Habitual Vice

[Guest bchriste]

Brothers and Sisters,

This apologetic is from Venerable Louis of Granada's the Sinners Guide a very good book on sin. This book will change your life.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...=books&n=507846

1) We must resist temptation. If we don't resist temptation we sin.

2) If we do commit sin we must repent of the sin by going to confession. If we don't our punishment is an allurement of pleasure to that sin. We start desiring the sin more than God.

3) If we progress further in this sin we become attached to that sin. In this third step we must renounce the sin and mortify the deeds of the body by prayer and fasting.

4) If we reach the final stage of habituation we need to absolutely mortify it. Our punishment in this stage is the addiction and we become morally relative-feeling we don't need anything else but this sin. In this stage we need the grace of Jesus to get through it, also much prayer and fasting.

With regards to lust or concupescience here are some particular and practical remedies of overcoming the different levels.

Particular Remedies

The first remedy is to resist the beginning of the attacks of this vice. If we don't resist the first wave of attacks it will be almost impossible to admonish it when it starts in perpetuation towards the soul. St. Gregory says, 'When a taste for sinful pleasures takes possession of a heart, it thinks of nothing but how to gratify its inordinate desires, (Moral. 21,7).' In the second place we must carefully guard our senses, particularly the eyes, that they many not rest upon anything capable of exciting sinful desires. The Holy Spirit has said, "Look not round about thee in the ways of the city. Turn away thy face from a woman dressed up, and gaze not upon another beauty, (Ecclus. 9:7-8). Remember David, who, though declared by God to have been a man after his own Heart, yet fell into three grievous crimes by inconsiderately looking upon a woman. Endeavor to keep your mind occupied with good thoughts and your body employed in some profitable exercise, "for the devil," says St. Bernard, "fills idle souls with bad thoughts, so that they may be thinking of evil if they do not actually commit it." In all temptations be mindful of the presence of both your guardian angel and the devil for both witness all your actions, and will render an account of them to Him who sees and judges all things. In addition to all of this, be very guarded in your intercourse with women, and beware of continuing alone with one for any length of time; for, according to St. Chrysostome, the enemy attacks men and women more vigorously when they are alone. He is bolder when there is no witnesses. Do not fall prey to the flesh for God endowed you with reason and through temptations pray and go away from the place that is causing your soul grief.

Practical Remedies

Destroy all forms of pornography-on the computer, in the basement, hidden away. For lust thrives in darkness, in secrecy, in the heart. Make sure to put codes on the TV and on your computer that you do not know the answer to. Stop going to places that entice your lust either it be the supermarket, corner bookstore, internet website. Remember this is not to help God, but to help your weakness.

Open your heart. Confess to your wife or anyone that you have hurt while you were intoxicated with this vice. This is imperative for the truth needs to be brought into the light. Since lust thrives in darkness you need to zap it of its strength. For now there is a crack in your foundation that only the grace of God will allow you to overcome. Start repairing the crack and in your pain and tribulation you will be crowned with an immortal crown. Chastity, to God, is great in his sight. You see it through Mary, for Jesus was born to a virgin mother. You see this in the saints for many died so that they could remain chaste. Go to confession and let your priest know that you have this addiction. They should be able to counsel you into finding help.

Pray when you are in temptation, do not let the animal instinct take over your gift of reason. For all those who have been trapped by this addiction for many years this may seem difficult but remember you have many praying for you. Study the saints and heed their advice and warnings. "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever," (1 John 15-17).

You are not alone, many suffer through this sin but once you realize the destruction it causes; this may get you on the right track. Pray for those who are in the pornographic business, the ones whose hearts are blinded who have no one praying for them for in this incessant addiction they are destroying souls including their own. Oh Heavenly Father may your light break the darkness they are in.

Start a bible study plan to see how God deals with sin and the grace and mercy he offers to us. Beware of the devil's guilt trip he will lay on you. For once he knows you are breaking out of his yoke of bondage he will send many diverse temptations to get you back on the wrong track. Tell him to go away for now you are Christ's and you were bought with a price; the price of His blood. If you have a friend you can confide in tell them you need assistance to remain on the path of holiness.

Pray the rosary, this is another great tool in combating temptation for it focuses your mind on Jesus' passion death and resurrection.

If you fall do not think that it is the end. Get back up. Confess, for the Lord is faithful.

Do not wait until it is too late. The time is now and not tomorrow.

For the love of the mystical Body,

bchriste

[-I---Love]

thanks

very valuable +

[phatcatholic]

thanks bchriste............welcome to phatmass!