Overcoming Sexual Sin for my Vocation

[CarmeliteGirl25]

Clean of Heart: Overcoming habitual sins against purity
amazon.com/Clean-Heart-Overcoming-Habitual-against/dp/0977223450

Great book. I highly recommend it. Totally catholic and ideal for those who struggle with this problem. I’ve used this book myself and found it tremendously helpful.

I’ve used that book too. The Last Meditation: Judgement Day was VERY sobering. It’s a great tool.

 

[bobolink]

I’ve used that book too. The Last Meditation: Judgement Day was VERY sobering. It’s a great tool.

It’s interesting to note that my turnaround came when I read a good sermon, The Little Number of Those Who are Saved, by St Leonard of Port Maurice. That and the meditations in that book. It shook a good dose of sense into me. I think it is important for one to return to that book and re-do the course from time to time to keep with the program, and I plan to do so myself shortly. I think the book is, sadly, one of the best kept secrets in catholic publishing. It’s need couldn’t be greater.

 

[jazzbass981]

I thought ahumblesinner’s post was frank and to the point, and IMHO, the post was fine. The man is asking for advice & help. The Bible is laced with stories of sexual impurities, so anything posted here about the topic is fine. Ahumblesinner, pray often, and hard. Look at yourself as someone very special. The devil is at work here, and WANTS you to have doubts and hold onto the guilt of sin!

Like posted earlier, find a good confessor, pray to our Lady, St. Mary Magdeline & especially St. Benedict for assistance. The St. Benedict medal is know for it’s power to ward off evil. It has worked wonders for me. If anyone feels offended by your posts, you can email me directly at jazzbass981@comcast.net and I will be happy to talk with you. I had a porn addiction and completely overcame it! I did it through lots of prayer, and with the help of many people on this board!

 

[Zapfenstreich]

I had a porn addiction and completely overcame it!

It’s definitely possible to overcome this stuff. The first six months is the most difficult time. Then it gets easier.

Also, a major +1 on the St. Benedict medal. I have one on the headboard of my bed, it’s a great help. But for me, the best thing is the Rosary, every night, last thing you do before retiring. It really helps.

Finally, don’t count the days. Don’t feel jealous of others. Just concentrate on your own pathway up the mountain, step by careful step.

 

[bobolink]

I know that it is definitely possible to overcome porn addiction. However I think it is very important to remain vigilant, being aware of pride, and avoiding the near occasions of sin in the future.

 

[HappyRevert]

You know, it’s obvious this is just going to turn into a fruitless back and forth so I’ll just say this for anyone out there suffering through this kind of struggle or really any struggle:

The Sacrament of Confession is certainly enough for the grace to receive repentance of sins. Addiction, however, is not the same as sin. Sin can lead to addiction, but when a person has a full-blown addiction, an element of their free will is compromised and they need help to “retrain” their bodies and minds that are now captive. Habitual sin, a precursor to addiction, also often needs some outside help. Please do not neglect getting that help. This has nothing to do with questioning how much faith a person has or how powerful God is - this is a matter of dealing practically with the challenges at hand, with brokenness, with habitual problems. It is unfair to reduce all issues down to a “spiritual problem.” We are physical beings and our sin often leads to physical and emotional problems that a priest cannot fully address during the Sacrament of Confession.

Case in point… I had a very devout friend struggle with sexual addiction. He confessed his issues all the time, had a full-time spiritual director, etc and still he was losing the battle. He finally told people - not everyone - but he told some close friends and a counselor (I am the only woman who was told because we were dating and I needed to know as part of discernment). His struggle was infecting our relationship, but being in the dark, I hadn’t know what was going on and didn’t realize that some of the innocent things I wore were a problem for him because it wasn’t a problem for any other man in my life and were modest by general standards. It was infecting everything… his friends could not help him and were in fact, in some ways making it worse because they were unaware that he was weak in areas. So they would communicate over email (when he was trying to avoid the internet), and watch movies with him that wouldn’t tempt them but were in fact, tempting him, etc. It’s the same with alcoholism or drinking problems… when it becomes evident that a friend has an issue, we are more equipped to help, to invite that person to dry events, and to do an intervention if necessary. A priest in the confessional simply cannot have that level of daily influence and accountability over every parishioner nor would I want to place that responsibility solely on the priests. I would imagine that priests rely on all their parishioners to be seeking holiness and helping each other seek holiness. Also, many are not strong enough to seek professional counseling until a friend or family member recognizes the problem and helps them take that step.

Okay, sorry, I hope this hasn’t come off as a rant. It’s just that I’ve seen this above mentality do some real harm to people, and in my opinion is advocating a false kind of holiness. One of the hardest things for a person dealing with habitual sin or addiction, especially sexual, is to admit they have a problem. The last thing that person needs is someone shaming them back into the closet where the sin will just fester. And as Catholics we are called to live in community - no matter how great a book is, it is not the same as a real live friend saying “Look I support you in this struggle, I am praying for you.” Gosh, I know one person who struggles with alcoholism who can barely read. Reading a book would be of not help.

I love this post. It shows the practical aspects of helping people (myself included) out of habitual sin.

 

[dontknow]

“…People are too nonchalant and imprudent about matters of sexuality nowadays. Rock and Roll, Jazz, and the promiscuous movie/television/music/magazine/internet (media) censorship system have mislead our culture into lust, perversion, indecency, obscenity, and impurity that are all contrary to chastity (one of the vows pledged in a religious vocation). …”

While I agree that matters of sexuality are very nonchalant nowadays in our media driven culture, I have never heard of anyone turning to sin based on Jazz.

If Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Coleman Hawkins and many of the other great gifted Jazz Icons (Wynton Marsalis today) have made people sin, I’d love to hear about it. They have all received gifts from God to make this world a better place to live in. If I’m a sinner for listening to Coleman Hawkins instrumental version of “Body & Soul”, so be it.

Instead of watching TV, I pass most evenings listening to many of the great Jazz Masters. I even try educating myself about their lives and influence on the music.

"…Please, for your sake and the sake of others. Do all of this in private and do not post these threads anymore, also. Thank you.

Normally never say stuff like this but if you don’t like these types of threads - why bother looking? Spend your energy trying to shut down 90% of the worthless Internet that does indeed advocate and release immoral junk.

Just because you don’t benefit doesn’t mean others don’t.

The original poster has received valid advice from their post. Hope it helps .