tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745814378416915364.post1673413913564868064..comments2023-12-23T00:19:35.005-08:00Comments on ADAM'S ALE: JUST ME AND MY SHADOWFr. Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13201561855047420853noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745814378416915364.post-15720318106454956832007-07-06T20:15:00.000-07:002007-07-06T20:15:00.000-07:00I agree with the other anonymous blogger. I am al...I agree with the other anonymous blogger. I am also a woman and it's tough living in the world & culture that we do now. It's all about getting the quick fix or rememdy or satisfaction. It's posted and seen everywhere. I'm over 40, still single, and chaste. In my past, I had sinned through masturbation. <BR/><BR/>I was so lonely, hurt, and depressed... Looking back, I thought this was only my sin. If I masturbate, it's not hurting anyone else. However, the sin was powerful because it affected all aspects of my life - even those I just met. My sin affected how I thought of myself & how I projected myself to others. <BR/><BR/><BR/>I now belong to a Catholic Spiritual program called Light Weigh. Susan Fowler, the author, stated the truth: "the Devil is the king of immediacy," and "Jesus is the God of second chances, and third chances, etc." By focusing on the St. Ignatian reviews and offering my sacrifices to God, I have been able to overcome many vices! <BR/><BR/>I look back on my life and how far I have come...I am so much more at peace because I choose to have God on my side. I choose God's way, not the easy way or satisfying way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745814378416915364.post-13012212905546831712007-06-30T18:06:00.000-07:002007-06-30T18:06:00.000-07:00anon. - Actually it did suprise me how much it eff...anon. - Actually it did suprise me how much it effects women. When we "practiced" confession in the seminary, we talked a lot about men but never women dong this. I was shocked as a young priest to know how common it was. (I doubt anything can shock me now. If it did I would be doubly shocked by being shocked that I was shocked.)<BR/><BR/>Nice points Rob (per usual.) "This really ties in to your post from Monday. Watching fantasies, whether it is in your head or on the screen, is equivalent ot carrying these things out, as the Lord says, "Whoever looks lustfully at a woman has already commmitted adultery." This is not just "being hardline", it is the truth." You never fail to bring either more humor or, as in this case, greater insight to what is brought up here.<BR/><BR/>Sparky - nice connection too. "It was like coming back from another planet. I really don't know I functioned before with my mind always, ALWAYS, on sex. It was slavery!" If only we could let young people know before they have to become slaves to learn how unsatisfying it is! Yet all of culture seems to be against it.Fr. Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13201561855047420853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745814378416915364.post-14358874982127731292007-06-29T20:34:00.000-07:002007-06-29T20:34:00.000-07:00I'm thinking that Rob should be a stand-up comedia...I'm thinking that Rob should be a stand-up comedian at Catholic colleges. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745814378416915364.post-39044292090148574712007-06-29T09:40:00.000-07:002007-06-29T09:40:00.000-07:00Sparky, that's excellent! A good admonition to re...Sparky, that's excellent! A good admonition to remember.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745814378416915364.post-59638537901849598552007-06-29T09:13:00.000-07:002007-06-29T09:13:00.000-07:00I heard about a study where mice were made to run ...I heard about a study where mice were made to run a maze and their reward at the end was to press a button that stimulated the pleasure sensing portion of their brains. The mice found this reward just as motivating as food. The final part of the experiment gave the mice unfetterd access to the pleasure button to see what would happen. The mice would continue pressing the button until they died.<BR/><BR/>I don't know about you, but I've been that mouse. I was addicted to just two things, sexual thoughts, and sexually graphic movies that they played on HBO only at 3 or 4AM. Doesn't sound so bad, does it? I read in some catholic book that these things were serious sins and I almost passed out. I said to myself, I can't believe these are serious, but I guess I can believe that they are wrong. Very gently, over time, I broke both habits. It was like coming back from another planet. I really don't know I functioned before with my mind always, ALWAYS, on sex. It was slavery!<BR/><BR/>I remember reading Padre Pio saying that certain temptations shouldn't be resisted too violently or they would only get worse. This seemed to work for me, to be gentle on myself, give myself time, and not wallow in anxiety.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745814378416915364.post-24049537716058088702007-06-29T08:21:00.000-07:002007-06-29T08:21:00.000-07:00First of all, thank you Father because I believe t...First of all, thank you Father because I believe this is one of the things destroying our culture.<BR/><BR/>I know that sounds like a cheesy, 1950's morality film (Bobby couldn't stop touching himself, so he became...A COMMUNIST!), but it is essentially true, in that men's minds are weakened by this vice, for a number of reasons.<BR/><BR/>A priest once told me in confession, "The women in these fantasies never say no, do they? They never feel ill, have a headache. burp, fart etc. They are these perfect, robot-like constructs that have no possibility of existing in reality." It was after this confession that I relaized that the real sin involved is not the sexual release, but rather the fantasy involved. (not that I am trying to justify masturbation without fantasy, since that isn't really possible).<BR/><BR/>I think the fantasy aspect ties this issue to many other sins, which mostly are fantasies of power. In sexual issues, it is power over women (or men). Indulging in violent fantasies is the same, becuase you are "getting off" on the feeling of controlling other people, of making them carry out your will. In this fashion, we pretend to be God. Worse, we are an evil version of the True God, who gives each of us free will. In our fantasies, no one has free will. They are our obedient servants. If they do rebel, it is because we want them to.<BR/><BR/>One might say, "Well, it is just fantasy, it's release, it's healthy." I ask you, how can it be healthy to imagine forcing others to do your will? How can it be healthy for me to imagine sexual relations with various women who exist only to serve me and apparently never want to do anything else (women in fantasies never want to go shopping, or make me watch boring Meg Ryan movies...). <BR/><BR/>This really ties in to your post from Monday. Watching fantasies, whether it is in your head or on the screen, is equivalent ot carrying these things out, as the Lord says, "Whoever looks lustfully at a woman has already commmitted adultery." This is not just "being hardline", it is the truth. <BR/><BR/>In fact, one might say that the thought is worse than the deed, because the deed would involve real human beings and the conflict of wills that God meant for us in our relations with one another. The fantasy is a warped version of God's creation.Odysseushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00028190531437571201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745814378416915364.post-33876392554052198422007-06-29T08:03:00.000-07:002007-06-29T08:03:00.000-07:00The title of this post says it all. Well, not all...The title of this post says it all. Well, not all, but it should come as no surprise that women, even married ones, may have a problem with the very same malady.<BR/><BR/>When one thinks about it, it's pretty strange to make love to one's self. And it sure doesn't feel like love. It's satisfying like a great sneeze, but one need not feel shame after sneezing. Libido is a body thing, and it's a strong drive (it's supposed to be), but the mind (or minions) suggest if you just get this urge off your mind by doing this, you'll be a more decent person to all. Kind of a win-win thing. <BR/><BR/>Wrong. It actually deals God <I>in</I> on it. We are indeed Temples. St. Francis used to roll in the snow to curb his body's sexual appetite, and one day when he was sure he couldn't withstand the urge to marry and create life physically, he built a wife and children of snow. <BR/><BR/>Well, it's 90 degrees these days and there is something titillating visually or audio every second of every day, so snow won't help, and even hunkering down to weeding the garden with no media and the best of intentions won't help. As you say, time and prayer, time and prayer..and confession.<BR/><BR/>I have asked my guardian angel numerous times to help me. Help drive it away, help me fall asleep, help help help. My angel helps so much, I am bothered by the urge only very infrequently, now. But the body does indeed remember, and I will always be in danger of sinning with it.. I'm not free of it.. but I avoid occasions of dragging the Lord into this sin, and have indeed brought it to the confessional. I won't conquer it.. but <I>He</I> will.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com