Would This Be Considered Extreme?

[kieron123]

Hello Everyone,

As I mentioned in previous posts, lately I have been under Alot of Temptations and Attacks. It has come to my conclusion, that the only way to withstand them is to CONSTANTLY PRAY The rosary (perhaps with a finger rosary)+ carry a small container of holy water with me wherever I go.

I have fallen into sin again, and I am really tired and frustrated, I have been trying so long and hard to overcome things, and just as I overcame them, evil started constantly tmepting me and throwing me back into sin.

As I also mentioned in previous posts, I intend to see a priest tomorrow for these same issues (again). I intend to ask him for his opinion of what I mentioned in the first paragraph, because I honestly do not see any other way out (maybe I’m wrong).

I’d appreciate thoughts, and ideas on it.

Thanks.

 

[FightingFat]

Sounds good, confession especially good, the sacraments are the road to beating this, focus all you attention on God.

Good luck & God bless

 

[clem456]

I will take a wild leap and guess that you are talking about the virtue of purity, involving pornography and associated habits. Apologies if I am making an incorrect assumption.

Join the impurity addiction support group on this site, and/or another support group where you live. The group on this site is anonymous and a good source of support. The sacraments and prayer are very important in winning this battle, but you will need some conversion of the heart and will, and anyone who has had success dealing with an addiction wil tell you, this is a VERY tough process that cannot be done alone.

 

[Cristiano]

Whenever you will try to defeat sin you will fail. If you really think about it, trying to defeat sin is like trying to earn heaven. Only God can defeat sin and the only way we can reduce our sinfulness is by complete surrender to God. The more we think that we are strong and the more we will (as in to intend) to fight sin the harder we fall. The more we recognize how weak we are and the more we accept God’s will the less we sin. Accepting God’s will is not only stating that He is right and that we should avoid certain behaviors, it also implies full reliance on His help because without his graces we are useless. Constant recitation of prayers could just be a tool of your will to distract yourself; however when you distract yourself you do not hear God and thus recognize your real weakness. Sometime interior silence will help you address the root of your problems, the real source of your sins.

 

[clem456]

Whenever you will try to defeat sin you will fail. If you really think about it, trying to defeat sin is like trying to earn heaven. Only God can defeat sin and the only way we can reduce our sinfulness is by complete surrender to God. The more we think that we are strong and the more we will (as in to intend) to fight sin the harder we fall. The more we recognize how weak we are and the more we accept God’s will the less we sin. Accepting God’s will is not only stating that He is right and that we should avoid certain behaviors, it also implies full reliance on His help because without his graces we are useless. Constant recitation of prayers could just be a tool of your will to distract yourself; however when you distract yourself you do not hear God and thus recognize your real weakness. Sometime interior silence will help you address the root of your problems, the real source of your sins.

Excellent post.

 

[odile53]

Honestly, having to do anything to continually distract yourself from temptation does sound a little extreme. I have several thoughts on the matter, which are really outside the scope of an internet forum. Since you are seeing a priest tomorrow, in the meantime continue to do whatever has been somewhat helpful, but realize that it’s not really working for you.

I would, when you go to confession or speak with the priest, ask him if he thinks that getting spiritual direction would be helpful. Be completely honest with the priest, including the nature of the temptation, whether you feel compelled to act on these temptations, how frequently they occur, what helps and what doesn’t. If the priest advises you to get spiritual direction, or even emotional counseling, or both, make sure he gives you some names and resources before you leave. Then utilize them, and follow their advice.

We on an internet forum can only be of so much assistance. If you’re being really plagued by these thoughts, you deserve to avail yourself of the best the Church has to offer. Suffering, true, can be redemptive, but unnecessary suffering is of no use whatsoever.

 

[St_Francis]

Whenever you will try to defeat sin you will fail. If you really think about it, trying to defeat sin is like trying to earn heaven. Only God can defeat sin and the only way we can reduce our sinfulness is by complete surrender to God. The more we think that we are strong and the more we will (as in to intend) to fight sin the harder we fall. The more we recognize how weak we are and the more we accept God’s will the less we sin. Accepting God’s will is not only stating that He is right and that we should avoid certain behaviors, it also implies full reliance on His help because without his graces we are useless. Constant recitation of prayers could just be a tool of your will to distract yourself; however when you distract yourself you do not hear God and thus recognize your real weakness. Sometime interior silence will help you address the root of your problems, the real source of your sins.

Wow, this is a scary post… but truly excellent!

 

[SonCatcher]

It has come to my conclusion, that the only way to withstand [temptation] is to CONSTANTLY PRAY The rosary (perhaps with a finger rosary)+ carry a small container of holy water with me wherever I go.

Jesus tells us we should pray without ceasing. It looks like you have found one reason why.

St. Pio is said to have been constantly praying the rosary, even when doing other work. I’m sure many other saints did so, as well. I’d call that “extreme” in a good way.

 

[mountee]

Whenever you will try to defeat sin you will fail. If you really think about it, trying to defeat sin is like trying to earn heaven. Only God can defeat sin and the only way we can reduce our sinfulness is by complete surrender to God. The more we think that we are strong and the more we will (as in to intend) to fight sin the harder we fall. The more we recognize how weak we are and the more we accept God’s will the less we sin. Accepting God’s will is not only stating that He is right and that we should avoid certain behaviors, it also implies full reliance on His help because without his graces we are useless. Constant recitation of prayers could just be a tool of your will to distract yourself; however when you distract yourself you do not hear God and thus recognize your real weakness. Sometime interior silence will help you address the root of your problems, the real source of your sins.

I had to read this several times before most of it became clear, what a great post. The Holy Spirit is alive in you.

 

[Cristiano]

I had to read this several times before most of it became clear, what a great post. The Holy Spirit is alive in you.

I am not surprised that you had to read it several times, it is written in a very convoluted manner.

 

[OraLabora]

Whenever you will try to defeat sin you will fail. If you really think about it, trying to defeat sin is like trying to earn heaven. Only God can defeat sin and the only way we can reduce our sinfulness is by complete surrender to God. The more we think that we are strong and the more we will (as in to intend) to fight sin the harder we fall. The more we recognize how weak we are and the more we accept God’s will the less we sin. Accepting God’s will is not only stating that He is right and that we should avoid certain behaviors, it also implies full reliance on His help because without his graces we are useless. Constant recitation of prayers could just be a tool of your will to distract yourself; however when you distract yourself you do not hear God and thus recognize your real weakness. Sometime interior silence will help you address the root of your problems, the real source of your sins.

This. This has exactly been my experience. With the help of a wise old confessor. Even then sometimes we still fall, but we have more self-control when we simply surrender to God.

I would add that an important first step is self-acceptance, self-forgiveness. It sounds like the OP hates himself for this issue. We all have light and dark within us, both are intrinsic parts of our makeup. We have to acknowledge that they are there, with us, forever, and are part of who we are.

Combatting habitual sin with sheer willpower will never work. Just ask any alcoholic.

The best suggestion I can make, prayer wise, is to present yourself before the Blessed Sacrament, and say “Here I am Jesus, warts and all, this is who I am, I need you and give myself up to you”. One needs to have complete trust that Jesus accepts us as we are with all our frailties. Only then can the healing start. When we try to overcome sin by our own willpower, we aren’t placing trust in Jesus. We are trying to say that we are stronger than Jesus, the only person who can defeat sin as you so rightly point out.

Sometimes I think confession isn’t so much to make amends for our mistakes, as an opportunity to restore our trust in Jesus and be filled with His unconditional love for us. My confessor says as much and is very big on self-acceptance and being reminded, at confession, that Jesus loves us and wants us to surrender to His love.

 

[clem456]

^^
Excellent also. We are not loved by God because we are holy…we can become holy because we are loved.

To the OP, along these same lines:

you might benefit from listening to Henri Nouwen’s 8 part sermon on youtube. Here is the first part of 8:

youtube.com/watch?v=SFWfYpd0F18

Leave yourself an hour to listen and contemplate. It is beautiful and truthful.

 

[davbourgeois]

Pray to St Padre Pio to intercede for you and your strength, and also try this novena that he used to recite daily

I. O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.” Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of… (here name your request)
Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be to the Father…Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

II. O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of…(here name your request) Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be To the Father…Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

III. O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.” Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of…(here name your request) Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be to the Father…Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender Mother and ours.
Say the Hail, Holy Queen and add: St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us.

 

[acarlson]

Whenever you will try to defeat sin you will fail. If you really think about it, trying to defeat sin is like trying to earn heaven. Only God can defeat sin and the only way we can reduce our sinfulness is by complete surrender to God. The more we think that we are strong and the more we will (as in to intend) to fight sin the harder we fall. The more we recognize how weak we are and the more we accept God’s will the less we sin. Accepting God’s will is not only stating that He is right and that we should avoid certain behaviors, it also implies full reliance on His help because without his graces we are useless. Constant recitation of prayers could just be a tool of your will to distract yourself; however when you distract yourself you do not hear God and thus recognize your real weakness. Sometime interior silence will help you address the root of your problems, the real source of your sins.

Excellent, excellent post. :clapping:

 

[kieron123]

Thank you everyone for all your replies and advise. To the person who mentioned pornagraphy and related sutff, yes I did have this problem and I have overcome it, but a couple weeks after I did, I was physically attacked by some spirit which also shook my bed and was growling in my room, etc,etc, etc. I have spoken to a priest about it, but it worries me still, this is why I am looking forward to speaking to him again.

Just to make that clear, It was like a soon as I overcame all my sins, some kind of evil came to bother me, and I’ve been having extreme temptations since that (whtever it was) came around. I was literally clutching to my rosary for the last 2 nights, I barely slept because from the moment I stopped praying I would be tempted.

After my class tomorrow, I intend to head to the local monastery and find the priest again and ask for his advise, pray for me to succeed at this.

Thanks again everyone. This is what I was really referring to constantly praying + holy water for. I know I might seem paranoid over this, but it is really frightening me, sorry If I seem to be over doing it.

 

[JillianRose]

Thank you everyone for all your replies and advise. To the person who mentioned pornagraphy and related sutff, yes I did have this problem and I have overcome it, but a couple weeks after I did, I was physically attacked by some spirit which also shook my bed and was growling in my room, etc,etc, etc. I have spoken to a priest about it, but it worries me still, this is why I am looking forward to speaking to him again.

Just to make that clear, It was like a soon as I overcame all my sins, some kind of evil came to bother me, and I’ve been having extreme temptations since that (whtever it was) came around. I was literally clutching to my rosary for the last 2 nights, I barely slept because from the moment I stopped praying I would be tempted.

After my class tomorrow, I intend to head to the local monastery and find the priest again and ask for his advise, pray for me to succeed at this.

Thanks again everyone. This is what I was really referring to constantly praying + holy water for. I know I might seem paranoid over this, but it is really frightening me, sorry If I seem to be over doing it.

You can also get a Bible on audio. Put it on a timer and let it play quietly while you sleep. YOU are the LORDS. THE DEVIL CAN NOT HAVE YOU!! The devil is just mad because he blew his chance. Now he is miserable and he wants company. Don’t let him win!! You are in my prayers. Keep your mind focused on the cross. Think only about Jesus before you go to bed and first thing when you wake up. Don’t let you mind marinate in evil thoughts while you sleep. You should notice a big difference in a week or two. Key is not to go to bed with any sinful or evil thoughts. IE… That why the audio Bible is great!!

 

[JillianRose]

PRAYER AGAINST EVERY EVIL

Heavenly Father, I love You, I praise You, and I worship You. I thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Who won victory over sin and death for my salvation. I thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit Who empowers me, guides me, and leads me into fullness of life. I thank you for Mary, my Heavenly Mother, who intercedes with the holy angels and saints for me.

Lord Jesus Christ, I place myself at the foot of Your cross and ask You to cover me with Your Precious Blood which pours forth from Your Most Sacred Heart and Your Most Holy Wounds. Cleanse me, my Jesus, in the living water that flows from Your Heart. I ask You to surround me, Lord Jesus, with Your Holy Light.

Heavenly Father, let the healing waters of my baptism now flow back through the maternal and paternal generations to purify my family line of satan and sin. I come before You, Father, and ask forgiveness for myself, my relatives, and my ancestors, for any calling upon powers that set themselves up in opposition to You or that do not offer true honor to Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Holy Name, I now reclaim any territory that was handed over to satan and place it under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

By the power of Your Holy Spirit, reveal to me, Father, any people I need to forgive and any areas of unconfessed sin. Reveal aspects of my life that are not pleasing to You, Father, ways that have given or could give satan a foothold in my life. Father, I give to You any unforgiveness; I give to You my sins; and, I give to You all ways that satan has a hold of my life. Thank You, for Your forgiveness and Your love.

Lord Jesus, in Your Holy Name, I bind all evil spirits of the air, water, ground, underground, and netherworld. I further bind, in Jesus’ Name, any and all emissaries of the satanic headquarters and claim the Precious Blood of Jesus on the air, atmosphere, water, ground and their fruits around us, the underground and the netherworld below.

Heavenly Father, allow Your Son Jesus to come now with the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the holy angels and the saints to protect me from all harm and to keep all evil spirits from taking revenge on me in any way.

(Repeat the following sentence three times: once in honor of the Father, once in honor of the Son, and once in honor of the Holy Spirit.)

In the Holy Name of Jesus, I seal myself, my relatives, this room (place, home, church, car, plane, etc…), and all sources of supply in the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.

(To break and dissolve all satanic seals, repeat the following paragraph three times in honor of the Holy Trinity because satanic seals are places three times to blaspheme the Holy Trinity.)

In the Holy Name of Jesus, I break and dissolve any and all curses, hexes, spells, snares, traps, lies, obstacles, deceptions, diversions, spiritual influences, evil wishes, evil desires, hereditary seals, known and unknown, and every dysfunction and disease from any source including my mistakes and sins. In Jesus’ Name, I sever the transmission of any and all satanic vows, pacts, spiritual bonds, soul ties, and satanic works. In Jesus’ Name, I break and dissolve any and all links and effects of links with: astrologers; bohmos; channelers; charters; clairvoyants; crystal healers; crystals; fortune tellers; mediums; the New Age Movement; occult seers; palm, tea leaf, or tarot card readers; psychics; santeros; satanic cults; spirit guides; witches; witchdoctors; and, Voodoo. In Jesus’ Name, I dissolve all effects of participation in seances and divination, ouija boards, horoscopes, occult games of all sorts, and any form of worship that does not offer true honor to Jesus Christ.

Holy Spirit, please reveal to me through word of knowledge any evil spirits that have attached themselves to me in any way. (Pause and wait for words to come to you, such as: anger, arrogance, bitterness, brutality, confusion, cruelty, deception, envy, fear, hatred, insecurity, jealousy, pride, resentment, or terror. Pray the following for each of the spirits revealed.)

In the Name of Jesus, I rebuke you spirit of _________________. I command to go directly to Jesus, without manifestation and without harm to me or anyone, so that He can dispose of you according to His Holy Will.

I thank You, Heavenly Father for Your Love. I thank You, Holy Spirit for empowering me to be aggressive against satan and evil spirits. I thank You, Jesus, for setting me free. I thank You, Mary, for interceding for me with the holy angels and the saints.

Lord Jesus, fill me with charity, compassion, faith, gentleness, hope, humility, joy, kindness, light, love, mercy, modesty, patience, peace, purity, security, tranquility, trust, truth, understanding, and wisdom. Help me to walk in Your Light and Truth, illuminated by the Holy Spirit so that together we may praise, honor, and glorify Our Father in time and in eternity. For You, Lord Jesus, are, “…the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6 ), and You “…have come that we might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 ).

“God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior” (Isaiah 12:2 ).

Amen. Alleluia. Amen.

 

[fred_conty]

Hello Everyone,

As I mentioned in previous posts, lately I have been under Alot of Temptations and Attacks. It has come to my conclusion, that the only way to withstand them is to CONSTANTLY PRAY The rosary (perhaps with a finger rosary)+ carry a small container of holy water with me wherever I go.

I have fallen into sin again, and I am really tired and frustrated, I have been trying so long and hard to overcome things, and just as I overcame them, evil started constantly tmepting me and throwing me back into sin.

As I also mentioned in previous posts, I intend to see a priest tomorrow for these same issues (again). I intend to ask him for his opinion of what I mentioned in the first paragraph, because I honestly do not see any other way out (maybe I’m wrong).

I’d appreciate thoughts, and ideas on it.

Thanks.

You’ve had a lot of good advice. I don’t want to make this an overkill, so this will be short.

Wear a blessed miraclous medal of Mary. It’s her gift, and she asked that everyone wear one.
The front of the medal is a picture of Our Lady of Grace, and that is what she promised… GREAT and ABUNDANT graces.

When you hold it in your hand during a temptation, just say, “Mary I need that GREAT grace you promised”. You of course must trust her to get that great grace. She promised so she won’t let you down. She never lets me down.

Just a thought.

 

[OraLabora]

You’ve had a lot of good advice. I don’t want to make this an overkill, so this will be short.

Wear a blessed miraclous medal of Mary. It’s her gift, and she asked that everyone wear one.
The front of the medal is a picture of Our Lady of Grace, and that is what she promised… GREAT and ABUNDANT graces.

When you hold it in your hand during a temptation, just say, “Mary I need that GREAT grace you promised”. You of course must trust her to get that great grace. She promised so she won’t let you down. She never lets me down.

Just a thought.

With all due respect these are just acts of spiritual willpower with hints of superstition; a medal is a medal, it’s a sacramental and has no magic power other than to direct our thoughts to God. Same thing with holy water, which holds no magic powers.

When we place our own willpower above surrender to God and deep inner conversion, we are not getting to the root of the problem. We are masking it superficially, with our own egos. Ultimately we will surrender to our addiction again. And make no mistake, our worst habitual sins are addictions. Ask any alcoholic if he or she can overcome their addiction by sheer will power.

For short periods, maybe. But ultimately they crash and burn again… spectacularly some times. Been there done that (not alcohol… that’s all I’ll say on that).

If you think I’m full of it (and I’m sure many here will think that), I have seen monks try to be perfect monks on the basis of willpower, masking their own deep inner issues. In particular one young monk who became a priest of the monastery at a young age, and was the “perfect monk” in all his observances. He crashed and burned and left the monastery. He was trying to do it on sheer willpower instead of with humility, facing God with his problems and admitting his powerlessness at dealing with them. When he finally did face them he realized his vocation was wrong-headed and left.

The OP is on the right track in that he’s admitting he has an issue. But he probably hates himself for it. He has to stop doing that. He is who he is, and has this particular temptation, and nothing is going to change that. He has to start by accepting himself as he is; that God accepts him as he is, is a given. But he hasn’t come to realize that yet. He’s trying to become perfect to approach God. Even if he superficially succeeds at stopping the sin without addressing the root issue, he can’t fool God, He can see right through us. He has to open himself up to God’s grace by coming to God as he is, warts and all. Even though he has this particular issue, there’s a lot in him that is good as well!

As my wife (a family physician and a devout Christian though not Catholic) puts it, an addiction is a God-sized hole in ourselves caused by some past pain that we try to fill with anything other than God in order to feel good, or forget the hurt. Only when we open ourselves up to God’s grace, do we let Him fill that hole for us and begin the process of healing. God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He expects us to trust Him.

 

[Dee_S]

As my wife (a family physician and a devout Christian though not Catholic) puts it, an addiction is a God-sized hole in ourselves caused by some past pain that we try to fill with anything other than God in order to feel good, or forget the hurt. Only when we open ourselves up to God’s grace, do we let Him fill that hole for us and begin the process of healing. God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He expects us to trust Him.

Having looked at the other threads you posted, I would encourage you to continue to pray the rosary especially **and **have a medical assessment. I think both are needed to help you completely.

As to devils, temptations etc. one has to look no further than the story of Job to understand (as all the great saints tell us) that all good or bad that comes to us, comes from the hand of God. He is totally in control…and if He permits these good & bad things to happen to us, it is ultimately for our own good and is in His Divine Plan. So don’t credit the Devil with what is happening to you. No-one can curse you unless God permits it. The power of evil is not equal to the power of God.

If God is indeed behind these bizarre events in your life, then time to get cracking and see a good priest who you agree to obey whatever he tells you to do, to maintain peace of soul and your health of body and mind.

Job was tested by God (who gave the Devil permission or he could never do a thing to anyone) and even though all he had was taken away, he did not lose faith and said "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, Blessed be the Name of the Lord."