Overcoming sin and being holy?

[MainBrain]

How does a person get over his or her habitual sin and become holy? It seems the sins that easily entangle me are almost indestructible. I suppose fasting would be in order. That’s a hurtle in and of itself. I tell you, acquiring holiness is not easy.

 

[mebcb]

Is holiness meant to be easy? It is easy to be sinful. but to be holy almost always takes a lot of work, desire and dedication to leading a good, better life. The answer to becoming holy lies within your self. No one can really tell you how to be holy. You must want it…to be in union with God. Blessings be upon you, my friend and may you find what you seek.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

It takes prayer, Grace, elbow grease and a plan, as well as introspection to know your sins and their root cause. From there one works at each sin one at a time (unless we’re talking mortal sins. That needs to be ceased immediately.) working at the opposite virtue. When one sin is eradicated, usually more sins will go with it. Slow, steady, patiently will all sins be gone and the person will grow in holiness. This is a very simplified explanation, but it’s the basics. This is where good spiritual reading comes in handy. St. Francis De Sales’ Intro to the Devout Life is good for lay people just starting out.

 

[SJacob7]

I may have a different take on it, but can we really become holy? To me that sounds a bit self-righteous. If I was able to make myself holy, who would get the credit? Me, that’s who. Not God.

We are sinners, and will be until the day we die. Yes, we need to work at being better, and we need to ask for forgiveness and repent, but to think that I would ever be ‘holy’ in this world is something I don’t believe can happen. For one thing, I would be spending all my time trying to make me holy. Doesn’t leave much room for sincerely helping others. My motives would be trying to make me better.

SJ

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

I may have a different take on it, but can we really become holy? To me that sounds a bit self-righteous. If I was able to make myself holy, who would get the credit? Me, that’s who. Not God.

We are sinners, and will be until the day we die. Yes, we need to work at being better, and we need to ask for forgiveness and repent, but to think that I would ever be ‘holy’ in this world is something I don’t believe can happen. For one thing, I would be spending all my time trying to make me holy. Doesn’t leave much room for sincerely helping others. My motives would be trying to make me better.

SJ

Yes, we can become holy. In fact, we are expected to become saints in THIS LIFE. We all have a universal call to holiness. It is not self-righteous to desire to become holy and to think we can become holy. That’s just a temptation from the devil who does not want is to be holy.

 

[bardegaulois]

No doubt you know the obvious answers to this question–frequent recourse to the sacraments, frequent prayer, spiritual reading, and so forth. But I’d like to add to all of this the answer that St. Maximilian Kolbe gave often: give your concerns to Mary Immaculate.

Might I suggest a novena to her for your intention of rising above your habitual sins, avoiding temptations, and participating more fully with the work of the Holy Spirit in your soul?: ewtn.com/devotionals/novena/immaculate.htm

God bless.

 

[SJacob7]

Yes, we can become holy. In fact, we are expected to become saints in THIS LIFE. We all have a universal call to holiness. It is not self-righteous to desire to become holy and to think we can become holy. That’s just a temptation from the devil who does not want is to be holy.

Ok, let me know when you become ‘holy’! I’m sure it will be an amazing feat to accomplish! But you will probably be so proud that you are now ‘holy’ that you won’t have time for us sinners. I just can’t imagine someone actually thinking that they made it, that they are holy.

For me, I won’t ever be completely holy (because of sin) while on this earth. But it is through Jesus Christ that I am made righteous with God.

 

[ready]

If a person’s habitual sin is let’s say impurity in thought, then he must pray ceaselessly and should fast if healthy enough, with the permission of a holy and learned spiritual director; he must practice custody of the senses; he must practice temperance in food and drink; he must fill his mind with holy thoughts by means of constant prayer and pious spiritual reading; he must avoid all near occasions of sin; he must always invoke Mary Immaculate for her assistance and truly should pray the rosary faithfully and devotedly to her every day; he must love God and hate the sin of impurity and rather die than sin again; he must worthily receive the sacraments and make frequent Acts of Love; he truly should pray 3 Hail Mary’s every day for the virtue of purity in honor of our Lady’s purity. One must have 100% confidence in Jesus’ and Mary’s help and no confidence in oneself; The more one hopes for, the more one can receive from God. God bless you.

 

[PRAYER51]

To say we can’t become holy in this life is ridiculous…we can still have faults and be holy as long as we are in a state of grace. I think some people may be confusing holiness with perfectionism. We are called to holiness to the extant that is humanly possible by co-operating with the Holy Spirit…it is the power of God at work in us and not something we accomplish on our own. It isn’t self righteous to say we should aspire to holiness in this life. To be holy is to be in right relationship with Reality (God)…that’s why we’re here isn’t it?

 

[mariemargaret]

I just finished a book called ‘Follow My Lead’. It details events in the author’s life when she follows the lead of the Holy Spirit in her call to evangelize, with her insights about the outcome. It is written by a christian author, but I am sure there are many books written by Catholics that follow the same vein. This book is very readable, which is nice!

The thing that I really like about this book though is the last 3 chapters. They are about following the Holy Spirit to: overcome (habitual) sin, into service, and through surrender. In the chapter about service, she addressed the issue of being ‘power hungry’; thinking that your holiness is of your own making. It is a pitfall to be aware of and avoided. You become holy when you allow the Holy Spirit to work through you, and follow the Spirit’s lead.

Anyway, about the OP, there is a whole chapter about the Holy Spirit helping us to overcome sin. It boils down to accepting that you can’t do it yourself; that you need the Holy Spirit to help you. Not that we would never sin again, but that if one allows the Holy Spirit to work in you, you can overcome those sins.

God Bless you!

 

[PRAYER51]

:thumbsup:Excellent!!! There is a similar book I’ve read called " In the School of the Holy Spirit" by Father Jacques Phillipe…it has the same premise…the Holy Spirit gives us the grace we need to become holy which allows us to receive more grace when thankfully received…we are grateful and give thanks for the work God is doing in us which makes the work easier as in " MY YOKE IS EASY AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT." He has several excellent books that I have now on my Kindle for like $8 each.

 

[mariemargaret]

There you go!! That book sounds fabulous too. Now I’ve got more reading to do…

 

[PRAYER51]

Problem is all his books are amazing!!! which really isn’t a problem is it?
They are among the best, most concise yet readable books I’ve ever read and there’s a beautiful simplicity to his writing as well which makes the subject matter easier to remember. Check out his website: frjacquesphilippe.com/books

 

[mariemargaret]

Thanks for the website link; I’ll check it out! Thanks!!

 

[TK421]

How does a person get over his or her habitual sin and become holy? It seems the sins that easily entangle me are almost indestructible. I suppose fasting would be in order. That’s a hurtle in and of itself. I tell you, acquiring holiness is not easy.

Substitute evil habits with good habits.

I used to watch pornography on a nightly basis. Now, on a nightly basis, I look at an image of the Blessed Mother and a few other saintly women, such as Therese of Lisieux, and I just look at them, and think about how beautiful they are, and how much they must love me, and I tell them how much I love them and how much I want to make them proud. I never actually stopped looking at women before going to bed, I just radically changed the manner in which I did it. I go to bed comforted, even moreso than before, and I do not violate my body in doing it. It occurred to me that I could have these real women, who really loved me, or I could have my imaginary harem, but that I could not have both. The choice became obvious. Painfully so. I wanted to be held by my mom and my big sisters. I wanted to give them my heart. I wanted to be where they are. The imaginary harem melted away, and God willing, it stays away.

When Gregory the Great was presented the decision on whether to destroy the druidic temples in England or revamp them into temples of Christian worship, he chose the later. These people went to the same places that they always went to. The structure was the same, but the manner was entirely different. Christ does not destroy. He transforms.

 

[PRAYER51]

Devotion to the Rosary, the Sacred Heart, and daily spiritual reading also helps me. I’ve found Centering Prayer to be a great help as well THOMAS KEATING’S books are great for Centering prayer.

 

[Bookcat]

Overcoming sin and becoming holy – confession, prayer, Holy Mass, a regular confessor, mortifications, good spiritual reading, short prayers during the day, lectio divina etc etc.

But let me also note:

Christians on earth – who are living “in Christ” – are saints (holy).

There is nothing new to this and is what we as Catholics hold.

We believe what Paul and other New Testament writers mean when they use the term.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church 823 :

"The Church, then, is “the holy People of God,” and her members are called “saints.”

And from Pope Benedict XVI:

“In his First Letter to the Corinthians, St Paul addresses “those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Cor 1: 2). Indeed, Christians are already saints because Baptism unites them to Jesus and to his Paschal Mystery…”

(and then discussing becoming --more holy --more conformed to Christ he continues…)

“…but at the same time they must become so by conforming themselves every more closely to him.”

“Sometimes, people think that holiness is a privileged condition reserved for the few elect. Actually, becoming holy is every Christian’s task… The Apostle writes that God has always blessed us and has chosen us in Christ “that we should be holy and blameless before him… in love” (Eph 1: 3-5). … The “Way” is Christ, the Son, the Holy One of God: “no one comes to the Father but by me [Jesus]” (cf. Jn 14: 6).”

~ Pope Benedict XVI 1 November 2007

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/index.htm

Now over the centuries yes another use of the term saints developed. Saints has been yes used for those who have lived as saints in a heroic way (by the grace of God of course).

And yes later a process of canonization developed to recognize them, honor them and propose them as special models for the Christian faithful in following Christ.

Thus one can say there are saints and also Saints in the canonized sense or at least the recognized sense (they were recognized long before the process of canonization developed…especially Our Lady, the Apostles and Martyrs).

---

So when someone says to me “oh well I am not a saint”- I am “not holy” I say “you better get to confession then” and the explain what I mean …

 

[Bookcat]

Devotion to the Rosary, the Sacred Heart, and daily spiritual reading also helps me. I’ve found Centering Prayer to be a great help as well THOMAS KEATING’S books are great for Centering prayer.

The last part there is a banned topic - such is not permitted to be discussed on Catholic Answers.

 

[Bookcat]

Overcoming sin and becoming holy – confession, prayer, Holy Mass, a regular confessor, mortifications, good spiritual reading, short prayers during the day, lectio divina etc etc.

But let me also note:

Christians on earth – who are living “in Christ” – are saints (holy).

There is nothing new to this and is what we as Catholics hold.

We believe what Paul and other New Testament writers mean when they use the term.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church 823 :

"The Church, then, is “the holy People of God,” and her members are called “saints.”

And from Pope Benedict XVI:

“In his First Letter to the Corinthians, St Paul addresses “those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Cor 1: 2). Indeed, Christians are already saints because Baptism unites them to Jesus and to his Paschal Mystery…”

(and then discussing becoming --more holy --more conformed to Christ he continues…)

“…but at the same time they must become so by conforming themselves every more closely to him.”

“Sometimes, people think that holiness is a privileged condition reserved for the few elect. Actually, becoming holy is every Christian’s task… The Apostle writes that God has always blessed us and has chosen us in Christ “that we should be holy and blameless before him… in love” (Eph 1: 3-5). … The “Way” is Christ, the Son, the Holy One of God: “no one comes to the Father but by me [Jesus]” (cf. Jn 14: 6).”

~ Pope Benedict XVI 1 November 2007

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/index.htm

Now over the centuries yes another use of the term saints developed. Saints has been yes used for those who have lived as saints in a heroic way (by the grace of God of course).

And yes later a process of canonization developed to recognize them, honor them and propose them as special models for the Christian faithful in following Christ.

Thus one can say there are saints and also Saints in the canonized sense or at least the recognized sense (they were recognized long before the process of canonization developed…especially Our Lady, the Apostles and Martyrs).

---

So when someone says to me “oh well I am not a saint”- I am “not holy” I say “you better get to confession then” and the explain what I mean …

 

[Mary_Ellen]

Ok, let me know when you become ‘holy’! I’m sure it will be an amazing feat to accomplish! But you will probably be so proud that you are now ‘holy’ that you won’t have time for us sinners. I just can’t imagine someone actually thinking that they made it, that they are holy.

For me, I won’t ever be completely holy (because of sin) while on this earth. But it is through Jesus Christ that I am made righteous with God.

You sound a bit self-defensive here. Deo Gratias42 didn’t write anything to deserve such an attack. We ARE called to holiness. Jesus said “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” He wouldn’t ask us to do the impossible.
In order to reach this perfection the faithful should use the strength dealt out to them by Christ’s gift, so that… doing the will of the Father in everything, they may wholeheartedly devote themselves to the glory of God and to the service of their neighbor. Thus the holiness of the People of God will grow in fruitful abundance, as is clearly shown in the history of the Church through the lives of so many saints. (Lumen Gentium)

Pope Saint John Paul II, in his apostolic letter, Novo Millenio Ineunte, has much to say about this. He tells us that Baptism is the entrance into holiness and that when catechumens are asked “Do you wish to receive Baptism?” it means at the same time to ask them: “Do you wish to become holy?”
… this ideal of perfection must not be misunderstood as if it involved some kind of extraordinary existence, possible only for a few “uncommon heroes” of holiness. The ways of holiness are many, according to the vocation of each individual. I thank the Lord that in these years he has enabled me to beatify and canonize a large number of Christians, and among them many lay people who attained holiness in the most ordinary circumstances of life. The time has come to re-propose wholeheartedly to everyone this high standard of ordinary Christian living: the whole life of the Christian community and of Christian families must lead in this direction. It is also clear however that the paths to holiness are personal and call for a genuine “training in holiness”, adapted to people’s needs. (NMI, 31)

I don’t know any of the saints who claimed to have “made it.” All the ones I can think of became more and more aware of their sinfulness the closer they came to union with God but that did not stop them from trying to become holy. None of them became so proud that they didn’t have time for sinners as they, too, were sinners.

You wrote:

For one thing, I would be spending all my time trying to make me holy. Doesn’t leave much room for sincerely helping others.

What do you think holiness consists of? Surely Mother Teresa of Calcutta was a holy woman and she certainly had time to sincerely help others. Holiness is union with God, knowing and doing His Will, being Christ for others in our world. “It would be a contradiction to settle for a life of mediocrity, marked by a minimalist ethic and a shallow religiosity” (NMI, 30). I’m not saying that’s what you’re advocating, but we must aim for the highest ideal, not any lower.