Expert: Griff Ruby - 2/7/2012

Question
QUESTION: My devotion makes me sin less. I am guna give you example because I dont know how to explain it lol

Ok, so you know my devotion and I am managing correctly. To begin with I have to feel/say    " I am in Jesus body" (but obviously I am not tho I already know that) but I have to feel/say that it because for some reason I feel He is with me and it makes me sin less and I tend to do things right. If I dont feel/say I am in His body I sin more. But the thing I want to know is, is this: is it a sin to say "I am in Jesus body"?

What if it was a sin and I didnt know, however I was sinning less. But actually I was already sinning a whole ton by saying/feeling that I am in His body? Even though it is not true, I mean is it important to for me to know I am not in His body? What if my whole life I was saying "I am in Jesus body" and I never understood in reality that I wasent?

You know my devotion. I am guna give you an example. Lets say in my devotion it says "not to be aroused when touching skin" I know that. However, what if I was aroused many times or all the time, but it didnt made me sin on situations like stealing, killing, cussing, rudeness(outside sin)? On the other hand if I was trying not to sin because I knew being aroused is bad, however I was sinning outside the body like stealing, cussing, killing(sin in body). Do you see like a balance there? What would on do on this? Should I go for the one that sins less? if I choose none I would be sinnin a lot...

What if I was aroused all the time and I was struggling not to be, but I was And I sin less outside body? OR I wasent into my devotion ( not aroused) but of course sinng in the outter?

Please Help me, I feel like I am in the middle. I dont know what way to go anymore. All this questions have been on my mind lately. Sometimes when I am not even aroused, I feel like I am sinning and I keep telling myself YOUR NOT, dont worry... :( whats wrong with me? I am not even aroused and something is pushing me that I am, but I am not. I feel like I am in war and doubting...

ANSWER: Before taking this any further, I think I need to know if you are discussing this with a spiritual advisor.  As this begins to get into the matter of personal sins, it seems to be taking on the flavor of the confessional.  I am not a priest and cannot absolve, and furthermore wouldn't be able to absolve over the Internet even if I were (or by telephone or snail mail# since absolution must be given in person #that's the nature of the Sacrament, and indeed any Sacrament).
One should never have to be choosing between "outer" and "inner" sins.  The state of Grace helps with both equally.  If you still have doubts about the nature of your devotion, despite all that I have said, then this is another reason to consult a priest as confessor, for a second opinion.  It sounds like the devotion helps you in overcoming sin, but you seem to fear that it may not be "true," which (as it has sounded to me) would only be true if you are not in a state of Grace.  If there are sins, then confess them and obtain absolution.  Then, in a state of Grace, God truly would inhabit your body as He inhabits the bodies of all His saints and the devotion would literally have a basis in actual and present truth.
The other thing here of value is that when tempted to any sin (inner or outer) one should divert one's attention elsewhere to some other interest, especially outside oneself.  There is so much that can be of interest, things we can accomplish for others, help we can give, value we can be to others, and so on, and focusing one's attention on these things will lessen the level temptations.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I actually havent seen the priest, I already tried contacting him many times. I was told I am some waitlist. I tried seeing another priest, He is a good priest, but He dosent explain things in specific detail and I honestly dont understand when he talks. I feel like it is an obstacle because I am still in the middle of going for my devotion or not. In addition, I have realized that I cannot let this devotion go. If I do, I feel far from Jesus I dont know why and this is the one thing that makes me feel happy and spread out my happiness to others.

The thing is this: (found this in "Mothers Little Helper" that you recommended me)

"...so it may be well inform you also that sexual pleasure, which is forbidden fruit to the unmarried, consists of certain pleasurable sensations that are felt in the sexual organs during martial embrace. Now that you know in what part of your body these sensations occur, you will know that you must never yield or consent to them, if you should ever experience them either from exciting dreams at night or from other involuntary causes during waking hours."

In this quote, it clearly indicates in what part of my body these sensations occur. So I if I was aroused I would know if I am being sexual, and stop it right away. Of course when I shower I have to touch my body, but I am not aroused. I dont even feel aroused when I touch myself, yet I still doubt I am sinning or arousing and I dont even feel those "sexual organ sensations"?

Whats wrong with me? Oh and I dont know if it could be my Obssesive Compulsive Disorder, which makes me have a lot of doubt and fear the smallest things, tiny things that people would call TOO LITERAL.

Answer
The ordinary and incidental contacts intrinsically associated with such necessary activities as bathing, dressing, and using the toilet (and medical, e. g. examinations) do not normally entail any sinful arousal.  As such, the necessary contacts (for hygienic purposes etc.) being kept devoid of such arousal are therefore innocent.  One other thing to note is that ordinary surface irritation ("itching") in such particularly sensitive areas, if attended at all, must be done with the fingernails only to keep arousal levels to an acceptable minimum.
The key thing is that arousal is avoided as much as possible (by doing only what is necessary and avoiding all unnecessary contacts and preserving, and keeping a pure and chaste state of mind), and never given consent to should they ever arise naturally or even due to any necessary action.
So caution here IS important!  Our Lady told the children of Fatima that many souls are lost due to sins against chastity, which, common enough in any era, are only all the more common today, bringing many souls to Hell.  Due caution must therefore always be observed, but having observed it, do be at peace, knowing that God respects and honors those who seek to do right so diligently.