Lord, You have created me for the virtue of chastity but in my fallen nature I have struggled with the urge to lust. I humbly ask you for the grace to guard my heart, mind, and eyes so that I can overcome the sins of the flesh and the urge to lust. Please hear my prayer and help me overcome the evil desires of my heart.
Jesus I beg you to give me the grace needed to overcome all my unchaste desires. Help me guard my heart and my mind. Help me control bodily urges. Let me practice temperance in my sexuality by overcoming intrusive lustful thoughts that lead me toward sinful behaviors.
God, please take away my urge to lust. I know it is sinful to lust after others and these intrusive thoughts lead me to commit sins. Help me think pure thoughts and desire pure things instead. Please change the desires of my heart and give me the gift of temperance. Teach me to call upon the Name of Jesus when I feel overcome by the urge to lust. Jesus, you alone can give me the strength I need to overcome sins of the flesh. I trust in you, Lord, to deliver me from these evil desires.
I am beautifully and wonderfully made, and you love me deeply. Lord, please give me the grace to see the one I am tempted to lust after as a person deeply loved by you and deserving of the virtue of chastity and purity. Help me reject the desire to indulge in behaviors that give me physical pleasure and instead let me be holy and chaste.
AMEN.
"Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being. Sexuality, in which man's belonging to the bodily and biological world is expressed, becomes personal and truly human when it is integrated into the relationship of one person to another, in the complete and lifelong mutual gift of a man and a woman. The virtue of chastity therefore involves the integrity of the person and the integrality of the gift."
Virtue of Chastity Controls the Urge to Lust
The Response of Chastity
by St. Hildegard von Bingen
The Words of Lust
And [Lust] said: “ I will surround God’s image with filth, which is a very troubling thing to God; I can thereby destroy all things. For I am a glorious and high one and I draw all things to myself, as allowed by the nature I was born with.
Why should I restrain myself and why should I tear myself away from the favors of a luxurious life and a saving mind? If I accomplish only a small part of what I want to do, is this blameworthy? If, however, I do not do what my flesh demands, I will be angry, sad, deceitful, tormenting, and entangled with unrest….
The Response of Chastity
Then [Chastity] said: “I am not indifferent, as you are, o filthy one, you who always play with wantonness, for I do not lie on the bed on which you lie, you who bring disgrace to yourself. I also do not send out poisonous words from my mouth that teach slippery baseness. Instead, I draw a drink of the sweetest water from the well of blessing since all my works have the coolness of God. For I sit in the sun and I look at the king of kings when I perform all my good works freely….
I have the joy of honesty and modesty in a pleasant life, for the pleasant life that I have does not restrain me with the blasphemy of baseness nor does it wound me with unclean lewdness. You, however, o most filthy one, are the gluttony of the belly of a serpent, you who sprang from the ears of Adam and Eve who listened to the serpent and then let obedience vanish. But I have sprung from the highest Word of the Father.
On Sinners Who Give in to Their Lust
I also saw a wide and deep swamp filled with mud into which the souls of those burrowed who had turned their human nature, both male and female, into something contrary through fornication while they had been alive. As evil spirits poured fiery water upon them, they tried to hide from their fiery pitch forks by burrowing into the mud. Because they had forsaken their human nature by fornicating, they burrowed into the mud; because they had done this with burning desire, the evil spirits poured the fiery water on them; and because they had cast aside all human shame in their fornication, they were pushed back into the mud by these evil spirits with their fiery pitch forks.
Liber Vitae Meritorum, Vision Three, 22-23, 88
Week 22 of the Virtue Meditations Series
Virtue of Chastity Controls the Urge to Lust
Reflection:
When St. Hildegard of Bingen wrote these words over a thousand years ago she could not have possibly conceived of the world we live in today. As I reflected on the virtue of chastity the Lord reminded me that we have to guard our eyes. In the last 80 years evil has bombarded our eyes with digital images that destroy our innocence and purity. Mankind collectively sees indecency on a daily basis. It is everywhere. We can carry it in our pockets on our ‘smart’ phones and stream videos, music, and podcasts that are an abomination to chastity.
It is no wonder that the one sin that we are asked to intercede for on I Am Jesus website more than any other is the sin of lust and all the behaviors that come from it. I want you to know that you are prayed for and that God wants to heal you of this horrible vice. It is always the Lord’s desire to deliver us from evil. Promise yourself and God that from today onward you will make a commitment to do the hard work of purging all near occasions of sin that lead you to lustful thoughts.
What are “Near Occasions of Sin” that Lead to Lust?
All humans have concupiscence due to original sin. The Church describes concupiscence as the tendency to sin, and St. Augustine of Hippo further describes it as sinful lust. Ever since the original sin of Adam and Eve, mankind has been tempted by lust to commit sins of the flesh. Today, more than any other time in world history, it is much easier to fall into this temptation. This is due the prevalence of pornography and the general collapse of morality in many cultures. It is mostly seen in the west where a global multibillion dollar entertainment industry produces shows, videos, songs, podcasts, and movies to promote the objectification of human bodies for sexual pleasure that is consumed worldwide.
We are inundated with the temptation to lust, and it comes to us through our smart phones that we carry with us everywhere we go. We are tethered to this sin and as weak and imperfect souls we give into this temptation daily.
How do we overcome this?
Near occasions of sin are things in our life that make it easier for us to fall victim to a temptation. If you struggle with lust and you truly want to be freed from it you must follow your prayer today with active efforts to become chaste. Give the Lord time to speak to your heart and reveal to you the things he wants you to get rid of in your life. When you know what he is asking you to do, follow through and obey him. The Lord is gentle and he will not force his will on you. Without obedience to God you will not have the ability to overcome lust. It’s that simple. This means that you have to follow through and do your part so that you can be delivered from the urge to lust.
How do I Overcome the Urge to Lust?
Jesus heals all wounds. He is the great physician. I encourage you to commit yourself to regular prayer in Eucharistic adoration; this is the most efficacious way to overcome habitual sin. In Eucharistic adoration you are coming to sit at the feet of the Lord. You are in his Real Presence. I recommend 100 holy hours of Eucharistic adoration. This is 100 visits, each visit for a minimum of one hour. Try to go twice a week. Bring a Bible, and avail yourself of the library of books available to you in most chapels. Use the prayers on this website. Contemplate. Sit in silence with a heart open and humble. Be with Jesus and soak up the grace. Give this burden to Jesus and let him conform you and renew your mind. He will advise you and give you the grace you need for transformation. You will fall deeply in love with him.
Is Jesus asking you to replace your smart phone with a phone that cannot access music, images, videos, and internet access? Is he asking you to avoid someone who leads you to sin? Is he telling you to avoid places that make it easy to commit sins of the flesh? Is he drawing you toward a deeper prayer life and more intensive prayers? Are there subscriptions to cancel, images to delete, and phone numbers to ‘lose’? Do it. Purge every single thing he brings to mind.
You are waging a war against evil desires. You are rejecting pleasure and you are seeking chastity. Decide, purge, and replace the sinful indulgences with prayers. Trust the process, and if you find yourself taking a step back, repent, and take another step forward. You may lose a battle in the process but you have to win the war. Be determined and God will reward you with the grace needed to win.
Why is it so Hard to Overcome the Urge to Lust?
Chastity is a form of temperance. It involves control of your heart, mind, and body. Chastity begins with your heart and a full surrender to God. Your heart will best be converted through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confession rids you of demonic obsessions. Go and keep going until you have overcome the urge to lust. It’s a process and it involves hard work to create new thought patterns and to consent to the will of God over the desires of the flesh.
God will give you the grace. He desires your holiness. Your mind will be converted over time through daily prayer and a firm resolution to overcome the urge to lust. To get control of your mind you must fully surrender it to God. Recognize your intrusive thoughts as part of the human condition and a weapon of the devil. Do not entertain them or give yourself an outlet to commit more sin through a near occasion. Every time you receive an intrusive thought immediately rebuke it by calling upon the Name of Jesus. Ask him for grace. Pray until the thoughts wane. Pray when the thoughts return.
In the beginning this will take up much of your time and may even be exhaustive. All things are possible with Christ. Do not quit. You are waging war with the devil and you have to be strong and committed.
Going Further:
Take some extra time to meditate on James 1:12-18. Read the passage on temptation and then prayerfully reflect on it, rereading the phrases that speak to your heart. Have a dialogue with God and ask him things from your heart. Spend a few moments listening to what the Holy Spirit is speaking to your conscience. If you wish, journal about this experience.
James 1:12-18: “Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him. No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers: all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.”
Let us Pray:
Now that we understand the virtue of chastity, let’s begin with a prayer of petition for it.
Virtue of Chastity
Prayer of Petition
Eternal Father, I am the work of your creation, made in your image and likeness but too weak to conquer the devil by my own power. I ask you for the grace to grow in virtue, surrendering all my thoughts, words, and deeds to you. Please help me resist the devil and all his tricks. Jesus says that whoever believes in him will do the works that he does and that whatever we ask in Jesus’ name he will do so that You may be glorified. Heavenly Father, you sent us your Son to show us what it means to have perfect virtue in life. Jesus is fully human and fully divine and has perfect virtue. Father, have mercy on me and please give me the grace I need to grow in the virtue of chastity so that I might grow in holiness and imitate Christ in my thoughts, words, and deeds. AMEN.
Now let’s contemplate the Lord by listening to him speak to us in the Gospels. Slowly meditate on the following passage, reflecting on his virtue of chastity. Take your time. Pause over a word or phrase that speaks to your heart. Reread the passage again, and then ask Jesus to show you how you can imitate him in his chastity and better overcome the urge to lust. Choose a word or phrase from this passage to write in your journal, and add your thoughts. Go back and prayerfully re-read it throughout the week.
Virtue of Chastity Controls the Urge to Lust
You Have Heard that it was Said
from the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 5:27-30
[Jesus said] “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.”
Let us Pray:
Jesus, please give me a clean heart. I commit myself to you, body, mind, and soul. Send me your Spirit and give me a strong resolve and a good conscience. I want to be chaste and holy. I want to see others as souls who are loved by you and deserving of eternal life. Take from me every near occasion of sin that leads me toward the urge to lust and let me be pure in body, mind, and soul.
I want to overcome the intrusive thoughts that come into my mind and lead me to the sin of lust. I am ashamed of having the sin of lust and I need the strength only you can give me. Help me to avoid lustful thoughts and the sins I commit because of them. Give me the grace to recognize the sin of lust in the things I watch, listen to, and do. Enlighten my conscience about everything I do that is against the virtue of chastity. Be with me when I am tempted and help me turn away from it and choose you instead. I need you to help me purge lust from my life. Convict my heart of everything that leads me into this temptation and make me aware of how this sin puts my soul in danger.
AMEN.
Virtue of Chastity
A Prayer for an Increase in Virtue for Others
Lord Jesus Christ, you say that when two or more are gathered in your name, you are with us. Jesus, in your name I lift up every person who has joined this prayer challenge or will join it in the future. I ask you to give us all the grace we need to grow in virtue and holiness so that we may love and serve you in our lives and through the people we love and care for. Help us in our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Guide us all by your Holy Spirit and give us the strength to overcome every temptation from the evil one. We ask all this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN.
Together as a group we will pray for each other and strive to make good resolutions and keep them. Your efforts to grow in the virtue of chastity will help you control the urge to lust.
If you fail, do not quit trying. Make a firm resolution to avoid the near occasion of sin and take it one day at a time. Stay in the present moment with Jesus, especially when you are tempted, and if you fail, make a good confession immediately afterward with a firm resolution not to commit the sin again. Keep your gaze on Jesus. When you confess your sins he forgives you, so be merciful to yourself and forgive yourself of every sin you have already confessed. Ask for the grace to avoid the urge to lust in the future and remove from your life anything that will tempt you to commit the sin again. Being virtuous is a process. No one is perfect, so just start anew every time you fail and pray constantly.
How do I Practice Virtue?
You’ve learned about the 22nd Virtue, and you’ve prayed for God to give you grace. Now what? Let’s take a look at the Catechism for some guidance on how we can make Week 22 a successful effort.
"Lust is disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure. Sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes."
Making Resolutions
Take a moment to reflect on the virtue of chastity. What are the ways you can freely practice this virtue this week? Ask the Lord to give you opportunities, and when you feel the Holy Spirit prompting you, take action. Write down your resolutions for this coming week in your prayer journal. Remind yourself to complete these resolutions daily for this entire week, and as the Spirit prompts you, feel free to write about your experiences with this virtue throughout the week.
In My Thoughts:
Jesus, this week I promise to take time daily to conform my thoughts by… (make your intention).
In My Words:
Jesus, this week I promise to take time daily to conform my words by… (make your intention).
In My Actions:
Jesus, this week I promise to take time daily to conform my actions by… (make your intention).
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Week 23 Mental Prayer Meditation
Give Me Fortitude to Overcome My Shiftlessness
“Give Me Fortitude to Overcome My Shiftlessness”- Join us for our 24th meditation on the 35 virtues of St. Hildegard of Bingen.
2 Responses
Please pray for Me- Alfred O. Brown Jr…I am 74 years old. I was born Dec 1, 1947
I am suffering from Bain cancer. I have been in the hospital for 2 weeks or so….It has not been easy.
Heavenly Father, we lift up our brother Alfred O. Brown Jr., who is suffering with brain cancer, and we ask you to fill him with peace and give him grace to walk with you during this time of suffering. Surround Alfred with your holy angels to care for him and comfort him as they did Jesus while he was tempted in the desert.
Please, Lord Jesus, send Alfred your Holy Spirit to guard and guide his heart, mind, and soul during his hospital stay. We ask that you give wisdom to the doctors and nurses caring for Alfred so that they make good decisions and can offer Alfred the best care possible. Graciously hear us, Lord Jesus, we pray in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN.