Abbey-Roads2

On the blog I write at the company I work for, I get tons of direct links to websites that have the hottest porn ever.  I opened one - and quickly closed it - and deleted it.  However, the image emblazoned itself upon my mind.  It is sinister, diabolic, and so gross.  Not to mention demeaning.  I only opened it in the comments section because the title, which I can’t remember, sounded like a joke from a fellow employee.  So now, every day, I get something - I can tell by the title it is porn - I immediately delete the stuff - without opening.

In my life of sin, I never got into porn - it had to be the real thing or nothing - although I was always simply looking for love and intimacy.  (I think most everyone is just looking for love when they commit sexual sin.)  Porn just seemed dumb to me - it always repulsed me.  Nevertheless, it’s a huge problem for many men, it’s addicting, precisely because the images embed in the mind.  Men are easily addicted to the medium, which activates the imagination and stimulates the body, albeit further imprinting upon the memory.  It is everywhere on the internet.

Whatyado?  For one thing, never keep pornography in the house.  Never click on suspicious sites - if you do - you haven’t sinned seriously - yet.  The image viewed is going to come back to you, even if you  have mentally blocked it out and it seems to have immediately left your conscious thought.  The image automatically got filed in your unconscious, whether you wanted it there or not.  Despite this, men also have another problem; they often experience an almost instantaneous physical  reaction when exposed to something salacious.  If it is not willed, it is not a sin, even if it lasts - it is a natural reaction to stimulus.  Move on, and don’t dwell on the subject, or the feelings.

I have always told young guys, when impure thoughts or images assault you, gently try to distract yourself, try to pray or engage in some activity unrelated to the lust.  Flee the temptation.  Yet never think the temptation or the lustful movements of the body are actual sin.  Our physical desires, along with the evil one, want to convince us that we have already gone so far and therefore sinned, telling us to go all the way.  Never fall for that, even if you are lactating.  Move on, and don’t panic - the fear and confusion often trips a guy up.  You need full consent of the will to commit actual sin.

If men were able to objectively analyze pornography, (the heat of passion petrifies rational thought) he would see how utterly ridiculous sexuality is as portrayed in pornography.  The absolute diabolical , and demeaning aspect of the acts portrayed are genuinely evil, exploitive, even enslaving for the objectified persons involved.  Ultimately, it is the most selfish act, and the most voyeuristic indulgence any human being can engage in.  Sadly, it is also the silliest, almost comical, portrayal of sex anyone can be witness to.  And yet there lies the secret.

The evil one mocks the gift of sexuality - in and through the perversion of pornography he subjugates the viewer, the addict, and mocks the dignity of man.  It is anti-life because it entices man to self-pleasure, or compels him towards the exploitation of another, for his own gratification.  In some cases, it leads to crimminal behaviour, discovered or not, that destroys the victim, (as well as the perpetrator) spiritually and psychologically.

Pornography is all around us.  Regular television programing offers what can only be termed as “soft porn” while the internet provides ample opportunity for hard core porn, along with cable access.  Therefore men are surrounded by intense temptation.

I’m so fortunate to have health problems; high blood pressure medication is the best thing that ever happened to me.  But the young guys, you have a struggle.  So here is my advice:

• Don’t dwell on an image you see, move on.
• When it comes back to your imagination, don’t get upset, let it pass through, as leaves blowing around on a fall day; re-focus, and pray, quietly - keep yourself in peace, by whatever means.
• Never believe yourself or the devil, that you already sinned because of  some lustful movements of your body…pray and change your occupation - even if your body hasn’t settled down.  We are body and spirit, we can overcome the inclinations of the flesh by living according to the spirit - empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Pray, pray without ceasing, this is how you will obtain the grace to live chastely.
• If you fall, don’t be discouraged and do not multiply the sins - don’t keep adding links to the devil’s chain - repent, get to confession as soon as possible - and move on.  “It’s difficult for a young man to remain sinless”.   Our Lord knows this - cast yourself into His Sacred Heart, asking for the graces you need, trust in Him and keep on trying.

I’m here to tell you that by the grace and mercy of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus, you can indeed overcome any temptation or sin.