Struggles

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Hello, I have struggled with masturbation for a while now. I am 18 years old. I have repented my sins and will continue to do so. However, I was slightly confused as to what the bible said about the subject of masturbation. I read that it is not a sign if done a certain way? I would really like to hear your thoughts on the subject. I was wandering, if there is a way to remove the lust aspect of this? What about Jesus that I should think about? I apologized to god, and the location i am is preventing me to see a priest. I am very scared and worried that I am doomed?

Thank you for your attention in this matter,

hortoholic
 
Doesn’t make much sense. What to think about Jesus? About that subject in particular? Think that He is forgiving. He will help you. I don’t think it is mentioned directly in the Bible, though. Where would you be that you are not able to see a priest? If at all possible, you should!

I happen to have my catechism out, and it talks about masturbation- do you have one? I don’t know how it should be written, but I think it would be #2352.

It sounds like you are looking for a different way to do it that is not a sin, if I interpreted that right, but I am sure it is not allowed in any way. It fits into many different categories of sins.

Maybe someone else will help you more. There are so many good people here. You are in the right place!

Praying for you.
 
I do have a catchism, but not with me. I have found one online.
it says:

#2352

"By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. "Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action."138 “The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose.” For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of “the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved.”

And:

#2351

" Lust is disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure. Sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes."

Am I doomed?
 
Why would you be doomed? Absolutely not. It simply explains that masturbation is immoral and why. Are you Catholic, then? Could you go to confession? I don’t think it’s a mortal sin. It is only to die with a mortal sin on your soul that would ‘doom’ you.
 
Masterbation is absolutely a mortal sin. Culpability is the question I believe. But now you know. The issue is not to give up struggling against sins of the flesh. Many men struggle with the same thing. We live in a secular society cramming ideas of sex down our throats all the time.

Let me recommend an effective tool Prayer…the Rosary…and reading the Liturgy of the Hours. Consecrate yourself to the Blessed Mother. Offer up your suffering…struggles against giving into the flesh for special people in your life…a girlfriend you’ve hurt…someone you’ve taken advantage of… your vocation… etc. Masturbation is self-impurity. Confess it and know that God loves you. In time, you will more likely be able to fight off temptations much better. Avoid NEAR OCCASION OF SIN>>> don’t watch movies, shows, books, internet porn…anything that will provoke impurity.

PAX
 
Oh, sorry! It is a mortal sin? I didn’t know. Wonder if I should have looked it up. Yes, it would fall under adultery, and that is a mortal sin. I still wouldn’t call you ‘doomed.’ Definitely go to confession! Pray-pray-pray, offer up your suffering, don’t do things that would cause temptation or sin. All agreed!
 
hortoholic said:
I have struggled with masturbation for a while now. I am 18 years old.
hortoholic
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There is no getting to you destination here on this earth. It is an endless journey. One door leads to another and your walk gets deeper. I can see you are looking for a shortcut. You and about a billion other people, however, there isn’t one. Bummer. It brings to mind the famed lament often attributed to St. Augustine - Oh Lord make me pure but not yet!

Stay completely free of Internet porn, period. Try your level best to keep your interior thought life free of lustful energy. At 18 your journey has just gotten off the ground. Don’t be too rough on yourself. When you fall, get yourself back on your two feet, put your shoulders back and continue to fight the good fight. Visit the Sacrament of reconciliation regularly. Dont be scared. God made you the way you are, its your job to try your best. Forget this doomed stuff. Take it one step at a time and by the book.
 
Devil has a quite useful tactic. First, he tells people “Everybody does it, it’s ok, no worries, you can do it as well”. After you commit the sin, he says “Now you are all alone. God will punish you for this doing. You are doomed. You have fallen out of grace, and failed because of the pressure.”

There have been some disputes over masturbation whether it is mortal sin or weakness of soul. My honest opinion is that defining that is not so important. Resisting these urges is something that every Christian is bound to do, on the other hand, commitment of these sins always has to be observed from specific point.

Are you doomed? Don’t be ridiculous, man! Christ died for you. Do you think that a moment of your weakness can stop the Salvation of Eternal God? No sin is strong enough to break that bound.

Scrupulosity must never step between Christ and you. Fear of sin must never come instead the Fear of God. This isn’t an allowance of sinning. Actually, this means that when you resist the temptation, God wins in your strength. If you don’t, God wins in His Mercy.
 
Thank you for your respnses! I will pray and confess those to a priest. I was really scared I would burn in hell for all eternity. I understand there are no shortcuts, I will no longer attempt to find one. I love god and want to be with him forever.
 
hortoholic said:
Thank you for your respnses! I will pray and confess those to a priest. I was really scared I would burn in hell for all eternity. I understand there are no shortcuts, I will no longer attempt to find one. I love god and want to be with him forever.
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You have to understand your sinful nature is something given to you so God could show His mercy. You can read this in Romans 11:32.

That doesn’t mean you should sin around, proving that God is stronger then your nature. That means you need to reach for God- when resisting the sin, and after the sin was done. God isn’t waiting for your sin, the sin comes without anybody’s waiting, God waits for your repentance and faith- and that is the key to understanding.
 
I will. I forgot. I apologize. :). I do understand know that when I make a sin, I have to repent; that I will do. I also will try to avoid any other sins. Thank you all for you answers. By the way, is there anyway to remove the lust that I had? I just don’t want to anymore.
 
hortoholic said:
By the way, is there anyway to remove the lust that I had? I just don’t want to anymore.
Click to expand...
And God Said No

I asked God to take away my pride,
And God said, “No.”
He said it is not for Him to take away,
but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,
And God said, “No.”
He said her spirit is whole,
Her body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience,
And God said, “No.”
He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation,
it isn’t granted, it’s earned.

I asked God to give me happiness,
And God said, “No.”
He said He gives blessings,
Happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain,
And God said, “No.”
He said, “Suffering draws you apart from worldly
cares and brings you closer to Me.”

I asked God to make my spirit grow,
And God said, “No.”
He said I must grow on my own,
but He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God if He loved me,
And God said, “Yes.”
He gave me His only Son who died for me,
and I will be in Heaven someday because I believe.

I asked God to help me love others,
as much as He loves me.
And God said,
“Ah, finally you have the idea.”

© 1980, Claudia Minden Weisz.
 
YipYupYep said:
There is no getting to you destination here on this earth. It is an endless journey. One door leads to another and your walk gets deeper. I can see you are looking for a shortcut. You and about a billion other people, however, there isn’t one. Bummer. It brings to mind the famed lament often attributed to St. Augustine - Oh Lord make me pure but not yet!

Stay completely free of Internet porn, period. Try your level best to keep your interior thought life free of lustful energy. At 18 your journey has just gotten off the ground. Don’t be too rough on yourself. When you fall, get yourself back on your two feet, put your shoulders back and continue to fight the good fight. Visit the Sacrament of reconciliation regularly. Dont be scared. God made you the way you are, its your job to try your best. Forget this doomed stuff. Take it one step at a time and by the book.
Click to expand...
Great post!!! 👍 A lot of people are suggesting prayer… staring at a crucifix… cold showers… smacking yourself in the head… all kinds of things when the “urge” strikes. In my opinion, when the urge strikes, in a lot of cases, it is probably already too late. It takes an incredible amount of discipline to put it out of your mind. It can be a lot like holding back a sneeze or refraining from scratching an itch.

The best plan of attack is to prevent the urge (or lessen the frequency) in the first place as best you can. Daily prayer and frequent confession are essential. Ask God to help you. You must try your best. If you fall, pick yourself up and try again. Most importantly, our popular culture is one big sewer of sin so GUARD YOUR EYES AND EARS! 😃

There are some people who might not like this… but here goes:
If you can’t achieve perfection, seek progress! If you feel like you are going to fall and there is no turning back. DO NOT reinforce or “enhance” this sinful act with pornography! Many men suffer miserably with their guilt over the fact that they cannot stop doing this. It never occurs to them to try “tapering off” or slowly “backing out” of this sin. Look for small victories men. This is a lifetime war! Remember this… NOBODY has to look at pornography while they do this. Kill the pornography immediately. No exceptions! That’s the easy part :cool:

Commit yourself now to never look at that garbage again. Turn your eyes and ears away from immodestly dressed women, bad TV & Movies. If you fall… you fall 😦 Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and immediatley say an Act of Contrition. God will bless you with additional strength with regular prayer and confession! 🙂
 
YipYupYep, That was a really beautiful poem! mm3861, that was really nice as well, you are also right!
 
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