“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like heathen who do not know God” (1 Thes 4:3–5a).
Consider: Poor souls who pursue the intense high of heroin fall into the darkness of addiction as the pleasure they once experienced decays into a desperate compulsion for the next fix.
In a similar way, the initial thrill of viewing pornography rapidly degrades into an ever-increasing lustful compulsion to seek sexual arousal and release, without the thrill or sensual pleasure a man once experienced.
Realize: Pornography offers a momentary rush of arousal but leaves behind a weakened will, a restless mind, disordered desire, and a man increasingly ruled by an addictive impulse rather than reason, leading to chronic repetition of the gravely disordered act of masturbation (CCC 2352), and it enslaves a man. Worse still, a married man who falls into the habit of pornography can become fixated on a multitude of pornographic images and masturbation, which steadily ruins his capacity to experience the beautiful intimacy and sexual pleasure of the marital act with his wife. The exquisite spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical joy of the mutual self-gift of “two becoming one flesh” (Gen 2:24; CCC 2360) is dulled and can eventually become unsatisfying.
Resolution: Today, I practice Heroic Sexual Self-discipline so I may experience the joy of Chastity.
Almighty Father, I have in the past struggled with self-control and have misused my sexual capacity. You created male and female (CCC 2331–2336), called them to be fruitful (Gen 1:28, 9:1; CCC 2366–2372), and blessed them in the exquisite union of a husband and wife (CCC 2360–2365) and the gift of children (CCC 2373–2379). To help navigate this astounding blessing, You call me to Chastity (CCC 2331–2359), affirming that my sexual power is good, true, and beautiful, and that I must learn to master sexual desire so I can offer myself fully and joyfully in the marital embrace with my wife or future wife. I ask that You help me grow in my understanding and love of the good, true, and beautiful Virtue of Chastity.
Examine: What blessings can I gain by practicing Chastity?
Pray: Lord Jesus Christ, help me hunger for and build the Virtue of Chastity (a part of Temperance) so I may experience great pleasure and abundant joy by using my sexual capacity as You intended for me. Amen.