “sound” harsher than spoken ones, and I don’t want you to think I’m being belligerent towards you.

I do enjoy arguing, however, admittedly!

 

[MtGargano]

a GOOD confession to start, everyday mass and communion, frequent confession, does not a “private devotion” make…i did not infer, take 2 chaplets and a scapular in the morning and a rosary before bed…my particular practice came before the cure really, i was not addicted to adultery and masterbation, although frequent consideration for each took place, especially with Christs definition of Adultery…i tried to stress it was the willingness to offend God and the consent to sin that would ultimately be effected…i cant say if it was this prayer, or that mass attendance that did it, but a point came where “consideration” to commit those sins were eliminated…i suspect it is the frequent Communion, .crossing the line with lustful thoughts deminished and took up most of the time during confessions, without the consent to commit the Mortal sins again, frequent confession of venial really does form your conscience…check this out…

Catechism:

1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.59 Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful…

You aren’t in any position to make a guarantee, however; you’re just an individual Christian like the rest of us.

take note of the part “fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit.”… “healed” so putting aside the my hocus pocus formula theory, and lets say it was communion every morning with a rosary, (after a good confession of everything Mortal) to begin with of course, cant i guarantee that the Catholic Catechisms guarantee that Christs guarantee works if you take the medecine ?

*When a manufacturer sells a product, the manufacturer guarantees it and then is responsible for it if it doesn’t work. *

is not Christ Himself the manufacturer of the Eucharist, the Mass, Confession ?..perhaps my articulation faults make me a poor salesman ?

The official Catholic Church doesn’t guarantee results from private Catholic devotions; how on earth, then, can you? Will you also take responsibility for any failure of the “product” to achieve the results which the “customer” was guaranteed?

again, there is no specific formula, its NOT a “private Catholic devotion”, ie: novena plus a Chaplet to cure Adultery…the Catechism itself gives the “healing” potential from frequent confession of venial sins…add in mass, communion, and the rosary…eek…Spiritual Medicine Biggie Sized…

He, of course, is in a position to make guarantees, but no, not even He has guaranteed results from consistent dedication to private devotions. Christ has guaranteed that if we believe in Him and follow Him, and end life’s journey in His grace, we will be united to the Father through Him, with Him, and in Him forever. But he never guaranteed us that if we say this prayer or that prayer everyday we will, necessarily, successfully overcome various temptations of the flesh.

again, it wasnt a private devotion of this prayer + that one, …uhhg…

Yes, in that we are in full agreement.

cool…

*Incidentally, if I diasgree with you it doesn’t mean I oppose you or dislike you. Sometimes typed words can “sound” harsher than spoken ones, and I don’t want you to think I’m being belligerent towards you. *

no offense taken…and if the OP sincerely wants to stop, and tries mass everyday and maybe a pilgrimage to Lourdes, he may verywell accidentally cure alot of other sin ailments along the way…hehe…i guarantee it…DOH

I do enjoy arguing, however, admittedly!

argue away