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Catholic / Orthodox Fapstronauts

A group for members of all religions, or no religion at all, to talk about religion

  1. Hey my friend. I think we ALL been there. I'm convinced that my Junior year of High School was so stressful and bad because I spent at least 4-5 hours a night looking at P, and MO'ing. It drained me of motivation to do anything, and my grades suffered for it. Many of you probably don't believe in being Filled with the Holy Spirit (as Pentecostals believe), but I thought that if I could just have this GREAT SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE, if God would just help me not FEEL so bad, ONLY THEN would I have the ability, or the desire, or the consideration to turn away from sin. But I NEVER prayed, I NEVER read my Bible aside from a few verses here and there. I had no fellowship with God, nothing. Nothing was personal, I became religious. I became legalistic. "Well, when the time is right, God will fight my battle and take temptation away for me, and I'll leave church one day and never struggle with it again. It didn't happen this week, maybe next week..." "Okay... maybe next week..." "Next week, maybe..." "There is no point in trying. God just doesn't want to help."

    This was a continuing cycle for me. The fact is that you have to develop a sacrificial praise. You have to get to the point where you're like "You know, I just wanna lay down because I've had a rough day. I feel some temptation but I trust myself..." you've got to get up and pray to God in spite of the feelings. It's easy to draw close to God when you feel good. But when do you need God the most? When you feel terrible. When do we usually not praise God? When we feel terrible. God does not inhabit your problems, he does not inhabit your addiction. He does not dwell where you allow temptation to rest. He DOES, however, inhabit your PRAISE! God gave everything in the earth a particular place to reside. He made the heavens, because the heavens hold the gases necessary for the stars to burn. He made the waters, because the water is what is necessary to allow the fish to live, he made the dry land appear because dry land was necessary for dust to be created, and man to live on it. He made PRAISE as an atmosphere in which He dwells. NOT our problems. "Well, y'know, I relapsed twice today... I feel terrible... I'm so unclean, God probably doesn't wanna talk to me, so I'm not gonna pray till tomorrow..." Your problem will not start to go away until you offer God a sacrifice, Not My Will, But Your Will Be Done!!! You're going to make it, my friend. :) You are. Keep pressing onward!
     
    headedup and Dallas22 like this.
  2. Fallior

    Fallior Fapstronaut

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    Asking them to pray for you is a prayer in itself. When talking to the dead, it is considered a prayer. Praying is considering worship and worshiping anyone except God is considered a sin. Jesus even said to pray to him and ASK HIM alone as he is the only one that can hear you and give your prayers to God. So the angels cannot tells your prayers to God/Jesus, only Jesus can when asking him directly. It is different when asking those on earth to pray for you as that is getting other sinners, other people who need prayer to go to God, which is one of the reasons we are here on earth in the first place.


    Roman Catholics attempt to "bypass" these clear Scriptural principles by claiming they do not “worship” Mary or saints, but rather that they only "venerate" Mary and the saints. Using a different word does not change the essence of what is being done. A definition of "venerate" is "to regard with respect or reverence." Nowhere in the Bible are we told to revere anyone but God alone. There is nothing wrong with respecting those faithful Christians who have gone before us (see Hebrews chapter 11). There is nothing wrong with honoring Mary as the earthly mother of Jesus. The Bible describes Mary as "highly favored" by God (Luke 1:28). At the same time, there is no instruction in the Bible to revere those whom have gone to Heaven. We are to follow their example, yes, but worship, revere, or venerate, no!


    I also offer an example, proving that you don't ask them to pray, you pray DIRECTLY to them. "To Saint Anne: Good St. Anne, you were especially favored by God to be the mother of the most holy Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Savior. By your power with your most pure daughter and with her divine Son, kindly obtain for us the grace and the favor we now seek. Please secure for us also forgiveness of our past sins, the strength to perform faithfully our daily duties and the help we need to persevere in the love of Jesus and Mary. Amen."
     
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2015
  3. Fallior

    Fallior Fapstronaut

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  4. M L

    M L Guest

    Monday Rosary done - lots of distractions tonight. Maybe only one good meditative Hail Mary in each decade? I know these days happen, so I will look forward to tomorrow..
     
    Dallas22 and Sursum Corda like this.
  5. WOTL

    WOTL Fapstronaut

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    Hi. I have just discovered this thread. The Rosary is one of the most powerful tools and I am glad there is a section of the Forum where people share thoughts and prayers. I also carry the medal of Saint Benedict in my pocket.

    However, after several years struggling with this, the only thing that has ultimately helped me break the endless loops of "failure-prayer-confession-failure..." has been to write "dialogues" with the compulsive voice in my head that was leading me to porn and compulsive sexual behavior. I talk about this in my journal. I felt willpower alone was not enough. At the same time, perhaps all these tools that we are getting over time are also a response to our prayers: I remember kneeling in the Sanctuary of Lourdes in Southern France two years ago, asking for help to break free from the shackles of this terrible addiction. It has taken a lot of time and effort but I am slowly moving in this direction. Good luck to all and stay strong!
     
  6. peregrinnus

    peregrinnus Fapstronaut

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    First Rosary of this new week :) It's still quite surreal how I'm actually looking forward to the Rosaries in the evening, when before this they seemed to be such a chore. Didn't gain as much insight as before, but just saying the prayer has helped calm me down, I feel, and brought me closer in my walk with the Lord.

    Praise be to God! :)
     
    M L likes this.
  7. Dallas22

    Dallas22 Fapstronaut

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    Thank you ML.. Your dedication is truly a blessing...
     
    Leo33 likes this.
  8. peregrinnus

    peregrinnus Fapstronaut

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    Good Morning everyone,

    May I selfishly ask for your prayers? My girlfriend's going through a bit of a rough patch.. She's coping alright, or trying to cope, but I'm just more than a little worried. Doesn't help that she's off in Europe right now. She's asked me to pray for her, so I in turn am asking for your prayers for her as well. Thank you all so much.
     
    headedup, Dallas22 and Sursum Corda like this.
  9. M L

    M L Guest

    Sure, peregrinnus - I always love how we love..
     
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  10. M L

    M L Guest

    Tuesday Rosary done - I think that's the Novena complete:) thanks to @Podraig for suggesting it and encouraging us x

    Like @peregrinnus, I'm going to keep it up. I've found it very beneficial and I'm sure many graces from it have helped me get to 15 days.

    God bless you all x
     
    funkycedars and Podraig like this.
  11. Leo33

    Leo33 Fapstronaut

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    Praise be to God!! I haven't posted on here in a while but am so happy to jump on here and see so many postings on this thread. You all encourage me. ML thanks for your posts and dedication with the daily Rosary. Reading all your postings with that has encouraged me to pray more and reminded me that God needs to be sought. Yes He is always present and seeking us, but we need to seek Him as well. This life can really be a drain if we keep God out of it.

    I am happy to post that my wife and I and our kids have been blessed with a new baby boy born last Friday. He is such a blessing. To look upon the face of a new born takes one back to the mystery of innocence and purity, all God given graces that each person possessed when coming into this world.

    We are truly blessed people. A good confession can bring this all back to each of us. To lay all fears aside and lay all our troubles and sins out to the priest withholding nothing....NOTHING!!!.....that is why the Sacrament is there for us. It is extremely healing, and more importantly, puts us back in God's grace where we can once again walk through this world and enjoy it!! Partaking in all of beauty and all God has given us.

    Peace to you brothers and sisters,

    Leo
     
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2015
  12. M L

    M L Guest

    Leo,

    Congratulations on the birth of your son - that is such lovely news:) I'm sure this new life will give your family many blessings x
     
  13. peregrinnus

    peregrinnus Fapstronaut

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    Tuesday's Rosary done :)

    Thanks @M L for your prayers, and thanks everyone else too!

    Leo, great to see you here. I was wondering where the founder of this thread had disappeared to. Congrats on the birth of your son!
     
    M L likes this.
  14. ARockStar

    ARockStar New Fapstronaut

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    This is highly appreciated Leo33! I am a devout Catholic and I am so happy to have found this Thread. Thank you very much for beginning this and I'm comfortable to know that there are Catholics/Christians alike who struggle with the same addictions as I do who are seeking help.
     
    headedup and M L like this.
  15. Podraig

    Podraig Fapstronaut

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    Happy Tuesday. Thanks to everyone for joining me in the novena. It's been nice actually praying a daily Rosary. @Leo33 Congrats on the baby boy, man!
     
    M L likes this.
  16. Podraig

    Podraig Fapstronaut

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    Random fun question: is anyone else into Gregorian Chant?
     
    Sursum Corda likes this.
  17. peregrinnus

    peregrinnus Fapstronaut

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    My girlfriend sent me this, and I thought it pretty apt to share here :)

    ---
    In the Boat with Jesus

    Whatever can I say in order to stop the multitude of your thoughts? Don't try, excessively, to heal your heart, as your efforts would only make it more infirm. Don't make too great an effort to overcome your temptations, as this violence would only make them stronger. Despise them and don't dwell on them too much.

    Keep Jesus Crucified present to your imagination; in your arms and on your breast, and, kissing his side, say a thousand times: "This is my hope, the living source of my happiness; this is the heart of my soul; nothing will ever separate me from his love. I possess him and will not leave him, until he places me in a safe place."

    Often say to him: "What can I have on earth, or what can I expect in heaven, if not you, oh my Jesus? You are the God of my heart and the inheritance I desire for all eternity."

    Whom should we fear, therefore? Listen to our Lord who says to Abraham and to you also: "Do not fear, I am your protector." Therefore, be steadfast in your resolutions. Stay in the boat in which he has placed you, and let the storm come. Long live Jesus! You will not perish. He may sleep, but at the opportune time he will awaken to restore your calm.

    SAINT PIUS OF PIETRELCINA
     
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  18. Leo33

    Leo33 Fapstronaut

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    Thanks everyone, I will say my Devine Mercy and Rosary today. Arockstar, welcome friend. Yes PMO is not biased to anyone anymore. It must be fought. Frequent Confession is key along with serious prayer, lifestyle change, true grit, and every other form of battle ready stuff u can come up with. I finally lasted a week now, momentum is finally on my side again, that helps too.

    I hope everyone has a great day. Peace brothers and sisters. :)

    Leo
     
    Sursum Corda likes this.
  19. Ze'ev

    Ze'ev Fapstronaut

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    Hi all and welcome to all the newcomers!

    Things have been going well for me. I haven't posted for while because I've been in Palestine and Israel. It's been an amazing pilgrimage, and I'm flying home the day after tomorrow.

    I recently found a new prayer rule that I like. I downloaded this app for my iPad called PrayAlways. It's a collection of Orthodox prayers, and it allows you to input custom names into the prayers for people you pray regularly for, your spiritual father and your patron saint. The full version's about 3 bucks, so very affordable. The prayer rule is from the monastery of Optina, and is centered around the Jesus Prayer. I recently acquired my first prayer rope, made by the monks of Jacob's Well Greek Orthodox monastery (where Jesus met the Samaritan woman), so praying this rule just got easier.

    http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/cellrule.aspx

    I just do all five groups as the Jesus Prayer, without the complicated bits at the end, as the version from the app is set up that way. Thought this might be another nice resource for people.

    God bless!
     
  20. peregrinnus

    peregrinnus Fapstronaut

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    Prayed the Rosary for today. Feeling a little drained today. But glad I managed to pull through. Lifted up all who are struggling with addiction.
     
    M L likes this.

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