Seriously looking for alternatives to impurity

[Biggie]

If I might offer a few thoughts, I came from a very dark place in my life many years ago and some of the meditations and thoughts that got me here are the following:

“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” I am drawn to the Lord because he has called me. He knows me and he wants me as I was made.

“My burden is easy and my yoke is light.” It is not hard to be loved by the Lord. He knows me, and like a good friend he accepts me despite my failures.

There is no such thing as a sin the Lord has not seen. He is the dirty hands man. He gets under the hood. My sins cannot appall him or frighten him away.

We are all in need of conversion. Conversion is not a one time thing, but a continual turning toward our Lord. That’s because we are all sinful, and when we think we are doing pretty well, we are deluding ourselves. This life is spiritual battle, the Church militant.

Talk to the Holy Spirit about your failures. He will slowly over time give you strength and remove from you one by one in the order of seriousness the occasions of sin as he sees fit.

Confession, yes, by all means, but be realistic and be kind to yourself. You know when your sin is serious, involving grave matter and deliberate intent. The Lord is kind and generous and he loves you.

Finally, consider your angst and grief a crucifixion of your soul. The Lord will join you in your travails.

 

[PeteZaHut]

Just a site to generally help with sexual impurity:

www.settingcaptivesfree.com

the Way of Purity course there deals with sexual immorality, mostly things like pornography and masturbation, but also lustful relationships. I don’t know what you are personally struggling with.

 

[brigid12]

As numerous posters have said - Go to confession and remember even imperfect contrition suffices.
Next, tell Mary your quandary and ask for her help! Whenever you feel you want to be impure or even have an impure thought (and the devil will make sure to use your weakness in that area against you) call on her. It’s always helped me. Even one “Ave” (although I’ve sometimes needed more than one). She will take care of the tempter!

 

[mangy_dog]

i have been a Catholic in progress all my life. I BELIEVE.
However the loneliness of single living after being married==and when not married, indifferent to the Law for personal human support—is very divisive in my life now. i want so much to return to Jesus as my Lord and Guide. Undeerstanding that means you understand the ramifications.

God has CONTINUED to be fa ithful to me. but my INTEREST in remaining pure has been tested, if not damaged. I need people of like background to tell me how to proceed. I want to go to confession===BUT IN THE TRUE SENSE OF AVOIDING SIN AGAIN. this last 3 words has kept me from a true confession. Anyone???

I’ve carried the thorn of impurity on my side for many years. What I do and what I suggest to you is: do the basic catholic things really, really well.

Pray the Rosary - daily
Go to Confession and Communiion - weekly and in that order.

Now here I make a caveat. Lucifer will place obstacles and excuses before you to keep you from the confessional, to deter you from going to confession. “Avoiding sin again” is the goal! Confession is a renewable source of grace and power. Grace to avoid the near occasions of sin and power to resist. Lucifer knows this and will use your own concupiscence against you to keep you from the confessional.

My priest has told me that “temptations will cease the moment you die”.

Please don’t kill yourself after confession -

Seriously, this is what has worked for me for many years and I allow nothing to interfere or deter me from Confession and Communion (in that order). No matter what the sin or my ability to fight temptation or lack thereof.!
The power of the confessional has to do with the courage to confess and the belief in God’s Power and Forgiveness and Love.!

Fight the devil, thru the Sacrament of Confession.