“You judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” (Jn 7:24)
Consider: Men with obsessive-compulsive disorder can have their attention hijacked by intrusive thoughts and be compelled into repetitive behaviors, distorting how they perceive reality and causing significant distress.
Likewise, pornography can distort a man’s mind so that he compulsively views women as sexual objects.
Realize: Repeated heavy pornography use trains the brain to associate female bodies with sexual reward, causing attention to lock onto a woman’s sexual attributes rather than the person herself. As this conditioning deepens, a man may begin to involuntarily imagine women unclothed, project sexual scenarios onto ordinary interactions, and disgracefully reduce innocent women to sexually promiscuous roles drawn from his distorted pornographic scripts. A pornified man gradually loses the ability to see faces clearly, listen attentively, and engage women with normal respect, becoming coarse, entitled, or predatory in his perceptions and, at times, even violent in his actions. Over time, persistent sexualized thoughts can routinely hijack his attention, continually reinforcing patterns that are difficult to resist and leading him to unjustly violate the inherent dignity of the women he encounters.
Resolution: Today, I practice Heroic Sexual Self-discipline and uphold the dignity of women so I may experience the joy of Chastity.
Jesus, I am appalled that the viewing of pornography might drive me to lose control of my attention and enslave me to viewing others as sexual objects. I reject the evil of lustfully viewing a woman’s body, unjustly reducing her to a sexual object rather than recognizing her as a person, and I desire to see all women as beautiful souls created by You. I desire to treat every person, especially women, with the dignity and respect that I myself would wish to receive. I refuse to violate a woman’s dignity through lewd imaginings or to unjustly attribute sinful behaviors to her. I know that with Your help and through abstinence from pornography, I can regain control of my gaze and thoughts and more consistently view others through the eyes of purity. I beg You to help me always maintain strict custody of my gaze and thoughts. Lord, help me to see others as You see them.
Examine: What is a recent example of when I unjustly looked at a woman as a sexual object rather than upholding her dignity?
Pray: Jesus, help me build the Virtue of Justice so that I always strive to uphold the dignity of women and battle to maintain strict custody of my gaze and thoughts every moment of my life. Amen.