Who to listen to and what to do?

[belprezt]

I’m struggling with a decision on who to listen to and who is right. For a year or so, I’ve gone to the gym for weight training, and I really love working out because it makes me feel good afterwards. My mother even says I look brighter and am happier after I come back from the gym. One day though, I heard a priest give a homily emphasizing purity. When I heard this homily I thought about the music that they play over the gym. Most of the music they play is a range from pop to rock music, and every now and then they will play music that seems questionable in purity or quality. I realized this, and immediately I began to worry that I had to give up the gym because of the music that was playing. I asked my confessor and he said that the gym is part of being in the world and that I couldn’t avoid certain types of music in the world unless I were to become a monk. I could let the music “pass” over me like water (metaphorically speaking).When I asked other good practicing Catholics this question, they gave me advice that was similar to the advice that my confessor gave me. Others (including my parents) suggested that I listen to different music on my ipod while I’m at the gym. I tried this, but I still felt like I still might be placing myself in a near occasion of sin by being in the same place where the music isn’t always that good. I went back and forth on this for a while before I asked a third priest this question. He told me that I should not go to the gym because the devil was in the music and that the songs would stay in my head (which is in fact I found true). I am still going back and forth on the subject though.
I never really thought about the music at the gym and I even connected some of the messages to God, I also consider myself strong enough to not let any impure messages affect me. However, I still can’t stop thinking about what the priest said about the devil in the music and about purity. Should I listen to my confessor and those who told me that being at the gym was a part of being in the world? Or should I listen to the other I priest I asked? If I decide to go to the gym anyway, is it a sin to not do what the second priest told me to do? Am I justifying myself or am I being too scrupulous?

 

[peter26]

Unless it is clearly out of line with church teachings, it is good to follow the advice of your confessor.

 

[puzzledtoo]

One reason I don’t go to gyms is because of the noise. If I were to go I’d bring my own music that I was comfortable with and had no issues with being impure. I will turn a television show or movie off and change the channel etc… if I decide that the one I’m watching is in poor taste. Yes while listening to music and watching certain programs are part of being in the world it doesn’t mean we have to put up with them when we feel they are harming us.

 

[LaetenturCaeli]

To be frank, I would think the way a lot of people dress at the gym would be much more of a near occasion of sin for a young man than the music.

If I were you, and had no problem with custody of the eyes, I would totally just ignore the music, and listen to something else on my MP3 player.

 

[Richard_White]

Listen to your confessor. I don;t know if he is your regular confessor, but either way, he has the best advice for the situation. Although the music may be impure, you are at no fault for being in the presence of it, because it is not your choice of music. In addition, you are not actually listening to it, it is merely playing in the background. Therefore,try not to worry about it, and listen to other music on your iPod if you have to in order to drown out the other stuff.

May God grant you peace!

 

[E_7]

My husband and I avoid places where it could be an occasion of sin, including gyms. You don’t need gym machines to build muscles nor to do cardio. All that can be done at home in the living room. You can buy uneeded stuff for exercise or you can use the stuff around your house for building muscles. As for cardio, lookup Shazzy Fitness, available for free for Amazon Prime members. The military.com website has also good advice for working out at home.

 

[Catholic1954]

Do, or do not do whatever your confessor tells you; you should not seek second opinions from other priests or strangers on the internet.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Do, or do not do whatever your confessor tells you; you should not seek second opinions from other priests or strangers on the internet.

This is my position as well. There would be little point to having a confessor if I’m just going to second guess his counsel. Asking multiple priests for their (name removed by moderator)ut on a given topic potentially confuses the matter, and that’s a waste of everyone’s time.

 

[CatholicRaven]

You may think the big issue is avoiding “impure” music; I’d suggest that obedience, and trust in the authority given to your confessor may be bigger issues right now for you.

You are second-guessing your confessor. Why?

Obey your confessor and stop seeking “second opinions” looking for a different answer–it depends on your situation and your temptation to sin, and your confessor knows better than others whether this is the case or not, and what approach will help you most, especially if he is your regular confessor.

 

[Whalljim]

Unless it is clearly out of line with church teachings, it is good to follow the advice of your confessor.

I’m in total agreement. The confessor has a relationship with you, and an idea of your struggles. He won’t steer you into the near occasion of sin.

I’m also a bit concerned that you are leaning towards being scrupulous. I’ve been there, done that, made life hell for myself. Why, after getting advice from your parents and your confessor, are you continuing to look for someone to tell you otherwise?

I’m a gym rat. I love the gym. I love the endorphins. I love the pump. I’ve been that way since (Catholic) HS where the saying on the gym wall was ‘What you are is God’s gift to you. What you become is your gift to God’.

Gym’s play various types of music. Mine plays alot of country, but also does some hip hop and pop rock.

I find three things: A) I always listen to my own headphones because my choice of music is important to me when I work out. It connects with me at an emotional level. B) If I’m cranking it hard enough, the music is an afterthought… C) Most of the ‘devil music’ is pretty laughably bad. Its either outright vulgar or the double entendre’s are so strained its comical

I’m especially amused at how the ‘artists’ often latch on to erotic love as the only kind, and decades after the sexual revolution think they are somehow avante guard.

They’re more like my 7 year old son who likes to name body parts and bathroom humor to be shocking and funny when he’s with his 2nd grade buddies.

Music is music. It can affect you… if you let it. The melody might get in your head, but it doesn’t mean you’re going to succumb to old scratch. You have to have a thicker skin, especially living in the USA in the 21’st century.

enjoy the gym. Dedicate the workouts and your honoring the temple of the holy spirit that is your body to the Lord. Then kick some butt.

God Speed.

 

[Whalljim]

You don’t need gym machines to build muscles nor to do cardio. All that can be done at home in the living room. You can buy uneeded stuff for exercise or you can use the stuff around your house for building muscles. As for cardio, lookup Shazzy Fitness, available for free for Amazon Prime members. The military.com website has also good advice for working out at home.

There are multiple ways to work out. Gyms are convenient because they have stuff that works if you use it correctly. Also, some people find it easier to get into it at a gym. They aren’t malum per se.

I’ve done both. I do power lifting as a hobby. Its hard to find enough weight at home to build that kind of power. And even if you do, without a safety cage it can be dangerous.

It all depends on what type of exercise he’s doing, and what his goal is.

In my opinion, avoiding the near occasion of sin is important. But so also is developing a thick skin with the help of the holy spirit. Its some people’s calling to get out in the world and provide a living example of the Lord. They can’t do that if they are going to avoid everything that might tempt them.

As always, YMMV