Sexual temptation

[Phazzan]

I know everyone speaks of struggling temptation, especially of the sexual kind, but has anyone actually mastered it, in that they are able to successfully avoid all sexual thoughts and behaviours and remain sexually pure?

[MichaelFilo]

Sparthossa (sp?) has no sexual drive.Does that count?

Merely getting those ideas isn't impurity, playing on them is.

God bless,
Mikey

[J.R.D]

St Thomas Aquanis didnt after angels tied a rope or cloth around his waist which caused excrushiating pain and never did he think or act on sexual temptation.... he prayed for purity

[Guest]

man its tough
gurls are so beautiful
i must say
Heaven will be great when lust nolonger exist

Edited February 17, 2005 by Guest

[cimlog]

I have not mastered it but I have decided to do 20 push ups every time I get an impure thought. I am getting better both physically and mentally.

I also have started doing a lot more physical conditioning. It seems to be good for the brain and a healthy way to keep your thought clean.

[mamasboy1210]

Its hard man. I know. Just think of women as children of God. Or that Jesus is in the room watching you. Or read a bible verse. That makes it go away. If worse comes to worse, get kicked in the "insert thought here" and you wont have any urges.

[BurkeFan]

I've heard it said that you won't totally master it until five minutes after you're dead.

[cimlog]

I have started carrying/wearing a rosary... it is very powerful and stops temptation quickly. Her are a few prayers and scriptures for ya that I like to pray.

"Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God, a workman who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without deviation."
- 2 Timothy 2:15

Lord, You have called me to live a pure life, to praise You with my every thought and action. May this time on my computer be an experience of purity, avoiding anything that could keep me from You. Surround me with Your angels. Unite my heart with Yours.
Amen

[melporcristo]

[quote name='cimlog' date='Feb 17 2005, 12:21 AM'] I have started carrying/wearing a rosary... it is very powerful and stops temptation quickly. Her are a few prayers and scriptures for ya that I like to pray.

"Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God, a workman who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without deviation."
- 2 Timothy 2:15

Lord, You have called me to live a pure life, to praise You with my every thought and action. May this time on my computer be an experience of purity, avoiding anything that could keep me from You. Surround me with Your angels. Unite my heart with Yours.
Amen [/quote]
Amen!!

Yep I have my rosary with me in my pocket ... and even when I go to sleep, its around my hand. Definately pray for purity, ask St. Maria Goretti to intercede and St. Thomas Aquinas too. Beautiful prayer by the way CIM

[cimlog]

Glad you enjoy the prayer. I actually found it on the Lifeteen website.

On a side note...
When I have my rosary in my hand, that hand only starts sweating prefusely. It is really weird the power it has. I think of the blood Jesus shead and maybe my sweat is a representation of his unbelievable love for us.

Random question...
Sometimes when I go to bed I put my rosary around my head and the crucifix lies right on my chest... but is it at all wrong to WEAR the rosary?

[Guest Aluigi]

as long as you're not using it as some fashion statement, it's not wrong at all.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

Cimlog, where have you been?!

[cimlog]

Thanks al. i only wear it at night. During the day it is in my pocket or in my hand. It is amazing how powerful the rosary is.

[theculturewarrior]

It is a lifelong battle. I haven't figured out how to perpetually keep from falling, however, I have learned some steps to get back up when I fall.

1. confession and the Eucharist. These are your two most powerful tools. Confession restores us to Grace, as I'm sure you know, and the Eucharist gives us the means of keeping Grace. If you're not receiving the Eucharist every sunday, do what you have to to make this happen.

2. The second most powerful weapon is the Rosary. Mary is the Refuge of Sinners, the Help of the Afflicted, the Queen of the Angels who are battling demons on your behalf, and who will step up the battle if you ask them, or their Queen.

3. Pray to St. Michael and your Guardian Angel as often as you remember. They will keep temptation from becoming a spiritual affliction. Sometimes, when you really feel like you can't resist, like the temptation is so powerful that there's no other way...it's a demonic attack. St. Michael and your Guardian Angel are just waiting for you to call on them.

4. After mass, I pray to St. Joseph, there is a special prayer to him for keeping chaste. This should probably be ranked higher but there is also a really powerful prayer to the Spirit.

5. When you fall, remember that, without accepting the sin, God is still your father. He loves us, even when we're prodigal.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

By the way, I don't think any of us can "master" any temptation in the sense of curing ourselves from it. A year ago, I didn't have sexual temptation...none...I don't know why, but God preserved me from it completely. I thought I'd never have it again...I was wrong.

Let's not try to find any solutions to "cure" the problem...the only cure is Christ and we can only be cured completely when we are out of this world of temptation. If we think we have found a "cure" like this, then we are setting ourselves up for failure by letting our guard down.

[cimlog]

theculturewarrior,

thank you for those steps. I had forgotten to pray to St. Michael.


Sometimes I get frustrated because I seem to be going to confession all the time for this. I can stop for 2 weeks then I just break. I get so upset with me that I keep falling. But soon withcontinued prayers, I will stop.

[theculturewarrior]

[quote name='Raphael' date='Feb 17 2005, 12:49 AM'] By the way, I don't think any of us can "master" any temptation in the sense of curing ourselves from it. A year ago, I didn't have sexual temptation...none...I don't know why, but God preserved me from it completely. I thought I'd never have it again...I was wrong.

Let's not try to find any solutions to "cure" the problem...the only cure is Christ and we can only be cured completely when we are out of this world of temptation. If we think we have found a "cure" like this, then we are setting ourselves up for failure by letting our guard down. [/quote]
Yeah, the CCC says self-mastery is something we work on our whole lives. I made that same mistake too Raph.

[theculturewarrior]

[quote name='cimlog' date='Feb 17 2005, 12:51 AM'] theculturewarrior,

thank you for those steps. I had forgotten to pray to St. Michael.


Sometimes I get frustrated because I seem to be going to confession all the time for this. I can stop for 2 weeks then I just break. I get so upset with me that I keep falling. But soon withcontinued prayers, I will stop. [/quote]
The Rosary has helped me in similar situations. Sometimes it's just age related. Sometimes it stress, or even scandal. Sometimes it is a demonic attack.

Thank God we have a Mother who prays for us in Heaven. She is the patron saint of sinners, if that makes sense. Remember God loves you. Don't give up!

[Thy Geekdom Come]

In light of that, I find daily Mass (or at least going some times during the week) and frequent Confession to be powerful. If we want to master ourselves, we must humble ourselves...going to Confession, asking for Confession and not just going at scheduled times, even asking in front of others for a priest to hear your Confession, and being careful not to receive the Eucharist when you're in a state of Mortal Sin, as tough as those are, are very humbling and can truly help with self-mastery.

Praying throughout the day helps, too. Praying before during and after various things. The more you pray before meals, you'll find you also start praying before other things. You'll find that you also start praying while walking, thinking constantly of God, and praying for people you pass on the street. Prayer has a nice snowball effect.

[cimlog]

I seem to be doing well now. Been a couple weeks and going strong. it just seems my problem is that I justify things so esily that for the moment it does not seem wrong when indeed it is very wrong. Most common justification = hormones. I know it is wrong and I am staying strong and praying.