Roman Catholics-Moral struggle?

Question

I am a teenager who is very aware of his morality, and of sin. Before I knew it was considered a moral sin, I masturbated 3 times, and looked up pornography. Like any unknowing teenager. I plan on confessing, but in the meantime I have been plagued with temptation, and almost anytime I have the opportunity to masturbate an internal war rages inside me. I never have given in entirely. But I hate feeling like this all the time. I don't know when I confess my sin, and I realize if I masturbate in full knowledge of it being a mortal sin it would be horrible. How can I overcome this daily (sometimes multiple times a day) feeling?

Answer 1

I have good news for you. The very fact you are becoming disgusted with such behavior means you are beginning to develop a moral resistance to it. It has taken a while to build up, no doubt. It will continue to take a while, and there will be times when temptation gets the best of you.

The worst thing you could do it beat yourself up over it. If you do that, you will lose hope and stop trying to better yourself.

There is more to mortal sin than full knowledge. There has to be full consent of the will as well. Given the fact your heart desires to fight this temptation, it may well be likely your sin is not mortal; still grave mind you, but may not be mortal.

In this society, with all the images and innuendos and what not bombarding us, this does remove some (but not all ) culpability.

Instead of three times a day, work it down to two, then one, then once every other day, once every three days, etc. You will find yourself having much more success this way than you would if you were to quit cold-turkey.

Is there a particular local that lends itself easily susceptible to this activity, bedroom for example? Start putting religious objects in this spot; prayer cards, saint statues, Rosary, etc.

During the day, as you're out and about, you get the urge, get into the habit of responding to it with a quick prayer, Bible verse, whicher.

And don't forget to go to Confession as often as necessary.

Little things like this, if you are patient with yourself and with God, will yield the desired results.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Just a small tid bit Read the Myth of Hitlers Pope In 1937 Pope Pius XI issued the encyclical Mit brennender Sorge condemning Nazi ideology, notably the Gleichschaltung policy directed against religious influence upon education, as well as Nazi racism and antisemitism..Roman Catholic hierarchy in the Netherlands officially and formally condemned Nazism in 1941 and therefore faced violence and deportation of its priests, along with attacks upon monasteries and Catholic hospitals, and, the deportation of thousands of Jews to Auschwitz, who were hiding in the Catholic institutions, among them the famous Saint Edith Stein. Likewise, the Polish Roman Catholic hierarchy was violently attacked by the Nazis and saw thousands of its clerics sent to concentration camps or simply killed, a famous example of this being Father Maksymilian Kolbe. Most nations' hierarchy took a mixture of the two positions, oscillating between collaboration and active resistance In 1941 the Nazi authorities decreed the dissolution of all monasteries and abbeys in the German Reich, many of them effectively being occupied and secularized by the Allgemeine SS under Himmler. However, on July 30, 1941 the Aktion Klostersturm (Operation Monastery) was put to an end by a decree of Hitler, who feared the increasing protests by the Catholic part of German population might result in passive rebellions and thereby harm the Nazi war effort at the eastern front.[41] The Christian Churches were amongst the first victims of Nazi war crimes in the rise to power of the Nazis, and detailed plans were made to eliminate them after power was secured

Answer 3

Keep yourself busy with something that is NOT a sin. Learn a sport, volunteer at a homeless shelter or something like that, take extra classes, learn a new language, take up a musical instrument, whatever. When you keep your mind and body occupied, you'll have less opportunity for temptation. And when you do feel tempted, PRAY.

Answer 4

It is not a mortal sin to masturbate, it is a sin of "lust".

You can not overcome things of the spirit by yourself, ask God to take the burden from you, and if you believe it will be done.

Answer 5

it's NORMAL to masterbate!!! It's a need that God has given you. not a mortal sin! If you were to marry, then cheat on ur spouse...that is a big issue...
better to masterbate then to cheat on ur spouse or to have sex outside of marriage.

The catholic church is big on guilt trips. this is one of them. Have respect for yourself and others.
Stay away from porn and sexual thoughts/actions that include hurting others and I believe you will be ok....
What makes sex a mortal sin is when it hurts you or someone else...you know what these things are, i don't need to tell you.

Answer 6

For one get to confession right away and speak with your priest. Seek God's forgiveness and then find other things and hobbies to occupy your time. Join your youth group at your parish

Answer 7

Take up the daily Rosary. Contemplating the rosary and the life of Christ will keep you centered.

Answer 8

Talk to your Dad, he was your age once and I am sure he will understand!

Answer 9

Get a mate, tyke!

Answer 10

Your a teenager and you've only masturbated 3 times.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................