Rachel Evans
For Catholics, masturbation is considered a sin, and those who struggle with it may feel discouraged, ashamed, and separated from God. However, the Catholic Church offers guidance and strategies to overcome this addiction. It is important to recognize that masturbation is a powerful addiction, and overcoming it requires a commitment to decision-making and changing habits. This involves eliminating triggers, seeking spiritual help from saints like St. Augustine, St. Joseph, and Mary, and replacing vices with virtues. Prayer, confession, and seeking God's forgiveness are also emphasized as essential steps in the Catholic journey towards refraining from masturbation.
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What You'll Learn
Praying to Saints for encouragement
Praying and seeking the help of saints for encouragement is a powerful way to overcome masturbation addiction. Here are some ways you can do this:
Pray the CIR Novena
Pray the CIR Novena, invoking the intercession of several patron saints who struggled with addiction, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments. Sign up for the CIR Novena to receive emails with short meditations on recovery-related saints and prayers over nine days. This can help you connect with saints who have experienced similar struggles and draw strength from their stories of perseverance and transformation.
Invoke Specific Saints
Call upon specific saints who can serve as powerful intercessors and guides on your journey:
- Mary, the Blessed Mother: Devote yourself to Mary, the Undoer of Knots, and pray three Hail Marys each morning and evening. This devotion, encouraged by saints such as St. Anthony of Padua, St. Leonard of Port-Maurice, and St. Alphonsus Liguori, will help you combat lust and ask for grace to live a holy life.
- St. Augustine: St. Augustine's writings, such as his "Confessions," can provide insight and comfort as he, too, struggled with sexual sin before his conversion.
- St. Joseph: Known as "the most chaste" and "the terror of demons," St. Joseph exemplifies self-control and purity.
- St. Moses the Strong: Also known as Saint Moses the Black, he was a desert father revered by Catholics and Orthodox Christians. Before his conversion, he struggled with lust and other temptations but ultimately found redemption.
Pray for Strength and Guidance
Regularly pray for strength, guidance, and forgiveness. Trust in God's grace and mercy, and do not lose heart. Remember the words of Saint Padre Pio: “My past O Lord to your mercy; my present to your Love; my future to your providence.”
Meditate on Scripture
Meditate on relevant Scripture passages, such as 2 Corinthians 4:1,16 ("We do not lose heart"), to remind yourself that you are not alone in your struggles and that God provides strength in moments of weakness.
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Reading St. Augustine's Confessions
St. Augustine's Confessions is an autobiographical work written by Augustine of Hippo between 397 and 400 AD. It consists of 13 books that outline his journey from a sinful youth to his conversion to Christianity and subsequent ordination as a priest and bishop. The Confessions are considered a masterpiece of Western literature and one of Augustine's most important texts. They are widely regarded as the first Western autobiography ever written.
In his Confessions, St. Augustine presents himself not as a holy man but as a sinner, confessing to a variety of sins, including lust, adultery, stealing, and lying. He describes his inner turmoil and struggle with worldly desires, such as lust, which is particularly relevant to those seeking to overcome sexual addictions. Augustine's work emphasizes the importance of humility and grace in the path to conversion and reconciliation with God.
By reading St. Augustine's Confessions, individuals struggling with masturbation and pornography addiction can find solace and guidance in his description of similar struggles. They can also draw inspiration from his journey to conversion and the transformative power of God's grace. Additionally, the Confessions offer practical advice on breaking habits and replacing vices with virtues, which aligns with the recommendation to focus on intentional habit changes and productive endeavours.
Furthermore, St. Augustine's work underscores the importance of prayer and seeking spiritual help. This aligns with suggestions to pray often and invoke saints such as Mary, St. Augustine himself, and St. Joseph for encouragement and intercession. Through prayer and spiritual devotion, individuals can strengthen their resolve and find the grace to overcome their addictions.
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Using the energy for something constructive
Sexual energy is a gift from God, and it is not something to be ashamed of. However, it is important to use it wisely and within God's guidelines.
When it comes to redirecting sexual energy towards something constructive, it is important to stay busy both physically and mentally. This could involve taking up hobbies that excite you, such as history, learning to play the guitar, coffee brewing, or video games. Physical exercise is also a great way to channel your energy and keep your body and mind healthy.
Prayer is also a powerful tool. Pray often and look to the saints for encouragement. You can pray the Rosary daily, say Hail Marys, or try the Ignatian Examen, which is a form of reflective prayer. Additionally, reading Catholic books and attending confession can help you stay connected to your faith and redirect your energy towards spiritual growth.
Another way to use your energy constructively is through service to others. Look for opportunities to serve and help others in Christ's name. This can be a meaningful and satisfying way to channel your sexual energy into something positive and fulfilling.
Finally, remember that changing habits takes time and intentionality. Be patient with yourself and don't be afraid to seek support. As you work on redirecting your sexual energy, focus on progress, not perfection.
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Praying the Rosary
To begin, make the Sign of the Cross while holding the Crucifix and say the Apostles' Creed, which summarises the central mysteries of the Catholic faith. On the first bead, say an Our Father, and on each of the next three beads, say a Hail Mary.
Announce the first Mystery, perhaps followed by a reading from Scripture, and then say another Our Father. While fingering each of the next ten beads, say ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery. Then, say a Glory Be. After each decade, some say the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima:
> "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy."
Repeat these steps for the remaining four mysteries, with each new mystery beginning by announcing it, then praying an Our Father, ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer.
After saying the five decades, pray the Hail, Holy Queen, followed by:
> "V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
> R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ."
Finally, conclude the Rosary with the Sign of the Cross.
The Mysteries of the Rosary centre on the events of Christ's life, and there are four sets of Mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous, added by Saint John Paul II in 2002. Traditionally, the Joyful Mysteries are prayed on Mondays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the season of Advent; the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays during Lent; the Glorious Mysteries on Wednesdays and Sundays; and the Luminous Mysteries on Thursdays.
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Wearing a Consecration Chain bracelet
While masturbation is a powerful addiction, it is possible to stop. Wearing a Consecration Chain bracelet on the right wrist is a unique Catholic antidote to masturbation. It is a sacramental, serving as an external sensible reminder of one's commitment to chastity and enslavement to Jesus through Mary.
The bracelet is not a good luck charm but a reminder in the moment of temptation to refrain from sin. It is a symbol of one's devotion to fulfilling the gospel commandment: "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell" (Matthew 5:30).
The Consecration Chain bracelet is a permanent reminder of one's commitment to chastity and a way to seek Mary's intercession in battling sexual addiction. In addition to wearing the bracelet, one can also pray to Catholic saints for encouragement, such as St. Augustine and St. Joseph, who are known for their chastity.
It is important to recognize that overcoming masturbation is a gradual process, and relapses may occur. However, with persistence, prayer, and the support of the Catholic community, it is possible to overcome this addiction and live a life aligned with one's values.
In conclusion, the Consecration Chain bracelet is a powerful tool for those seeking to refrain from masturbation. It serves as a physical reminder of one's devotion to chastity and a way to invoke the guidance of Mary and other saints. By wearing the bracelet and embracing a life of prayer and virtue, individuals can find the strength to overcome their addiction and live a life aligned with their Catholic faith.
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Frequently asked questions
Recognise that masturbation is a powerful addiction that releases chemicals that are hard to ween off of. You will relapse, but the key is to trend downwards. Focus on intentionally changing your habits and eliminating things that lead you to sin.
You can replace your vice with virtue. Try to stay busy both physically and mentally and focus your energy on something constructive.
Pray often and look to the saints for encouragement. You might try a novena to Mary Undoer of Knots, or saying three Hail Marys each morning and evening.
Eliminate pornographic content cold turkey and replace it with something fruitful, such as Catholic podcasts. Make small sacrifices in other areas of your life, such as skipping salt on your fries, to help you grow in self-mastery and gain self-control.
Do not lose heart or grow discouraged. Go to confession and get back on track. Remember that God's grace can keep us from falling indefinitely.
