Weird situation, not sure if I committed a mortal sin

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Finnick

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I’ve been completely off porn for a while now and I’m very happy. Today I found a folder on my phone with a few images I had never deleted so I opened it to delete the photos. I took about 5 second glance at a picture then deleted them all. Even though I knew opening the folder there would be porn, I still took a quick glance before deleting all of it. Very distraught as I just went to confession and had no intention of having impure thoughts. Wasn’t sure if this is a simple situation or a mortal sin for still looking at the image knowing it’d be there.
 
Well you didn’t just quickly glance and look away or just delete the image and not look, you actually indulged yourself for 5 seconds. So yes this is a sin because you did not need to look at the pictures let alone for 5 seconds to delete the images.

I would go to confession and confess this. I am glad to hear you have fought hard during your struggle and even though you had this slip you can still continue to fight! I would suggest either taking cold showers every day or giving up something you like, like a soda for example. This will give you better control over temptations of the flesh. For example, how can you say no to porn if you can’t say no to a Pepsi or to enduring a cold shower?

Please listen to this great podcast from Matt Fradd on how to overcome porn and masturbation temptations.


Did you even need to open the folder to delete the images? Couldn’t you of just deleted the folder without opening it? I would go back to confession, the mercy is there! But you should go ASAP. Also if you masturbated after that’s another sin. I say this not to condemn you but to help you!

I will keep you in my prayers and if you need any further help just send me a PM, I can offer many more suggestions to help you if needed or wanted
 
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If you deleted it as intended, even if you briefly looked at something, as long as you didn’t let it lead you to something further, I would think it’s not a mortal sin. You might mention it at your next confession. Congratulations on getting rid of that stuff!
 
Might want to look into getting a file management app. You probably could have deleted the images without opening them. I was tempted when I was purging files. Then I thought about Lot’s wife who was turned into a pillar of salt because she looked back. Good luck. I’ve been there.
 
I genuinely didn’t think about deleting the whole folder, I went in and click the “All” option and deleted them but as I said I looked at one of them. I didn’t do anything else but will definitely go to confession. Thank you for replying.
 
I don’t think it was a mortal sin; it’s more akin to you effectively saying goodbye to something that you don’t need anymore in your life. Therefore, the totality of everything you did leaned more towards doing what was right and what you needed to do to better yourself. You also had the willpower to delete the images, even after seeing one for a few seconds, and you also didn’t engage in any negative behavior afterwards. All of these good actions outweighs the slightest few seconds you viewed the image.

I wouldn’t beat yourself up over this. We are but mere humans, and we are not always perfect.
 
Mortal sin = grave matter, full knowledge, deliberate consent. Deliberate consent is absent. You even mentioned your intention wasn’t to have lustful thoughts (if I interpret correctly). From what you’ve mentioned I really don’t think there’s any mortal sin involved. By taking a “quick glance” I assume you had no sinful intentions. If so, probably no sin at all, not even venial.
 
Thanks for replying. Happy to say I’m 100% done with that stuff. If you would, please pray for me to have strength to avoid any sinful temptation!
 
I will but I wanted to know if it was a mortal sin before going to sunday mass…
 
Cold showers every day ? How does this help ? Sounds like something out of the Middle Ages no disrespect. Nothing a visit to confession won’t fix
 
It’s called self-mortification. The idea is, it gives you control back over your body. If you can’t endure a 5-minute cold shower how can you fight a temptation to use porn or masturbate? Confession is great and it should be used weekly if needed but you do want to try and do better and fight the sin, and one of the ways is to fast or use a cold shower. Hope I could clear up the confusion for you
 
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For me, the temptation to sin comes from the inside so the remedies should too. Each to their own I guess but the whole self mortification thing weirds me out I don’t personally think it’s necessary we just need the Lords grace #ask, seek, knock and above all go to mass
 
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I think it’s different for everyone. I’ve talked with a lot of guys on how they have fought porn and how they can start fighting it as well as those who think porn is wonderful :roll_eyes:😔, and a majority of them mention the need to take control back of their mind and actions. It’s not a simple, flick the switch, it’s years of hard work often times
 
I agree it’s tough work. I stand by anyone who is fighting against porn it’s so damaging. Embarrassing thing but we’re all one family so prepared for the humiliation I used to watch stuff I shouldn’t and do things with myself but not once either way since converting that’s how I know the Church is real and the sacraments have real power
 
It is a very sad thing and I am glad you have overcome it! I was exposed to pornographic pictures at 12YO and mastubation at 8YO (never actual porn videos) and now as a 20YO guy, I have fought through so many ways to overcome these and I have overcome them and am so thankful to God. I know whomever God has set out for me as my future wife, I cannot help her get closer to Christ if I am struggling with these impurities and so that was always my motivation to fight for that. Confession was one of the biggest helps for me to stop these two bad sins as well as giving up soda haha. Also daily mass and the Rosary.

Now I feel called to help guys struggling with porn or masturbation and I have given talks at my college about my experiences and how I can help them. I do still feel ashamed though about my past in these two sins because I feel like I robbed whomever my future wife is of the innocence I would of had.

Luckily I am waiting for marriage and have never fallen in that way but I still feel really bad about what I did for years. I know God has forgiven me but I find it hard to believe sometimes whomever this women is (if this is my vocation) that she will forgive and accept me even though I don’t do these sins anymore 😔
 
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Not a mortal sin in my opinion.

During mass on days of obligation we are forgiven venial sins within that mass. Remember? “I confess …”
 
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You can always always always start again if you are truly sorry hallelujah
 
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