Struggle

A guy shared with me his struggle to get out of the habit of masturbation, such as our Catholic upbringing taught us to get to grips with.  Like so many of us he went to confession and had jacked off almost before he got home.  He could not keep off the pornography either and trashed it, tore it up or gave it to the priest to get rid of.  Been there, done that, and wondered what the priest did with it!  However the reflection I shared with this guy went like this: “Very few guys ever get over masturbation and this is the prime argument for saying that the Church has got it wrong.   

What is the point in insisting on freedom from masturbation as spiritual perfection when the effort to get there is virtually never successful and instead a lot of nervous and emotional energy is burned up that could be channeled into real good?  Even worse is the effect the constant battle to overcome masturbation can have on guys’ self-confidence and just on their whole nervous system.  And all in aid of what?  It is very difficult to see any evil in masturbation.  One enlightened priest guide of mine said it was no more unnatural than blowing your nose!

I wish I had taken his opinion on board about 30 years before I did in fact.  My would be truly Catholic spirit treated his opinion, I am afraid, as just too dangerously liberal.”  I might have added: what is the point of trashing pornography either?  It is just a celebration of the wonder and beauty of sex and stimulates the appetite for what is good.  We all need to make room for the erotic in our lives in order to be whole.