January 18th has been a major turning point in my struggle with mortal sin, since then things have been going quite well, and I have not fallen into mortal sin until last night. However when I did fall, it was quite different from the times I have fallen in the past. Throughout yesterday I was struggling with temptations, material sins, and scrupulosity over said temptations and sins. This all left me confused, and that confusion followed me all the way into that night. I guess may main issue, if I can touch on this, is that as I become more and more free from this sexual perversion I struggle with, the more things that would normally cause a reaction in me in the past, don’t anymore. But that results in an ambiguity in certain thoughts and situations I come across where it’s either difficult to tell whether it’s or not, or it is not dangerous but could develop into something dangerous if I let my guard down. I need prayers that I can go to confession this Thursday and confess these complex sins in a good and clear way. As well as prayers that I can handle these new and complex difficulties in my struggle as I progress towards being free from this.
Have you heard of the Angelic Warfare Confraternity? It is especially aimed at helping its' members and those they love to achieve purity, and make reparations. This is done by reciting short prayers to go with 15 Hail Marys, which can be embedded into your daily rosary. St. Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint for this devotion/association. I was enrolled in it several years ago and, although there is some effort involved to join, I do feel safer in this area now. You need a priest to recite the blessing prayers over the enrolment St. Thomas Aquinas medallion, and a knotted cord that one can wear around their waist, (although you don't have to, just wear the blessed medallion). Perhaps there is an enrolment being prepared for in your area. You can do it on your own, with a priest to bless, etc. It is overseen by the Dominican order. They have a website: http://www.angelicwarfareconfraternity.org/enroll/
Overcoming sexual vice takes a long time, RW. Don't go too hard on yourself. Once we have really repented of the sin is the main thing, even if we continue to struggle with it. It is our weakest point, a good priest told me before.
With you all the way, RW. Come Holy Spirit fill the heart of this son. Give him the freedom he desires. May we all walk in the freedom Christ won for us on the Cross. Give him also clarity of mind and the light of wisdom which clears the cloud of confusion. John 1: 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
I am fortunate to not be very "wired" in that regard (yes, I consider it a blessing, WITHOUT any smugness). Thus, it's difficult for me to understand how problematic "it" can be for others. A long-time friend is a "sex maniac." In his case there's been no sense of guilt or attempting to control (he doesn't claim to be a Christian btw). Despite our mutual fondness as friends ... I've often had to bite my tongue to keep from asking WHY. Why is sexual vice so difficult for him? He's truly driven by it. It's not coming from judgment or criticism, but rather sincere curiosity. But I don't ask and he's never tried to explain. RW, I keep you in my prayers.
Thank you DesertStar7, Yes this is one of the areas where women, not all women (especially in this day and age) tend be stronger at overcoming than men. Ven. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen once said something like, "Women are supposed to teach men the pleasures of the spirit, and men are supposed to teach women, the pleasures of the flesh." And when you compare various false religions, it is interesting to note that women have historically been attracted more to false religions that emphasis the non-physical, the various forms of Gnosticism being the best example, while men have been attracted more to religion that emphasize the physical, like Islam which heavily emphasizes the one's physical behaviour in prayer, and has notoriously graphic view of the afterlife. I'm no expert at this mind you, but it does appear that men tend to be more attracted to carnal and concrete things.
Interesting thoughts. I think it's so. Would explain why women are generally more attracted to New Age and the like; ethereal, mystical, mysterious.
Just to be clear... you don’t have to be part of a group, so you can live anywhere. I happened to be in a parish where the Dominican priest was doing this. When you enroll, you participate in and receive the benefits of all those enrolled.
By the way, are would mind sharing this friend's name with me? I'll see if I can keep him in my prayers and see if they can help him with his life and difficulties.
