Byzantine Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Hey guys, What are some ways to get rid of temptations to lust? I've tried:[list] [*]Praying for the girl [*]Praying to the girl's guardian angel (Is this allowed? I saw it on Catholic Answers as a way to remind oneself of the girl's personhood) [*]The Jesus Prayer (Actually this works pretty well as long as I'm saying it) [*]Cold shower [*]Hot shower [*]Washing hands with extremely hot water [*]Pinching [*]Praying in general (Again, works well, but I don't necessarily always keep at it; this temptation is pretty persistent, especially at night when I'd really like to go to sleep) [/list] Anyone have any other ideas/suggestions? Just wondering. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah147 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 (edited) I'll frequently pray "Lord, please deliver me from these bad thoughts and feelings." It comforts me and usually gets rid of it or distracts me. What really helps is guarding what you watch on tv, view in photos, imagine, listen to in music, language, etc. Bad stuff fuels the bad thoughts. Edited August 17, 2011 by JoyfulLife Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byzantine Posted August 17, 2011 Author Share Posted August 17, 2011 Would that I could... The last time I saw her was June when school ended... She's hidden from my Facebook too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlySunshine Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 (edited) This is something I've struggled with (yes, girls can have issues with lust). I've heard that St. Francis of Assisi used to roll in the snow whenever he was tempted. St. Benedict would throw himself in a thorn bush. While I don't think it's necessary to go that far - in fact, I wouldn't recommend such a thing unless you were sound of mind and had a spiritual director - there are things you can do to help. One thing that I have found that has helped a great deal is praying the Divine Office daily. I made a firm amendment in my last Confession that anytime I was feeling tempted, I would exercise. Also, try to stay busy with something all the time. Remember, an idle mind is the devil's playground - that's when the thoughts creep in the most. Exercise is the best because it wears you out and helps you sleep better. Go to bed at a regular hour. Lust is the sin of night and darkness and likes to creep up on us when we are the most tired and off guard. I've found that I am the most tempted when I stay up too late. Now I go to bed before midnight each night and haven't had one single bad thought in 2 weeks! I also stay away from any forms of entertainment that include nudity or sexual connotations. Also, one thing I would suggest is getting a regular Confessor. I'm no priest or Church Scholar, but it sounds like you might be struggling with obsessive and scrupulous thoughts. It makes you think that any little thought you have is a sin when, in reality, it's OCD or something similar. Going to Confession and receiving the Eucharist daily is the best thing you can do. Hope this helps. [url="http://www.catholic.org/featured/sheen.php?ID=1432"]Archbishop Fulton Sheen on Sex and Holy Purity[/url] Edited August 17, 2011 by MaterMisericordiae Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG45 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 I find that the most effective thing for me is to start the day with, "Mary, I know you and I aren't tight, but help me with my lust. You remained pure". The overwhelming shame that washes over me when I start to entertain lustful thoughts heh. Not a sure fire cure, but still, it helps. And exercise, burn off the energy that way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deus te Amat Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 I pray "Jesus and Mary, grant me the grace of your purity" over and over until it goes away. An amesome priest taught me that, and since he did, I've been tempted less and less frequently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaPetiteSoeur Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 (edited) [size=4]Mary, loving Daughter of God the Father, I give my soul to your care. Protect the life of God in my soul. Do not let me lose it by serious sin. Protect my mind and my will so that all my thoughts and desires will be pleasing to God.[/size] [size=4][i]Hail Mary...[/i][/size] [size=4]Mary, loving Mother of God the Son, I give my heart to your care. Let me love you with all my heart. Let me always try to love my neighbor. And help me avoid friends who might lead me away from Jesus and into a life of sin.[/size] [size=4][i]Hail Mary...[/i][/size] [size=4]Mary, loving Spouse of the Holy Spirit, I give my body to your care. Let me always remember that my body is a home for the Holy Spirit who dwells in me. Let me never sin against Him by any impure actions alone or with others, against the virtue of purity.[/size] [size=4][i]Hail Mary...[/i][/size] [size=4][i]​[/i] I pray this one every night. A wonderful sister gave me a copy of it long ago, and it is a great prayer! It's helped me remember to keep my thoughts chaste.[/size] Edited August 17, 2011 by LaPetiteSoeur Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlySunshine Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 (edited) This prayer has also helped me: [url="http://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/english5/p03024.htm"][b][b]May I Always Remember[/b][/b][/url] Edited August 17, 2011 by MaterMisericordiae Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytherese Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Try reading Clean of Heart by Rosemarie Scott. It has over fifty meditations on practicing chastity with tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maximilianus Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 (edited) St. Bernard's advice, "If the winds of temptation arise; If you are driven upon the rocks of tribulation look to the star, call on Mary; If you are tossed upon the waves of pride, of ambition, of envy, of rivalry, look to the star, call on Mary. Should anger, or avarice, or fleshly desire violently assail the frail vessel of your soul, look at the star, call upon Mary[b].[/b]" Edited August 17, 2011 by Maximilianus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissyP89 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 I love all the women who are being so brave and honest here! Too often, guys think it's "they're" issue. We all deal with it. Some of us are as troubled as you, I promise. Generally, my strategy is to immediately change my activity if I can when temptation comes. So if I'm on the computer, I might go read. If I'm watching TV, I'll play video games. That sort of thing. And pray or read the Bible until I'm tired enough to sleep without issues. I also find being honest with other people of the same gender I trust to be extremely helpful. There are one or two people in my life who I can always call or text in a pinch. Remember that Scripture says "two are better off than one." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG45 Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 [quote name='MissyP89' timestamp='1313622324' post='2290157'] "they're" issue. [/quote] "Their" madame editor. I second the Bible and video games though. Using them to distract from this issue is how I beat Sonic and Sonic 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MargaretTeresa Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 I have really cut down on what I read. It wasn't so much an issue of what I saw on television, simply because I don't watch much television! But I read a lot, and in high school it was a lot of stuff like Karen Robards and Nora Roberts and the like. But there's clean stuff out there. I particularly like Carol Higgins Clark's mystery series. But that's just secular reading. I also try to pray for help from BVM, St Maria Goretti (she and I have become close), and St Clare, who could have so easily chosen a life of happy debauchery and riches over humble serving of the Lord. And if I ever catch myself with impure thoughts, I almost always say a "Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner." I used to write that trashy 'lemon' stuff as well. But since I've been more actively pursuing my vocation, I made myself quit that. I can barely write a short story that contains two characters simply exchanging a chaste kiss anymore for the simple fact that I' afraid it will lead me down wrong roads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dUSt Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Pretend she's your mom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dominicansoul Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 what dUSt said... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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