Overcoming addiction

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dsully

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I was doing so well for over a year, but I fell back into impure habits: self-stimulation and viewing pornography.

I have been given the gift of a Catholic psychiatrist who has prescribed some meds that seem to be working, but I know that I cannot be looking at pornography and self-stimulating if I want my brain, mind, and heart to be healed from my past.

Yesterday I had the thought about going to mass and letting the RCIA director know that I am interested in RCIA again. Last year I dropped out of the program after the Rite of Election.

It is time to get serious about life, overcome these addictions, and be all that I can be by the grace of God.

I thank you for your prayers. One day at a time, and with God’s help in prayer, I know that I can live free of this sin and continue the process of healing.
 
You have my prayers too. Keep on choosing the good, get right back up after a fall, and may God’s healing grace and peace be with you.
 
Every time you feel the urge, pray the Hail Mary until it goes away. Also, I would recommend that you pray the Rosary as much as possible, because it truly defeats sin.
 
I truly understand where you are, for I too have traveled those same roads. Even though I am what is called a “cradle Catholic” I have been plagued with those same issues since the early days of Playboy, and Hustler.
Early this year, I lost my wife of 50 years to a hospital mistake. I am definitely not over that at all, but that’s another story for later. Just prior to my wife’s death, I had a heart attack, and while still under sedation, a voice told me, “Stop worrying, it’s been turned around”. When I awoke, there stood a Catholic priest. He said someone called him, and told him that I wanted to talk to him. He spent over half an hour with me, ending with giving me the last rites, as my heart was still acting up. As he was leaving, out of the clear blue, I asked him to go see my wife, who was in ICU also. When I left her the afternoon before, she was in her room, talking to a classmate. How did I know she had been brought into ICU? I didn’t. But, the words just came out of my mouth.
I firmly believe that the Blessed Mother was keeping a First Saturday promise of the sacraments before death, and was just using me to send my wife the spiritual help she needed.
After she died, the devil took out his vengence on me. The temptations, the doubts, the constant thoughts of porn, and self gratification. I told my pastor of the situation, and he told me that my problem stemmed from me being the reason that he no longer had my wife’s soul, and that I needed to “change my ways” or the devil would surely have my soul. I took him at his word, and set up an alter in my home using pictures of the Blessed Mother, and of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Topped off with blessed candles from Church, and a crystal crucifix that my wife had bought, and using a Lady of Fatima rosary that I received from “America Needs Fatima”, we, combined, took on the devil head on.
It has been four months since my last “session” of porn, and self gratification, and as you can see, I still use the internet, only now for much different purposes.
The change in my life was almost instantaneous. Once I had the alter set up, and began using it, the “urges” vanished. Oh, there are still problems. After 54 years “honoring” the same beautiful female body, to turn that off is another thing yet. Reacting to it in a sinful way is what has been stopped.
It is a constant, and on-going battle people like you, and I, fight. The devil is indeed “alive and well”. And, his powers have not diminished. Just look at what he has done to this country of ours.
As had been said already, pray, pray, pray. The power of Heaven is way more so than the power of Hell. Remember something my pastor told me, “Any photo. or statue of Jesus shows His hands extended out to us. We have to reach back.”
A short prayer I found in a chaplet to the Blessed Sacrament: "Jesus, in the Blessed Sacrament, take my heart, soul, body, and mind, and make them Yours, today, and forever, Amen.
 
Be courageous and know that you -can- make it a year, which means you can make it a year and one day, and then a year and two days…etc. I’ve been trying to quit for over a year now and the best I’ve managed is three weeks. You’re a shining example to me, an inspiration! Take heart in the knowledge that God will help you no matter how often you fail ^^
 
Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven.
 
As has been said so often by so many, “I am but the messenger, God in the author” If He used me in any way, to promote His way, then, I am truly blessed, and humbled.
 
Hail Mary,full of Grace
The Lord is with Thee
Blessed art thou amongst women
And Blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus
Holy Mary, Mother of God
Pray for us sinners
Now, and at the hour of our death
Amen
 
Praying that the Lord may provide you with grace and the strength to persevere.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen
 
On these pages, you see those who have listed their names, and the prayers they are saying for you. Just just think of all the people who have read your posts, and are praying for us without us even knowing it. The Heavens have truly opened up to receive these prayers, and certainly God will hear, and respond positively.
 
O merciful God, may your loving arms of a Father embrace dsully so that your love and forgiveness may be felt.

Look down upon us good and gentle Jesus, while before Thy face we humbly kneel and with burning soul pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in our hearts lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, true contrition for sins and a firm purpose of amendment, while we contemplate with great love and tender pity Thy Five Wounds, pondering over them within us and calling to mind the words which David, Thy prophet said of Thee, Jesus, “They have pierced My Hands and My Feet, they have numbered all My Bones.”

Amen!
 
Saint Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O’ Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen.

†

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

†

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

†
 
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