Will God Punish Me for Breaking a Vow?

[ItalianRacer]

It’s a little bit uncomfortable for me to tell all, but I know that the faith of all of the members will ease me through it;

I went to a school mass on Tuesday, and I was kind of inspired by what the Priest was saying, and I decided that I would try to hold off on masturbating until after my exams…and asked God to help me not only keep my vow, but for me to be able to focus and do the best I can on them.

I broke my vow on Saturday…I couldn’t help it. But I decided to go to mass on the Sunday, which I did (yesterday). I made the same vow, and again I broke it. I really, really didn’t want to…but I just found it hard to focus with those “thoughts” in my head. I have exams Wednesday to the 17th, and I can’t help worrying because now I feel as though God will punish me for breaking my vow TWICE by not helping me or making me do poorly on my exams.

I do suffer from anxiety, and I believe somewhat in karma, so I know that those two aspects are probably attributing to my fear, but I’m 17 and these exams are crucial for me to maintain my high average.

Does God punish ? And what can I do to kind of gain back His love ? I know He loves me no matter what, but with exams two days away, surely there is not a mass or a confession I can attend. Will prayer suffice ?

Thank You, and God Bless.

 

[ItalianRacer]

I should note that before I had made the vow, I was doing it about twice a day…it was a bit out of control, I admit. So since then, I managed to go a few days without so I think I am making progress, but at times, I allow myself to fall into it.

I’m not trying to make an excuse, but I’ve been in my room for three days straight basically studying for exams so it’s quite easy to fall into thinking those thoughts of lust…unfortunately.

 

[edward_george]

This is something you need to refer to your confessor or spiritual director if you have one. There are a lot of issues here in what you present, and you’re going to get a ton of different opinions by putting them in a public forum on the internet. Speak to your priest about this, and he should be able to help.

-ACEGC

 

[ItalianRacer]

This is something you need to refer to your confessor or spiritual director if you have one. There are a lot of issues here in what you present, and you’re going to get a ton of different opinions by putting them in a public forum on the internet. Speak to your priest about this, and he should be able to help.

-ACEGC

Thank you for your answer. I will not be going to school until the morning of the exam, on Wednesday, as Monday and Tuesday were given to the grade twelve students at study days. My school was founded by Basilian Fathers, so there are about four or five Priests on staff alone, and most of which are open to discussion with students.

Is there another way ? I know it may sound a little petty, but I don’t feel comfortable speaking with them about a delicate matter such as this…especially when I have to see them everyday amidst the other students in the hall and in the classroom and what not.

God Bless.

 

[Isaac_Drollman]

Indeed, I agree with the previous suggestion. The Priest is the way to go.

But I’d also like to add that I’m in pretty much the same boat. I’m sixteen, and I’ve been fighting that battle for the last four years. I go a couple weeks without, and then I fall. The most important thing is that not matter how frequently you go, it’s best to find a priest and go to confession ASAP. And when those thoughts start playing around in your head, the best thing is NOT to just say mentally “No, no, no, no, NO! BAD! Don’t do that!”, but rather to make a strong power of the will, and say to God “Father, Please, I’m really struggling here. I don’t want to think about these things, I don’t want to disrespect my sisters in Christ, and stain my own soul. Please, take these thoughts from me. I don’t want them.” I also have finals this week, but even though I usually get A’s and I’m having a bad quarter, and am worried about passing my math class, I’m still making time for God, and knowing that no matter what happens, He’ll give me the strength to get through it, whether I pass or fail and have to retake, costing me time and money. This may go completely against your instincts, but it’s better for you to die an uneducated fool who never “made it” by the world’s standards, but you have faith, and God’s fire in you heart, rather than a successful, smart person whose faith is lax, and you’re not alive in Christ. “What does it profit a man if they gain the whole world, but lose their soul?”

Ask God to help you with your anxiety. Really, if you think about it, there’s never a need to panic, or be anxious, if we have Christ by our side. I’m not saying to abandon your studies, but just remember your priorities. Christ MUST be your center, or there is no point in ANYTHING you do.

God Bless you, brother. I will keep you in my prayers.

 

[ItalianRacer]

Indeed, I agree with the previous suggestion. The Priest is the way to go.

But I’d also like to add that I’m in pretty much the same boat. I’m sixteen, and I’ve been fighting that battle for the last four years. I go a couple weeks without, and then I fall. The most important thing is that not matter how frequently you go, it’s best to find a priest and go to confession ASAP. And when those thoughts start playing around in your head, the best thing is NOT to just say mentally “No, no, no, no, NO! BAD! Don’t do that!”, but rather to make a strong power of the will, and say to God “Father, Please, I’m really struggling here. I don’t want to think about these things, I don’t want to disrespect my sisters in Christ, and stain my own soul. Please, take these thoughts from me. I don’t want them.” I also have finals this week, but even though I usually get A’s and I’m having a bad quarter, and am worried about passing my math class, I’m still making time for God, and knowing that no matter what happens, He’ll give me the strength to get through it, whether I pass or fail and have to retake, costing me time and money. This may go completely against your instincts, but it’s better for you to die an uneducated fool who never “made it” by the world’s standards, but you have faith, and God’s fire in you heart, rather than a successful, smart person whose faith is lax, and you’re not alive in Christ. “What does it profit a man if they gain the whole world, but lose their soul?”

Ask God to help you with your anxiety. Really, if you think about it, there’s never a need to panic, or be anxious, if we have Christ by our side. I’m not saying to abandon your studies, but just remember your priorities. Christ MUST be your center, or there is no point in ANYTHING you do.

God Bless you, brother. I will keep you in my prayers.

Thanks so much for your response.

Like I said earlier, in exam periods, the Priests are relatively preoccupied and I’m not too sure any of them even come in. The soonest I could go to mass or talk to a Priest would be Sunday, but by then, 3/5 exams would be written. Could I possibly pray to God and promise to try harder, and then make it up this weekend when I have the leisure of going to mass and what not ? I really am worrying and want to make it better, but the time restriction scares me.

God Bless.

 

[Carlan]

Thanks so much for your response.

Like I said earlier, in exam periods, the Priests are relatively preoccupied and I’m not too sure any of them even come in. The soonest I could go to mass or talk to a Priest would be Sunday, but by then, 3/5 exams would be written. Could I possibly pray to God and promise to try harder, and then make it up this weekend when I have the leisure of going to mass and what not ? I really am worrying and want to make it better, but the time restriction scares me.

God Bless.

This temptation of our young ones. How the evil one digs in on the young!
You must pray, pray, pray for the grace not to do what you know is destroying your peace of mind. Get to confession no excuses, no matter how often you fall. You must constantly tell the evil one to go sit on his tail. God help you! Peace, Carlan

 

[ItalianRacer]

This temptation of our young ones. How the evil one digs in on the young!
You must pray, pray, pray for the grace not to do what you know is destroying your peace of mind. Get to confession no excuses, no matter how often you fall. You must constantly tell the evil one to go sit on his tail. God help you! Peace, Carlan

Thanks for your answer. Does it matter how long after I go ? What if I go on Sunday, but by then my exams will be mostly finished ? Is that okay or not ?

 

[Carlan]

Thanks for your answer. Does it matter how long after I go ? What if I go on Sunday, but by then my exams will be mostly finished ? Is that okay or not ?

If you absolutely are unable to get to a priest. Tell, God you are truly sorry , you feel deep contrition for giving in and beg for the grace to be able to overpower the evil ones temptation.
Racer, you can do this. He who is within you is stronger than heeek who is in the world lurking around setting traps for your peace of soul. God be with you during the exams and forever more, Carlan

 

[Isaac_Drollman]

Racer, I know going to confession is after sinning like this is hard, embarrassing, and a humbling experience. Every time I’ve fallen it’s the same, and never gets any better. But afterwards, I always feel AMAZING! If you have any time at all to go find a priest, I suggest you do so. I can’t even count the times I’ve wandered around the local church grounds trying to find a priest, or how many times I’ve approached a priest outside of a confessional. Yeah it’s weird, humbling, and awkward. But this is not only your peace of mind, but your SOUL we’re talking about. Now obviously, if you can’t get to a priest until Sunday, then you can’t get to a priest until Sunday. But in the future, if you’re really serious about breaking out of the addiction, you’re going to have to work pretty dang hard, and humble yourself to go searching for a priest in order to tell him your deepest, darkest secrets. But for right now, if you really can’t get to Confession, then prayer would be the best option, definitely. I should be freaking out about my math final that’s starting in less than two hours, but I’m not because I’ve been praying a ton these past couple days.

Let us pray for strength for one another, my brother. Almighty Father, please help your son overcome this sin in his life. Give him the strength to find counsel in Your servants, the priests. Help them provide him with good counsel. Do not let the powers of darkness cloud his mind and fill it with lies as they want, but let Your all-powerful Light shine upon him, guide him through this point in his life, and help him stay close to You at all times. Guide your son also in his studies, that he may apply the mind that You gave him to the purpose that You have for him. Amen.

I will keep you in my prayers, for without prayer, the Christian is nothing. Without prayer, the Christian does not have Christ. When asked for her ‘secret’ Mother Teresa responded “My secret is simple: I pray.”

God Bless you and keep you.

 

[ItalianRacer]

Racer, I know going to confession is after sinning like this is hard, embarrassing, and a humbling experience. Every time I’ve fallen it’s the same, and never gets any better. But afterwards, I always feel AMAZING! If you have any time at all to go find a priest, I suggest you do so. I can’t even count the times I’ve wandered around the local church grounds trying to find a priest, or how many times I’ve approached a priest outside of a confessional. Yeah it’s weird, humbling, and awkward. But this is not only your peace of mind, but your SOUL we’re talking about. Now obviously, if you can’t get to a priest until Sunday, then you can’t get to a priest until Sunday. But in the future, if you’re really serious about breaking out of the addiction, you’re going to have to work pretty dang hard, and humble yourself to go searching for a priest in order to tell him your deepest, darkest secrets. But for right now, if you really can’t get to Confession, then prayer would be the best option, definitely. I should be freaking out about my math final that’s starting in less than two hours, but I’m not because I’ve been praying a ton these past couple days.

Let us pray for strength for one another, my brother. Almighty Father, please help your son overcome this sin in his life. Give him the strength to find counsel in Your servants, the priests. Help them provide him with good counsel. Do not let the powers of darkness cloud his mind and fill it with lies as they want, but let Your all-powerful Light shine upon him, guide him through this point in his life, and help him stay close to You at all times. Guide your son also in his studies, that he may apply the mind that You gave him to the purpose that You have for him. Amen.

I will keep you in my prayers, for without prayer, the Christian is nothing. Without prayer, the Christian does not have Christ. When asked for her ‘secret’ Mother Teresa responded “My secret is simple: I pray.”

God Bless you and keep you.

Your words bring me comfort and happiness. I love this forum because of people like you who are so openly ready to pray and comfort fellow Catholics, and even those who unfortunately are without faith.

I will try harder in the future because whenever I have not done it, I felt a lot better about myself knowing I am pleasing God through my actions. Thank you for keeping me in your prayers, and thank you to all who have helped me and offered to pray for me.

 

[Big_Dummy]

stop making vows and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you. Also, kill the sin nature, Romans 13

 

[edward_george]

Thank you for your answer. I will not be going to school until the morning of the exam, on Wednesday, as Monday and Tuesday were given to the grade twelve students at study days. My school was founded by Basilian Fathers, so there are about four or five Priests on staff alone, and most of which are open to discussion with students.

Is there another way ? I know it may sound a little petty, but I don’t feel comfortable speaking with them about a delicate matter such as this…especially when I have to see them everyday amidst the other students in the hall and in the classroom and what not.

God Bless.

I assure you, you have nothing to fear in speaking to a priest about this. Most of them have heard far worse–trust me. If you can get over that small bit of anxiety to where you can talk openly about your problem, it will be far easier to combat.

-ACEGC