Joshua Bennett
According to Catholic teaching, masturbation is a mortal sin, considered a violation of the Sixth Commandment and a rejection of God's offer of life. It is deemed a disordered action that contradicts the meaning of human sexuality, which is intended by God to be shared between a married man and woman. The act of masturbation is viewed as self-indulgent and selfish, turning one's sexuality inward instead of outward in self-giving. While habit may reduce one's responsibility for their actions, masturbation is still considered a grave sin if done willingly with full knowledge of its wrongness.
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What You'll Learn
Masturbation is a grave, mortal sin
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a "gravely disordered action" and a mortal sin. This means that it is a serious sin that can lead to eternal damnation if not confessed and forgiven before death. The Church's teaching on this issue is based on the idea that masturbation is an act of self-gratification that turns one inward and away from God. It is seen as a violation of the Sixth Commandment, which protects the God-given bond between the love-giving and life-giving aspects of marital intimacy.
The Church's stance is that masturbation is always wrong, regardless of a person's state of life or relationship status. It is considered a sin against chastity, which is a virtue that gives sexuality its proper place in our lives. Masturbation is viewed as an act of self-indulgence that fails to integrate one's sexuality into a sincere self-gift to another. Instead, it uses the body as a means of personal gratification, turning one's sexuality inward in a way that contradicts the meaning of human sexuality as intended by God.
The gravity of the sin of masturbation is further emphasized by the Church's understanding of the voluntary nature of the act. While habit can reduce one's responsibility for sinful actions, it does not eliminate it entirely. If a person knows that masturbation is wrong and willingly engages in it without resistance, they are guilty of a grave sin. This is because Christians are accountable for their actions and must strive to unite themselves with God, breaking free from habits that detach them from Him.
As a mortal sin, masturbation is considered a rejection of God's offer of life. However, the Church also teaches that God is patient and merciful, desiring to free individuals from the slavery of sin. Individuals struggling with masturbation or related habits, such as pornography or infidelity, are encouraged to seek the help of a priest for guidance and support.
In summary, the Catholic Church's teaching on masturbation is that it is a grave, mortal sin that turns individuals and their sexuality away from God. It is a violation of the Sixth Commandment and a disordered action that contradicts the meaning of human sexuality as intended by God. While habit can reduce culpability, individuals are still responsible for seeking help and striving to overcome sinful habits.
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It violates the Sixth Commandment
The Sixth Commandment, "Thou shalt not kill," may at first seem unrelated to the act of touching oneself, but the Catholic Church interprets this commandment broadly to include any act that violates the sanctity and dignity of human life. This includes not only physical murder but also actions that are detrimental to one's physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Masturbation, or touching oneself with the intent of sexual pleasure, is considered by the Catholic Church to be a violation of this commandment. The Church teaches that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and are therefore sacred. Sexuality is a gift from God, meant to be expressed within the context of marriage as a unitive and procreative act. By engaging in solitary sexual acts, one is using one's body for purely self-gratifying purposes, which is seen as a misuse of God's gift.
Furthermore, masturbation can lead to a disordered view of sexuality, as it reduces the sexual act to mere physical pleasure, divorced from its intended emotional and spiritual context. This can impact an individual's ability to form healthy, respectful relationships and may foster a sense of shame and guilt. It can also lead to an unhealthy preoccupation with one's own pleasure, fostering selfishness and a lack of concern for others.
By violating the Sixth Commandment, masturbation is considered a serious matter, and when coupled with full knowledge and consent, it is deemed a mortal sin in Catholic teaching. This means that it is a grave offense that severs one's relationship with God and requires repentance and reconciliation through the Sacrament of Confession. Through this sacrament, one can receive forgiveness and restore their communion with God and the Church.
It is important to note that the Church's stance on this issue is rooted in its understanding of human dignity and the sacredness of our bodies. While the Church teaches that masturbation is a sin, it also emphasizes the infinite mercy and forgiveness of God. Through confession and a sincere desire to amend one's life, Catholics believe that healing and reconciliation are always possible.
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It contradicts the meaning of human sexuality
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a mortal sin, and it is considered "an intrinsically and gravely disordered action". This is because masturbation contradicts the meaning of human sexuality as intended by God.
According to Catholic doctrine, human sexuality is meant to be shared between a man and a woman in the context of marriage. Masturbation, on the other hand, is a solitary act that turns the individual inward, indulging in self-gratification rather than self-giving. It is seen as a selfish act that fails to integrate one's gift of sexuality—one's powers of love and life—into a sincere self-gift to another.
The Church teaches that our bodies are not something we have, but they are essential to who we are and how we express ourselves as human persons, body-soul composites. Masturbation attempts to divorce the physical behavior we engage in from shaping our self-identity, as if they are separate entities.
Catholic morality emphasizes the importance of chastity, which means giving sexuality its proper place in our lives. It is not about snuffing out sexuality but rather about exercising self-control and expressing our sexuality in a way that aligns with our values and the teachings of Christ.
The Church recognizes that habits, such as masturbation, can be difficult to break and may reduce one's responsibility for their actions. However, individuals are still encouraged to seek help and guidance from a priest or confessor to overcome these habits and strive for redemption and healing.
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It is a selfish act
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a mortal sin, a rejection of God's offer of life, and an "intrinsically and gravely disordered action". This act is considered a sin against the Sixth Commandment as it goes against the God-given bond between the love-giving and life-giving aspects of marital intimacy.
Masturbation is seen as a selfish act, turning one inward in self-indulgence rather than outward in self-giving love. It is argued that this act uses the body for personal gratification, separating the physical act from the individual's self-identity and their powers of love and life. This contradicts the Catholic belief that the body is integral to who we are and how we express ourselves as human beings.
The Church's teaching on masturbation is centred on the virtue of chastity, which gives sexuality its proper place in our lives. It is not about suppressing sexuality, but about integrating it into a sincere self-gift to another. This is in line with the belief that human sexuality is meant by God to be shared between a man and a woman in marriage.
While habits, such as masturbation, can reduce one's responsibility for their actions, it is still important for Catholics to strive to break free from these habits and unite themselves with the Lord. This can be achieved through seeking help from a priest, receiving God's grace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Eucharist, and receiving support from the Church.
In summary, the Catholic Church considers masturbation a mortal sin and a selfish act that turns individuals inward and separates the physical act from their self-identity. The Church encourages individuals to bring their disorders to Christ for healing and to practice chastity, integrating their sexuality into a sincere self-gift within the marital bond.
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It harms the body-soul composite
The Catholic Church teaches that the human person is a composite of body and soul, and that these two dimensions are intimately connected and influence each other. When a person engages in masturbation, or 'touching oneself', it can be seen as a violation of the harmonious relationship between the body and soul.
The Catholic perspective on human sexuality is rooted in the idea that our bodies are created in the image of God and are therefore sacred. Sexuality is a gift from God, intended to be expressed within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman. Masturbation is considered a disordered use of this gift because it seeks sexual pleasure outside of the context of marital love and procreation.
When a person masturbates, they are using their body for self-gratification in a way that disconnects the sexual act from its life-giving and unitive purposes. This can lead to a distorted view of sexuality, where pleasure becomes an end in itself rather than a mutual expression of self-giving love within the context of a committed relationship.
From a Catholic perspective, masturbation can also be harmful to the soul because it can foster a sense of isolation and selfishness. It is an inherently solitary act that can reinforce a self-centered approach to pleasure and gratification, rather than fostering self-giving love and mutual respect. This can negatively impact a person's ability to form healthy, intimate relationships and can foster a sense of shame and secrecy.
Additionally, masturbation can distract a person from their true calling to love and serve God and others. It can become a preoccupation that distracts from a life of virtue and holiness, leading a person away from their ultimate end, which is union with God.
In conclusion, the Catholic understanding of the human person as a body-soul composite sheds light on why masturbation is considered sinful. It harms this composite by distorting the true meaning of human sexuality, fostering a self-centered approach to pleasure, and distracting from a person's ultimate calling to love and serve God and others.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, touching yourself, or masturbation, is considered a mortal sin in Catholicism.
Mortal sins are those committed with full knowledge and complete consent.
Masturbation is considered a sin against the Sixth Commandment as it violates the God-given bond between love-giving and life-giving in marriage. It is also considered a selfish act that turns one inward, contradicting the meaning of human sexuality, which is meant to be shared between a man and a woman in marriage.
Catholics believe that God is patient and merciful and wants to free people from sin. If you have masturbated, you should seek the help of a priest and strive to overcome the habit.
By inviting Christ into your passions and desires, you can allow him to purify them and gain proper control. This is known as redemption, where you bring your disorders to Christ and let him heal you.
