Prayers needed for addiction

[josh987654321]

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Hi jibjala, I hope you don’t mind if I share some things that have helped me alot and I believe may also help you.

One thing that I believe will help greatly is frequent meditation on Christ’s Agony in the Garden during His Passion.

http://s7.postimg.org/nbhgw2ii3/Jesus_prays_in_the_garden.jpg
Jesus to Catalina:

The Passion - loveandmercy.org/Eng-TP-Reg.pdf

**1) Nobody really believes that I sweat blood that night at Gethsemane, and few believe that I suffered much more in those hours than in the Crucifixion. It was more sorrowful because it was clearly revealed to Me that the sins of everyone were made Mine and that I should answer for each one. Thus I, being innocent, answered to the Father as if I were really guilty of dishonesty and I, being pure, answered to the Father as if I were stained of all the impurities committed by you, My brothers and sisters. You dishonor God who created you to be instruments of the greatness of Creation and not to stray from the nature given you with the purpose of having it gradually behold the sight of the purity of Me, your Creator.

1. Therefore, I was made a thief, a murderer, an adulterer, a liar, a sacrilegious person, a blasphemer, slanderer and a rebel to the Father whom I have always loved.
2. It was precisely this contrast between My Love for the Father and His Will that caused My sweating blood. But I obeyed until the end and for love of everyone, I covered Myself with the stain so that I could do My Father’s Will and save you from eternal damnation.
3. Consider how many agonies more than human I had that night and, believe Me, nobody could alleviate such anguish because, on the contrary, I was seeing how each one of you devoted yourself to making cruel at every moment the death given to Me because of the offenses whose ransom I have paid in full. I want it to be known once again how I loved all mankind at that hour of abandonment and indescribable sadness…**

http://s21.postimg.org/pmeu14f13/jesus_in_the_mount_of_olives.jpg
Extract from 'The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich':

Chapter 1 - Jesus in the Garden of Olives - jesus-passion.com/THE_PASSION.htm#CHAPTER I

He fell on his face, overwhelmed with unspeakable sorrow, and all the sins of the world displayed themselves before him, under countless forms and in all their real deformity. He took them all upon himself, and in his prayer offered his own adorable Person to the justice of his Heavenly Father, in payment for so awful a debt. But Satan, who was enthroned amid all these horrors, and even filled with diabolical joy at the sight of them, let loose his fury against Jesus, and displayed before the eyes of his soul increasingly awful visions, at the same time addressing his adorable humanity in words such as these: ‘Takest thou even this sin upon thyself? Art thou willing to bear its penalty? Art thou prepared to satisfy for all these sins?’

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[josh987654321]

TK421:

You don’t overcome temptations of the flesh. God has deliberately created you with a strength that is insufficient to compete against what the devil is capable of throwing at you. The reason he did this is because he wants you to use Him as your strength instead. Pretend the temptations of this world are like an armada heading your direction at full speed. In your left hand, you have a pistol. In your right hand, you have a radio to call in an infinitely-supplying armada from Heaven. Which tool should you use?

The material from the history of the saints is overwhelming. Really, really overwhelming. All temptations are overcome by receiving the graces that God delivers from asking him in prayer.

So, coming from the same age range as you, and having been caught up in porn & masturbation for over a decade, this is how I stopped:

1. Mary & other female saints. My struggle to stop masturbation corresponded with me joining the Catholic Church, and the introduction of the Communion of Saints was a game changer for me, because in this, I saw in more full clarity the decision I had before me. I could have all of Mary’s motherly love, and affection, and devotion, and tender care, without end, or I could have my imaginary harem, but it was not possible for me to have both. One comes at the expense of the other. So I prayed. Marian spirituality was still foreign and bizarre to me, but I prayed to God to make me fall in love with her. I let all of my pride drop and I just practiced making myself more and more vulnerable before God and His saints. For a male, perhaps especially a young male, this is a counter-intuitive thing to do. Do it anyway.
2. Fully turning over your strength and taking God’s strength in its place. St Augustine is perhaps the most famous saint in history for having defeated his deeply-ingrained impurity. He didn’t have internet porn. No, he had a real flesh & blood concubine. He said, in his struggle, that at first, he presumed that this is something that had to be done by his own power, and he felt helpless to succeed at this. But then, he knew, that it was something God does.

You’re caught up on ways in which to stop impurity, but you should instead be reading about ways in which to start praying. Really praying, with love and joy and surrender. St. Alphonsus Liguori’s “A Short Treatise on Prayer” is where you should begin. It is free on the internet.

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[josh987654321]

Jesus to Catalina:

The Great Crusade of Mercy - loveandmercy.org/Eng-CM-Reg.pdf

**1) My child, I have prayed for you and for all at Gethsemane; I have not forgotten anyone because all were united to Me in a mysterious but real embrace. I have desired and needed to pray, since I had firmly in mind the fact that, notwithstanding My invitation repeated several times, you would not have prayed as much as I wish. Therefore, I lovingly humbled Myself and I prayed for you as much as the Son of God made man could possibly do.

1. It is example that counts. It is hard for you to follow Me because you do not love Me enough or because [you think] I am indifferent to you, as if I were not your Redeemer, as if your salvation depended not on Me, but on others.
2. If I have said “Pray”, I have also specified to Peter and the other Apostles that they should pray with Me. I knew, and I know what it meant to ask them to pray, and I have offered Myself to keep them company so that praying would be less difficult, more accepted and more attractive.
3. Remember and think about the fact that it was at Gethsemane that I have asked them to pray with Me. I did not ask them to do so Tabor but at Gethsemane, and you should understand why. But if you are not awake, attentive and watching, how can you possibly pray with Me? You are overcome by sleep, and you also will sleep and be assailed by temptation, because you have not accepted My invitation to pray with Me.
4. Ah, Peter, Peter! What an example of human frailty you have left to the world that does not yet understand the great misery you suffered then at that time! You were ready to die for Me and [yet] you put yourself before all, demonstrating the pride you were filled with then. “The others, yes,” you said, “but I will not betray you.” And instead, the others did not fall as low as you fell. They were fainthearted but they did not deny Me as openly, as you have done, My Peter. And why was that?
5. Because you did not remain with Me praying, so My enemy made you fall by making use of some poor people, but above all because of your failure to be united with Me.
6. Peter! Peter of My Heart! Oh, My little and most beloved Peter! Throughout the entire world until the end of time your weakness and My Mercy will be alluded to. But all those who wish to follow Me: reflect on the fact that the triple fall of Peter arose from the vanity that separated him from Me, and which prevented him from praying, because those who believe they need help, do pray, and not those who are vain enough to think themselves strong.
7. What do you want Me to add for you? I have given you an example; I have made clear to you why people fall into the temptation of the flesh and the spirit.
8. Remain with Me. Let us pray together, that is, I will pray in you and for you, since that is really the meaning of My request. I assure you that you will be heard and at the same time, you will be protected.**

How to Pray the Rosary

How to Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
Jesus to Catalina:

Praying the Rosary - loveandmercy.org/Eng-PR-Reg.pdf

**"…with the Rosary in your hands, even though your minds are blank, I will enter the depths of your hearts. You will feel My presence through the love that will be penetrating you…

"I ask you to renew your life from day to day; to be meek in your praying; learn to ask with simplicity, with the same naturalness that children ask their parents. I do not want forced words and phrases for your brothers to hear you; I want simple words but modulated with the heart.

"Each decade of the Holy Rosary that you repeat, the angels gather and place as an offering at the feet of My Holy Mother.

“When you pray the Rosary for someone, every bead is a drop of My blood and those drops fall on the person for whom it is offered.

"I greatly approve of humble prayer, that is, prayer that is based on your inability to understand and desire what is the right thing, what is pleasing to Me.**

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[josh987654321]

littlestsouls2:

A Helpful Tip for Overcoming Temptation.

One day St. Rose of Lima complained to Our Lord that He let her be exposed to a great danger of falling into sin. Perhaps we have been in this position before. Perhaps we have even fallen into mortal sin many times, despite what we thought to be our best efforts. Maybe we have become so discouraged that we almost expect to fall again…

Whatever the case may be, the good news is that God has not given up on us: if we desire Him, He desires us far more; for we cannot seek God without His grace.

**“As soon as your soul is touched by grace, and before the struggle has even begun, hasten to My Heart; beg of Me to let a drop of My Blood fall on your soul. . . . Ah! hasten to My Heart . . . and be without fear for the past; all has been swallowed up in the abyss of My mercy, and My love is preparing new graces for you. The memory of your lapses will be an incentive to humility and a source of merit, and you cannot give Me a greater proof of affection than to count on My full pardon and to believe that your sins will never be as great as My mercy, which is infinite.” **(Our Lord to Sr. Josefa Menendez)

If we etch the following truths deep in our hearts and minds, we will be preserved from many sins (provided that we persevere in prayer).

1. Grace is all–powerful. Grace is a participation in the Divine Nature; it is invincible, like God Himself. There is no sinner, however hardened, who cannot abandon his sins and be saved, provided that he calls on Almighty God with confidence and a will to turn from his wickedness. “Ask and you shall receive.”
2. God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our strength. We must not blame God for our falls. Deliberate sin, especially mortal sin, can always be avoided. If we fall, we can turn to God in humility, saying: “My Jesus, mercy! Help me to love You more! Please increase my humility. Help me to trust in you. Without You I am nothing and can do nothing.” And so forth. By our confidence we honour the infinite goodness of God. This is a sure way of obtaining great graces.
3. Without Grace we can do nothing. Everyone receives actual grace – absolutely everyone. Were God to withdraw His grace from us, we would not so much as be able to think a good thought. All life, all holiness, all wisdom, all intelligence, all goodness comes from Him. Pride is a perversion, a lie, spiritual theft, insanity (to a greater or lesser extent).
4. With God we can do all things. Every temptation we have overcome, any good we have ever done, any prayer we have made, any good we possess, is a gift from God. Why, then, do we not trust in Him?

Applying this knowledge to the pursuit of perfection – to which we are all called – it becomes evident that if we are to grow in love/holiness, we must place all our confidence in Almighty God, knowing that we can never place too much trust in Him, just as we can never place too little trust in ourselves!

St. Crescentia certainly distrusted herself, and she was profoundly humble and loving. It is written of her that if she heard of someone committing a mortal sin, she would say: “I should have fallen much lower than this unfortunate man, if Almighty God had not so powerfully upheld me; had the man, on the other hand, had the grace I possess, he would live a thousand times more piously than I do. He that thinketh himself to stand, let him take heed lest he fall.” Reflect seriously on these words, dear reader. We can never be too humble.

If we do fall into sin, we must not think: “But my spiritual life was going so well… I had avoided sin for so long… I was soaring with the saints!” No. We must attribute all our former success to God. Likewise, we must only expect to overcome sin with God’s help. Unless we trust in Our Lord, our efforts will be in vain.

**“Let Me do it!” **This is what Our Lord used to say to St. Veronica Giuliani. He says the same to us. If we are tempted, let Him do it: He will be our strength. If we desire holiness, let Him do it: He will sanctify us. Provided that we follow His inspirations and do not give in to a state of presumptuous passivity, He will lead us into His Sacred Heart.

I said earlier that St. Rose of Lima once complained to Our Lord that He allowed her to come close to falling into sin (or so she thought). This was Our Lord’s reply:

**“Would you have conquered if I had not been in your heart? I am always with you and My grace forsakes you not; therefore weep no more.” **

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[josh987654321]

Extract from the book 'Imitation of Christ' by Thomas A Kempis:

Imitation of Christ - copticplace.com/files/imi…_of_Christ.pdf

Resisting Temptation

So long as we live in this world we cannot escape suffering and temptation whence it is written in Job: “The life of man upon earth is a warfare.” Everyone, therefore, must guard against temptation and must watch in prayer lest the Devil, who never sleeps but goes about seeking whom he may devour, find occasion to deceive him. No one is so perfect or so holy but he is sometimes tempted; man cannot be altogether free from temptation.

Yet temptations, though troublesome and severe, are often useful to a man, for in them he is humbled, purified, and instructed. The saints all passed through many temptations and trials to profit by them, while those who could not resist became reprobate and fell away. There is no state so holy, no place so secret that temptations and trials will not come. Man is never safe from them as long as he lives, for they come from within us - in sin we were born. When one temptation or trial passes, another comes; we shall always have something to suffer because we have lost the state of original blessedness.

Many people try to escape temptations, only to fall more deeply. We cannot conquer simply by fleeing, but by patience and true humility we become stronger than all our enemies. The man who only shuns temptations outwardly and does not uproot them will make little progress; indeed they will quickly return, more violent than before.

Little by little, in patience and long-suffering you will overcome them, by the help of God rather than by severity and your own rash ways. Often take counsel when tempted; and do not be harsh with others who are tempted, but console them as you yourself would wish to be consoled.

The beginning of all temptation lies in a wavering mind and little trust in God, for as a rudderless ship is driven hither and yon by waves, so a careless and irresolute man is tempted in many ways.

Fire tempers iron and temptation steels the just.

Often we do not know what we can stand, but temptation shows us what we are.

Above all, we must be especially alert against the beginnings of temptation, for every enemy is more easily conquered if he is refused admittance to the mind and is met beyond the threshold when he knocks.

Someone has said very aptly “Resist the beginnings; remedies come too late, when by long delay the evil has gained strength.” First, a mere thought comes to mind, then strong imagination, followed by pleasure, evil delight and consent. Thus because he is not resisted in the beginning, Satan gains full entry. And the longer a man delays in resisting, so much the weaker does he becomes each day, while the strength of the enemy grows against him.

Some suffer great temptations in the beginning of their conversion, others toward the end, while some are troubled almost constantly throughout their life. Others, again, are tempted but lightly according to the wisdom and justice of Divine Providence Who weighs the status and merit of each and prepares all for the salvation of His elect.

We should not despair, therefore, when we are tempted, but pray to God the more fervently that He may see fit to help us, for according to the word of Paul, He will make issue with temptation that we may be able to bear it. Let us humble our souls under the hand of God in every trial and temptation for He will save and exalt the humble in spirit.

In temptations and trials the progress of a man is measured; in them opportunity for merit and virtue is made more manifest.

When a man is not troubled it is not hard for him to be fervent and devout, but if he bears up patiently in time of adversity, there is hope for great progress.

Some, guarded against great temptations, are fervently overcome by small ones in order that, humbled by their weakness in small trials, they may not presume on their own strength in great ones.

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[josh987654321]

Extract from the book 'Imitation of Christ' by Thomas A Kempis:

Imitation of Christ - copticplace.com/files/imitation_of_Christ.pdf

The Voice of Christ -

**All is not lost, then, if you sometimes feel less devout than you wish toward Me or My saints. That good and sweet feeling which you sometimes have is the effect of present grace and a certain foretaste of your heavenly home. You must not lean upon it too much, because it comes and goes. But to fight against evil thoughts which attack you is a sign of virtue and great merit. Do not, therefore, let strange fantasies disturb you, no matter what they concern. Hold strongly to your resolution and keep a right intention toward God.

It is not an illusion that you are sometimes rapt in ecstasy and then quickly returned to the usual follies of your heart. For these are evils which you suffer rather than commit; and so long as they displease you and you struggle against them, it is a matter of merit and not a loss.

You must know that the old enemy tries by all means in his power to hinder your desire for good and to turn you from every devotional practice, especially from the veneration of the saints, from devout meditation on My passion, and from your firm purpose of advancing in virtue. He suggests many evil thoughts that he may cause you weariness and horror, and thus draw you away from prayer and holy reading. A humble confession displeases him and, if he could, he would make you omit Holy Communion.

Do not believe him or heed him, even though he often sets traps to deceive you. When he suggests evil, unclean things, accuse him. Say to him: “Away, unclean spirit! Shame, miserable creature! You are but filth to bring such things to my ears. Be gone, most wretched seducer! You shall have no part in me, for Jesus will be my strength, and you shall be confounded. I would rather die and suffer all torments than consent to you. Be still! Be silent! Though you bring many troubles upon me I will have none of you. The Lord is my light, my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Though armies unite against me, my heart will not fear, for the Lord is my Helper, my Redeemer.”

Fight like a good soldier and if you sometimes fall through weakness, rise again with greater strength than before, trusting in My most abundant grace. But beware of vain complacency and pride. For many are led into error through these faults and sometimes fall into almost perpetual blindness. Let the fall of these, who proudly presume on self, be a warning to you and a constant incentive to humility. **

Extract from the book 'Imitation of Christ' by Thomas A Kempis:

Imitation of Christ - copticplace.com/files/imitation_of_Christ.pdf

The Voice of Christ -

**Do you think that men of the world have no suffering, or perhaps but little? Ask even those who enjoy the most delights and you will learn otherwise. “But,” you will say, “they enjoy many pleasures and follow their own wishes; therefore they do not feel their troubles very much.”

Granted that they do have whatever they wish, how long do you think it will last? Behold, they who prosper in the world shall perish as smoke, and their shall be no memory of their past joys. Even in this life they do not find rest in these pleasures without bitterness, weariness, and fear. For they often receive the penalty of sorrow from the very thing whence they believed their happiness comes. And it is just. Since they seek and follow after pleasures without reason, they should not enjoy them without shame and bitterness.

How brief, how false, how unreasonable and shameful all these pleasures are! Yet in their drunken blindness men do not understand this, but like brute beasts incur death of soul for the miserly enjoyment of a corruptible life.

Therefore, My child, do not pursue your lusts, but turn away from your own will. “Seek thy pleasure in the Lord and He will give thee thy heart’s desires.” If you wish to be truly delighted and more abundantly comforted by Me, behold, in contempt of all worldly things and in the cutting off of all base pleasures shall your blessing be, and great consolation shall be given you. Further, the more you withdraw yourself from any solace of creatures, the sweeter and stronger comfort will you find in Me.

At first you will not gain these blessings without sadness and toil and conflict. Habit already formed will resist you, but it shall be overcome by a better habit. The flesh will murmur against you, but it will be bridled by fervor of spirit. The old serpent will sting and trouble you, but prayer will put him to flight and by steadfast, useful toil the way will be closed to him.**

I hope this has helped, I’ll keep you in my prayers.

God Bless

Thank you for reading
Josh

 

[GreenBird]

Here are some websites that might help you win this battle:

theporneffect.com/
Matt Fradd’s site about the harm in porn and encouragement to quit. He has a five-step battle plan to help addicts kick it.

covenanteyes.com/
Software that helps keep you from being able to see porn. It’s not free, but ten to twelve bucks a month to quit sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

There are other secular sites that could help you but since they’re usually more liberal about sexuality outside of porn in general, I won’t post these here so they won’t trigger you, unless you ask for them. There’s also a site where 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration is broadcast over a webcam, so if you want to look for that, or I can find it for you in the morning when I get up, it’s there. Not the same as seeing Jesus in person, but helps you remember what you’re fighting for.

Like others wrote above, immerse yourself in prayer, keep resolving to get better every day and don’t give up because you fall or it takes a long time, and frequent Confession. Also, making an act of Perfect Contrition restores you to a state of grace even if you commit a mortal sin, but do get to Confession ASAP afterwards. Invoke Saint Michael and your Guardian Angel when you’re tempted. Some more Saints I recommend for help are Our Lady, Anne, Joachim, Joseph, Therese, Rita, Jude, Isidore of Seville because he is the patron of the internet, and Lucy because she is the patron of eyes and sight. Saint Anthony has also never failed me, if my memory serves. Even if my exact request was not granted, something was resolved for the better. Entrust yourself to Jesus’ Mercy and don’t hesitate to ask for it. Hope some of this helps. We are praying for you.