The Enemies of Success and Recovery –

Despair, Hopelessness and Quitting

Not trying hard enough -

Accepting Satan's chains of slavery.

The Solution? - Give ourselves to God.

Discouraged             (Taken from EWTN Q&A Forum - with permission)

Question from JS on 09-10-2000:

Dear Fr. Levis,
I thought I would offer "Discouraged" some advice, if I may. I was addicted, for lack of a better word, to the same sins as Discouraged for some fifteen years--from the time I was nine, on. Like him, I made a general confession, and several other normal ones, but always fell back. Until, that is, about six months ago--I haven't committed those sins since, thanks be to God, and I feel confident in His mercy that I will not do so ever again.

So here's my advice, for what it's worth:

1) I recognized that I couldn't break the habit on my own. I simply could not. That left me with two choices, keep doing it, or throw myself on God's mercy and trust Him to do it for me. I chose the latter.

2) By His grace, I became keenly aware of the disgusting nature of these sins and no longer wanted to commit them. Not wanting to commit them is very important; you have to choose between them and God. If you find yourself still wanting to commit these sins, beg God to give you the grace to hate them.

3) I prayed to St Maria Goretti, the martyr of purity. In fact, not ignoring God's mercy of course, I would credit St Maria entirely for my success. Pray to her. She's the saint for our times, I think.

4) Be honest with God and yourself. He knows, of course, but He wants you to tell Him everything yourself. Emptying your heart to Him, especially while contemplating the Passion of our Lord, will make it easier to be totally dependent on Him.

5) Recognize that you're not going to be free from temptation, and there will be difficult days. Pray God for the strength to weather the storms. It may be that there are certain times or situations when the desire to commit these sins is greatest (to relieve stress or divert yourself from grief, for instance), beg God to give you the grace you need BEFORE those times come. Don't wait and presume either on His mercy or on your non-existent strength.

6) Realize also that what may not be a near occasion of sin for anyone else, is for you. Avoid them like the plague, even if there's nothing inherently sinful about them. Even if they don't cause you to fall, they'll disturb you. If you don't try to mortify your desires, a fall is almost inevitable. Refuse--and I mean REFUSE--both voluntary and involuntary impure thoughts. If it's necessary to inflict violence, in a figurative sense, upon yourself, do so. You must be utterly ruthless with yourself. If you are, God will reward you, and in time it won't be quite as necessary. Don't give in to immodest glances, either.

7) RELAX, and when temptation comes along, don't flinch and wring your hands as if God will not give you the grace you need. If prayer is impossible, go divert yourself with some good activity. Cultivate hobbies and interests. Above all, take the energy you poured into your sins, and pour it into God and the good things he's given us in this life. Enjoy the good and beautiful things of life, and look for your consolation in God alone and be willing to be disconsolate if He so wills. If you're not willing to suffer depression and loneliness, you'll probably fall, since escaping from them is probably why you commit these sins. Embrace the Cross.

8) Cultivate devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Imagine that her eyes are always on you, which they are, and imagine that every woman you see is an image of her.  She will always help anyone who sincerely asks.

9) Finally, everyone admires athletes who continue playing even when their physical suffering is tremendous.  That's what we have to do--contend like men.

I read once that one of the greatest weapons of the devil is to make you think temptation will last forever. It doesn't, and just when you are about to give up is usually when the end is coming. Sit still, keep your eyes on God and suffer through the waiting--He is there with you the whole time. By the way, I offered my Mass for you, Discouraged, this morning.
 

Answer by Fr. Robert J. Levis on 09-12-2000:

Dear JS, Without a doubt this is the finest detailed testimony of victory over this firmly entrenched addition and habit which I have ever read and had the pleasure of presenting to all our readers. Many, many thanks.  Your 9 points are solid and do produce results. God bless you for them.
Fr. Bob Levis

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