What are impure thoughts exactly?

[mommamaree]

I know that giving into temptation and entertaining impure thoughts could be a mortal sin, but my question has to do with discerning what is or is not an impure thought. During a time of heightened interest in the marital embrace, or during the marital embrace, is it improper to imagine fun or interesting scenarios involving one’s spouse as long as only licit acts are imagined? For example, considering certain acts of foreplay or certain ways of enjoying each other, or imagining a beautiful setting other than one’s bedroom. What about picturing beautiful or attractive parts of a spouse’s body and remembering the pleasure that they have given you in past experiences? Is that objectifying them? If these are not impure, when do erotic imaginings cross the line into impurity?
And to be clear, I am not talking about having lustful imaginings about some other person, just imaginings about one’s spouse that may or may not be rational (I find that it is hard to remain entirely rational during the marital embrace).

 

[jmcrae]

I know that giving into temptation and entertaining impure thoughts could be a mortal sin, but my question has to do with discerning what is or is not an impure thought. During a time of heightened interest in the marital embrace, or during the marital embrace, is it improper to imagine fun or interesting scenarios involving one’s spouse as long as only licit acts are imagined? For example, considering certain acts of foreplay or certain ways of enjoying each other, or imagining a beautiful setting other than one’s bedroom. What about picturing beautiful or attractive parts of a spouse’s body and remembering the pleasure that they have given you in past experiences? Is that objectifying them? If these are not impure, when do erotic imaginings cross the line into impurity?
And to be clear, I am not talking about having lustful imaginings about some other person, just imaginings about one’s spouse that may or may not be rational (I find that it is hard to remain entirely rational during the marital embrace).

I am thinking that if it is in the context of anticipating your next love-making with your spouse, there can be nothing wrong with it. I am a big believer in planning ahead.

 

[twoangels]

I know that giving into temptation and entertaining impure thoughts could be a mortal sin, but my question has to do with discerning what is or is not an impure thought. During a time of heightened interest in the marital embrace, or during the marital embrace, is it improper to imagine fun or interesting scenarios involving one’s spouse as long as only licit acts are imagined? For example, considering certain acts of foreplay or certain ways of enjoying each other, or imagining a beautiful setting other than one’s bedroom. What about picturing beautiful or attractive parts of a spouse’s body and remembering the pleasure that they have given you in past experiences? Is that objectifying them? If these are not impure, when do erotic imaginings cross the line into impurity?
And to be clear, I am not talking about having lustful imaginings about some other person, just imaginings about one’s spouse that may or may not be rational (I find that it is hard to remain entirely rational during the marital embrace).

For me, that’s hard to say in marriage. Before I was married, it was clear cut. I shouldn’t be engaging in such thoughts and enticing those feelings whatsoever. Now afterward, I’m just not identifying what I’d consider as an impure thought. I do think its important even when separated from your spouse to remember intimate moments and to grow and appreciate those moments. I also think that if you’re planning something really special for your spouse, you’re definitely not forbidden to think about it and to get eager for it. I honestly can’t imagine wanting to do anything more than that.

I think if the daydream became an ends in of itself (like you preferred the fantasy to your spouse) than that would be immoral.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

All you describe is good…not impure. It’s ok to think about your husband, or to remember good times.

 

[bigsonny]

With impure thoughts, as a non-married person, I am sure others experience these. Now I am wondering along these same lines, would Impure Touch be with this thread. I am wondering if Impure Thought would be a sin of grave consequence, maybe into Mortal–then would Impure Touch be into the same category. Lets even go into something even further, to expand this–if allowed within this thread.(If I am proceeding into different waters, I am sorry, but I feel this could be along the same lines as the above topic, in question).
What if Impure touch, deleved further inside a woman’s private area. It would still be TOUCH and the THOUGHT would be there. Remember, this is for a NON-MARRIED Person.

 

[jmcrae]

With impure thoughts, as a non-married person, I am sure others experience these. Now I am wondering along these same lines, would Impure Touch be with this thread. I am wondering if Impure Thought would be a sin of grave consequence, maybe into Mortal–then would Impure Touch be into the same category. Lets even go into something even further, to expand this–if allowed within this thread.(If I am proceeding into different waters, I am sorry, but I feel this could be along the same lines as the above topic, in question).
What if Impure touch, deleved further inside a woman’s private area. It would still be TOUCH and the THOUGHT would be there. Remember, this is for a NON-MARRIED Person.

Well, it’s off topic, actually, but for an unmarried person, to impurely touch himself or another person, if it were done deliberately to arouse himself and/or the other person, would certainly be a grave sin, and matter for the Confessional.