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Catholic / Orthodox Fapstronauts

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

  1. WOTL

    WOTL Fapstronaut

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    Beyond the Rosary, another extremely powerful tool is Psalm 25, which you can adapt to your own challenges. It provides a powerful vision of "what is always true" and that everything is possible if we trust God.

    Psalm 25 New International Version (NIV)


    Of David.

    1 In you, Lord my God,
    I put my trust.

    2 I trust in you;
    do not let me be put to shame,
    nor let my enemies triumph over me.
    3 No one who hopes in you
    will ever be put to shame,
    but shame will come on those
    who are treacherous without cause.

    4 Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.
    5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.
    6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
    for they are from of old.
    7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
    and my rebellious ways;
    according to your love remember me,
    for you, Lord, are good.

    8 Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
    9 He guides the humble in what is right
    and teaches them his way.
    10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful
    toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
    11 For the sake of your name, Lord,
    forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

    12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
    He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.[b]
    13 They will spend their days in prosperity,
    and their descendants will inherit the land.
    14 The Lord confides in those who fear him;
    he makes his covenant known to them.
    15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,
    for only he will release my feet from the snare.

    16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.
    17 Relieve the troubles of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.
    18 Look on my affliction and my distress
    and take away all my sins.
    19 See how numerous are my enemies
    and how fiercely they hate me!

    20 Guard my life and rescue me;
    do not let me be put to shame,
    for I take refuge in you.
    21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
    because my hope, Lord,[c] is in you.

    22 Deliver Israel, O God,
    from all their troubles!
     
    M L likes this.
  2. M L

    M L Guest

    I didn't get a Rosary in yesterday, but back to it today. I think it is such a help for in this struggle. I want to keep it up:)

    I held up all our intentions, too. May God's will be done in me, and in each of you x
     
  3. WOTL

    WOTL Fapstronaut

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    Today

    Let the beauty of what we love be what we do. If we fix our minds on whatever is always true, we will succeed.

    WoL
     
  4. Ambrose

    Ambrose Fapstronaut

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    I've really been dropping the ball on the daily rosary thing, and daily prayer in general really... so I said it this morning and am recommitting to daily prayer.
     
    headedup likes this.
  5. Ambrose

    Ambrose Fapstronaut

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    Fallior- I see you are persisting.



    “Praying is considering worship”- says who? “I pray thee good sir please pass the mustard”



    “Jesus even said to pray to him and ASK HIM alone” – please document that. Can we not ask the Father or the Holy Ghost?



    Veneration… let me ask you a question presuming you are an American (and perhaps you are not) do you say the pledge of allegiance to the flag? Do you remove your hat when the national anthem is sung? If so you are venerating the flag and your country. By your definitions and logic this is idolatry.



    “you don't ask them to pray, you pray DIRECTLY to them” – Yes I do but I don’t expect them to do anything God will not allow them to do. They don’t do it of their own power but by the power God.



    “ Please secure for us also [from God] 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."



    Look, there are lots of places on the internet where you can discuss/argue/try to convince those whose churches are older than 500 years that their ancient practices are incorrect. It isn’t likely you are going change the mind of anyone here.. and we aren’t likely going to convince you either. Here is something we can agree on, PMO is a false God, an Idol which we should cast off and repudiate, and repent of serving. Why don’t you pray for me (and pray I see my “error” if you like) and I’ll pray for you. May God bless you.
     
    Sursum Corda and Leo33 like this.
  6. peregrinnus

    peregrinnus Fapstronaut

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    Rosary done today - glad you're back to saying them as well, M L. Hope all's well with you :)
    I'm on 15 days today :) Half a month down! Feels odd celebrating again after having celebrated two weeks yesterday. But I guess every day clean is a day for celebration :)
     
    Dallas22 and Leo33 like this.
  7. Ze'ev

    Ze'ev Fapstronaut

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    The Optina rule has been a little hard to do while traveling, but once I'm back home I think I may try to do it more regularly
     
  8. moonshapedpool

    moonshapedpool Fapstronaut

    Hi all,

    I'm somewhat of a new guy on the forums, though I was briefly here some months back. I'm also Orthodox, doing a PhD in Germany. As the Apostles' Fast started this week for us, I'm trying to make a renewed effort and keep myself on track. Have to admit, outside confession it's been difficult for me to stay regular on self-accounting with something like this forum, so I'm trying to make it part of my spiritual discipline in dealing with this passion and addiction. Most kindly would appreciate your prayers.

    Yours in Christ,
    Jon Andrew
     
    headedup likes this.
  9. Leo33

    Leo33 Fapstronaut

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    Absolutely Jon, prayers at u now. U should get a counter, click on mine and set it up. Accountability is here if u post once a day. Peace brother.
     
  10. peregrinnus

    peregrinnus Fapstronaut

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    Hey everyone,

    Found this resource while reading up on maintaining chastity in relationships.

    http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/marriage-and-family/sexuality/the-battle-for-purity.html

    It's a pretty good read on sexual desires, and how we can fall into sin by taking it too far. I found the distinctions between feeling desire and acting on it to be very well explained.

    Also, has anyone here read the book that this is based on? It's "Love and Responsibility" by Pope John Paul II.
     
  11. Ambrose

    Ambrose Fapstronaut

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    I priest recommended Love and responsibility to me in the confessional years ago, but I never got around to picking it up.
    Probably aught to get on that.
     
  12. peregrinnus

    peregrinnus Fapstronaut

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    @Ambrose you should! From the series of articles that I read (of which the link above is one of them), it seems like it contains very clear ideas on what Christian Love in the context of relationships should be about, as well as how the ideas of purity, chastity, modesty etc. fit into the context of treating and loving others as people, rather than objects (which is what a lot of us here doing NoFap are trying to do, I guess - not objectify women so much). The language is a little heavy though, I guess. Not really easy reading. But that's more I guess because of the ideas he's putting forth, more than anything else. It sounds like it's brimming with good stuff. I shall probably get a copy myself soon.
     
  13. Aj96

    Aj96 Fapstronaut

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    Hello everyone, thought I would introduce myself and give you a little background. I went to private school from preschool through 8th grade, never even knew what masturbation was. It was when I went to public high school that I found out that a lot of my friends pmo'd. And they were not "bad friends," I WAS hanging out with good people, not the bad-influence kids. They were totally normal and treated pmo as a natural, ordinary thing. I never PMO'd until I was 16 (now 18) and have realized that my time spent doing that has distanced myself from my relationship with God. I so badly want to strengthen my relationship with God again but I can tell that giving up PMO is going to be very challenging.

    If I sincerely repent now, and then PMO again within a week or two, doesn't that make me a hypocrite/liar to God? Which is why I have been hesitant to pray about the issue. But at the same time I know I cannot conquer this without the help of God, so I am very confused and just need help.

    I am hopeful that I can get help and support from others on this website. I have not explored this website fully yet and I'm still getting the hang of things. I would greatly appreciate anyone's advice. Thank you :)
     
    headedup likes this.
  14. peregrinnus

    peregrinnus Fapstronaut

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    Hey Aj,

    I'm pretty sure God will be more than happy that you pray to him for strength on the issue. In my own opinion, it's not outcomes that matter, but the intentions behind them. Addictions and bad habits don't change overnight, just the same way good habits (or habits in general) don't form overnight. There will be struggle, there will be times when we falter and fall despite our best intentions. But as long as we keep turning back to Him with a sincere heart each time, I believe that He will grant us the strength to overcome.

    I went for confession with a priest once, and I did bring up the fact that I was going back over and over, saying the same things even though I didn't want to. And he said that just as sick people need medication over time to get better, so do we who struggle with such sin need time and constant repentance to get to a better place. Put your trust in God and lean on His strength, for it is in our weaknesses that He is strong for us.

    Good luck on your journey!
     
  15. Moxie

    Moxie Fapstronaut

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    I went to confession today. Priest addressed my pornography issue, and said by seeing a variety of sexual acts on a regular basis, the mind fills with ideas and desires that WILL result in inappropriate ACTION. He reminded me that while the shame of private pornography addiction is great, the shame of treating a real person abusively is much more vexing. He said there can not be thoughts to look just "one more time" because of the near certainty that my private actions will eventually lead me to harmful action, and I could wind up really alone, and in jail. He also said, we never know how long we have to live. We never know when a person in our lives will be gone. That's why it's all important to get right with God now, without any delays. He said pray, pray, pray, and love. Do not be afraid, do not be afraid. Have faith, deep faith. God bless us all.
     
    funkycedars, headedup, wi_ash and 3 others like this.
  16. peregrinnus

    peregrinnus Fapstronaut

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    Hey all, I've still been keeping up with nightly Rosary, although I haven't posted about it in a couple of days. Lifted everyone here in prayer tonight, and will continue to do so :)

    For this next week, I shall be saying the Divine Mercy prayer, so for those who wish to join in, please do so :)
     
  17. Ze'ev

    Ze'ev Fapstronaut

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    I may as well post this here. I was going to start a separate thread for it, but people are on this site for so many different reasons, and frankly the "superpowers" or self-improvement types would be less helpful than you all, who share a common motivation with me.

    I've made it 25 days. 12 of those were in Israel, so I had neither the desire nor the time to mess up. But now that I'm back at home for awhile, I'm starting to ask some more difficult questions about myself. I'm examining the possibility that I may be single for a long while yet, I don't know how long. A few of you in this thread know some of the reason why. If I know that and make a conscious decision to choose, say, a contemplative or clerical vocation someday, that's one thing. But until either I switch paths and choose that, or until I find someone, I don't really have any outlet for sexual energy or fulfillment of even non-sexual intimacy. I know some of you are married with families, so your motive to eliminate PMO is clear and makes sense. And I definitely am against pornography use for myself. But as for the rest, I don't know how else I can let any of the energy out. I try to do creative work, but it doesn't make me any less horny. Prayer refocuses my purpose and motive, but doesn't usually dissipate anything.
     
    Deleted Account likes this.
  18. Moxie

    Moxie Fapstronaut

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    Work out every day when you feel horny. Try running, swimming, and lifting.
     
  19. Ze'ev

    Ze'ev Fapstronaut

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    See, I sort of suck at that and don't enjoy it either. I take walks, which sometimes helps, but that's about it. I've also tried doing push-ups to let out the energy and it hasn't worked, sadly.
     
  20. moonshapedpool

    moonshapedpool Fapstronaut

    I'm probably the worst candidate for responding to your question, given you're much further and better along than I am. But recalling from a couple years back when I was off porn for over a year, and was able to avoid MOing for about a month or so, what carried me through was morning and evening devotion to prayer and silence; the insanity of grad school happening that time, with finishing my first master's thesis; and also running a lot at the time. I think the attention factor was a huge thing for me though—I had something positive in my life I could work and focus on, which helped counterbalance the occasional urges just to jerk it.

    I also remember talking with a friend in my undergrad, years back, when he started dating a girl for a couple years. He was an orthodox Catholic guy, so of course sex was off the table, but I remember getting on the topic of how we dealt with masturbation. It was interesting to find out that, at least as he admitted it, he had a much easier time dealing with the urges when he was in the relationship. I think it was also another case of attention, where the attention to the relationship helped redirect things. That said, maybe the factor of anticipation for marriage also helped in his case—which he eventually followed through with a few months after we graduated.

    Anyway, it's not really easy in general, but I hear that it does get better over time, from the few other non-married, orthodox/trad friends I know that have dealt with this.
     

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