Author Topic: habitual sins (Read 1634 times)

steelcross · « **on:** April 09, 2015, 06:22:15 AM »

What are the best steps to take to overcome habitual sins?

Ladislaus · « **Reply #1 on:** April 09, 2015, 09:31:42 AM »

Apart from the general need to pray more, receive the Sacraments, and grow in the love for God, and always remember the cost of our sins by keeping Our Lord's Passion always before our minds, the recommendation has always been to go out of your way to practice the contrary virtue of whatever the habitual vice might be so as to make the virtue habitual rather than the contrary vice.

Another thing that people frequently forget is to PRAY for God to eliminate the vice and to instill the contrary virtue. People always remember to pray for temporal matters (finances, etc.) but rarely to pray specifically for spiritual things.

Also, sometimes God allows people to remain in sin in order to foster their humility, so whatever vice might be there can eventually be relieved by emphasizing humility, especially when one falls into the sin.

Viva Cristo Rey · « **Reply #2 on:** April 09, 2015, 09:37:09 AM »

Confession. Praying the Rosary.

Stubborn · « **Reply #3 on:** April 09, 2015, 10:30:21 AM »

Certainly as the others suggested, but add Fasting.

When you fast, you are purposely sacrificing a selfish pleasure for the glory of God, which, along with the graces, helps strengthen you against temptation *and* get you out of the habit of indulging in sin - which itself is a selfish pleasure.

A primary reason we give into sin is because of our selfishness - the habitual selfish urge that we *always* give into just prior to committing sin needs to be overcome if you are going to break habitual sin - fasting or some other form of self sacrifice is a must.

AMDGJMJ · « **Reply #4 on:** April 09, 2015, 08:39:04 PM »

I have found (at least for me) that habitual faults generally happen as a result of 2 things: Lack of awareness and lack of control.

In order to be more aware and reminded of what particular fault I am working most to overcome, I always outwardly wear a crucifix, Saint Benedict Medal, miraculous medal, and/or other medals of saints. I always wear a scapular, and recently have taken to wearing a wrist/chain symbolizing the Consecration to Jesus through Mary.

Once I am more aware of what I am doing when I am doing it, the next step is to gain control. This can only be achieved, first of all through prayer and the grace of God, but then also very importantly is penance.

Physical, mental, and spiritual mortification...

These three things are greatly lacking in our society, and hence the reason why we all fall so much more easily into habitual sins.

Here are a couple quote on mortification and its necessity explained more depth:

Taken from the Most Reverend Father Faber's book (whom I personally believe to be a saint), Growth in Holiness:

“The true idea of mortification is that it is the love of Jesus, urged into that shape in imitation of Him, partly to express its own vehemence, and partly to secure, by an instinct of self-preservation, its own preservation. There can be no true or enduring love without it, for a certain amount of it is requisite in order to avoid sin and keep the commandments. Neither without it is there any respectable perseverance in the spiritual life. The rest which forms part of the normal state of the spiritual life is not safe without it because of the propension of nature to seek repose in natural ways when supernatural are no longer open to it. Mortification is both interior and exterior; and of course the superior excellence of the interior is beyond question. But if there is one doctrine more important than another on this subject, it is that there can be no interior mortification without exterior; and this last must come first. In a word, to become spiritual, bodily mortification is indispensable.”

After this he went on to speak of its application in our present day and age:

“Indeed modern luxury and effeminacy, which are often pleaded as arguments for an abatement of mortification, may just as well be called forward to maintain the opposite view. For if it be a special view of the Church to bear witness against the world, her witness must especially be borne against the reigning vices of the world; and therefore in these days, against effeminacy, the worship of comfort and the extravagances of luxury. I believe that if this unhappy land is ever to be converted, of which there are many hopes and no signs, it will be by some religious order or orders who shall exhibit to a degraded and vicious people the vision of evangelical poverty in its sternest perfection... If the Church has to witness always against the reigning vices of the world, each soul has likewise, if not to witness, at least to defend itself against them. And how shall it defend itself against the worship of bodily comforts except by depriving itself of them?”

Cantarella · « **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2015, 09:28:54 PM »

Can't recommend it enough:

Total Consecration to Our Lady according to St. Louis De Montfort is the remedy for our ills.

This is probably one of the greatest books of Marian spirituality ever written:

http://store.catholicism.org/true-devotion-to-mary.html

steelcross · « **Reply #6 on:** April 09, 2015, 10:29:15 PM »

Thank you all, please pray for me while I try my best to overcome my sins.

poche · « **Reply #7 on:** April 09, 2015, 10:53:03 PM »

Not mentioned but very important is to avoid the near occasions of sin.

Nadir · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2015, 01:02:00 AM »

Francisco · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2015, 02:43:53 AM »

Quote from: steelcross

Thank you all, please pray for me while I try my best to overcome my sins.

It would help to have a regular Confessor rather than a different priest each time.

AMDGJMJ · « **Reply #10 on:** April 10, 2015, 06:25:43 AM »

Quote from: steelcross

Thank you all, please pray for me while I try my best to overcome my sins.

Yes! And you must do the same for us, please!!! :-)

Jaynek · « **Reply #11 on:** April 13, 2015, 03:52:28 PM »

Quote from: Cantarella

Can't recommend it enough:

Total Consecration to Our Lady according to St. Louis De Montfort is the remedy for our ills.

This is probably one of the greatest books of Marian spirituality ever written:

http://store.catholicism.org/true-devotion-to-mary.html

I just made my consecration to Our Lady on this past Feast of the Annunciation. I used a book by Fr. Libietis to prepare. It collects all the needed readings from St. Louis de Montfort and elsewhere.

There is also a website http://totalconsecration.ageofmary.com/ that has this:

Quote

You will find here all the resources you need to make the consecration:
The Secret of Mary and True Devotion to Mary.
The 33-day preparation, which includes all prayers and readings.
The Act of Consecration.
A listing of appropriate feast days on which to make the consecration.

Also, there is a book called Frequent Confession by Fr. Benedict Baur that is helpful in explaining how the grace of the Sacrament helps us to overcome habitual sins. I also found it helpful for avoiding the discouragement that sometimes comes when confessing the same sin over and over again.