Hello seekeroG,
I applaud your efforts to be a pure soul on the path through this world into the next. Know that you are in my prayers! I hope I can share a few helpful prayers from the mighty arsenal the Church equips us with.
The sign of the Cross is the foundation of all my prayer. “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!” There is much packed in this act of prayer. At my forehead I have the intention giving all my thoughts to the Lord that he may bless them and make them Holy. At my abdomen (and even a little lower if the occasion of sin warrants it) I surrender all my appitites and desires to the Lord that He may make them Holy. At my right shoulder I thank God for all his many gifts and the little strength he has given me and offer them in Praise of Him. At my left shoulder I surrender all of my weakness to the Mighty Trinity. This prayerful action is the beginning and end of all my prayer and grounds my faith in the Holy Trinity, One in being and undivided! all in a few seconds. I remember a zealous Priest telling a group of us guys (in a startlingly graphic mannor) that when we fall and even (especially?) while in the act of sinning to make the sign of the cross with faith and reverance. It is a powerful way to rob sin and shame of much (but not quite all) of their destructive power.
I would strongly recommend a medal or crucifix with an imbedded medal of St. Benedict. On the front of the medal is a cross with letters that each represent a latin word. From memory (which has been less than reliable) the vertical bar translates “Let the Holy Cross be my light” and the horizontal “and the Dragon not my leader.” Around the perimiter are more letters “Get behind me Satan, what you show me is evil. Entice me not by your vanities but drink your own poison!” Along with this prayer I invoke Benedict’s intercession with “St. Benedict. Pray for us!” I have made a habit of praying this whenever I pass a pornography shop in repairation for my own thorn. Make sure to get the medal blessed as it does make a difference. Blessed objects connect us to the grace of baptism and if you are awaiting baptism they should connect you to the “baptism of desire.”
I would also recomend the Jesus Prayer. “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. Have mercy on me a sinner!” This can be abreviated “Lord Jesus, Son of God. Have mercy on me a sinner” or even “Jesus! Mercy!” It is a very ancient prayer rooted in the scripture and prominent in the eastern expressions of Christianity.
At times certain parts of the Mass come to mind and are a powerful connection to the saving work of Christ in and through the liturgy. “Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy!” “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us/Grant us peace.” "Our Father… and so on.
There are also a few invocations from the Byzantine Rite that I find useful.
“That this day may be perfect, holy, peacful, and without sin, let us pray to the Lord. Lord have Mercy!”
“For a Christian end to our life, one that is peaceful, painless, without shame, and for a
good defence before the awesome judgment seat of Christ let us pray to the Lord. Lord have Mercy!”
I could go on and on and I pray I have not overwhelmed you dear sibling in Christ. I also recommend praying the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Having the beads running through you fingers is of great help when enduring physical temptations. I would also recommend Novenas. They are a Nine day progression of prayer modeled on the days between the ascension of Our Lord and the comming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. A friend of mine just gave me a Novena to the Holy Spirit
spiritans.com/novena.htm which I am bringing on retreat and has never failed him.
I also encourage you to build personal relationships with the Saints who have gone before. St. Louis de Montfort, pray for us! St. Therese the little flower, Pray for us! And also remember the Gaurdian angels who watch over us and protect us. There is a long held practice of naming your angel to aid in personal intimacy. I have a friend and his “Andy” who continually blow my mind.
There is much more but I must stop. Take care beloved one and go with God!
You are not alone!
your little brother
donald
