If You Are Struggling with Pornography or Sexual Impurity 

A Catholic Word of Truth, Mercy, and Hope 

You Are Not Alone 

You are not the only one struggling. You are not uniquely weak. And you are not beyond God’s mercy. 

Many sincere and faithful people who pray, attend Mass, and desire holiness—struggle with pornography, sexual impurity, or compulsive sexual behaviors. This struggle is often hidden, carried in silence, and accompanied by shame. 

The Church wants you to hear this clearly: 

Christ did not come for the perfect, but for the wounded. 

Tell the Truth—Without Despair 

Pornography and habitual impurity are not merely “bad habits.” They often involve: 

• Repeated patterns that feel difficult to control 
• A search for escape from stress, loneliness, boredom, or pain 
• A gradual narrowing of freedom 

Struggling does not mean you are evil or hopeless. But it does mean that healing rarely happens by willpower alone. 

You are powerless to save yourself by yourself—but you are not powerless before God. 

There Is Mercy for This Sin 

No sin places you outside God’s mercy if you turn back to Him. 

• Confession is not for the strong, but for the honest 
• God does not grow tired of forgiving—you grow tired of asking 
• Even repeated falls can become places of humility and grace 

If you are afraid to confess, begin with these words: 

“Father, I am struggling, and I need help.” 

That is enough. 

Healing Is More Than “Stopping” 

Freedom from pornography is not only about resisting temptation. It is about re-ordering desire and rebuilding a life. 

Healing usually involves: 

• Prayer—even when it feels dry 
• Regular confession and the Eucharist 
• Removing easy access to temptation 
• Learning your triggers 
• Replacing secrecy with support 

Grace works best when we cooperate with it. 

A Crucial Insight from the Saints: Don’t Fight—Run 

The Church has long taught something very practical about temptations of the flesh. One great saint, St. Philip Neri, summed it up this way: 

“In the battle against the flesh, the victory goes to the cowards.” 

By this he meant something wise and realistic: 

Temptations of the flesh are not defeated by argument, but by flight. 

Scripture itself teaches this: 

“Flee immorality.” (1 Corinthians 6:18) 

When it comes to lust, trying to fight head-on often leads to defeat. The imagination inflames, reason weakens, and delay feeds the temptation. 

The saints learned this through experience. 

What “Running Away” Looks Like 

Running away is not cowardice. It is humility—and humility attracts grace. 

Running away means: 

• Closing the laptop or app immediately 
• Putting the phone down and leaving the room 
• Changing location, posture, or activity 
• Going outside, walking, or doing something physical 
• Saying a short prayer while moving 

Do not negotiate. Do not “see how far it goes.” Do not trust yourself in that moment. 

Running is obedience. Running is wisdom. Running is victory. 

Why This Works 

Flight works because it: 

• Interrupts the imagination 
• Restores reason 
• Removes access to temptation 
• Cooperates with grace 

Chastity is not won by toughness or debate, but by humility and decisiveness. 

Have a Plan Before Temptation Arrives 

Temptation is rarely defeated in the moment. It is defeated beforehand. 

When temptation strikes, reason is already weakened and imagination is inflamed. This is why the saints insist on flight rather than debate. 

Do not wait to decide what to do when temptation comes. Decide now. 

A plan removes hesitation—and hesitation is often where we fall. 

A Simple Plan to Flee 

When temptation arises, I will immediately: 

1. Move Stand up. Change rooms. Leave the house if needed. 
2. Cut Access Close the device. Lock the screen. Put the phone down. 
3. Redirect the Body Walk, exercise, shower, do manual work—do something physical. 
4. Turn to God Briefly Say one short prayer: 

• “Jesus, have mercy on me.” 
• “Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.” 
• “Mary, help me.” 

1. Reach Out if Needed Contact a trusted person if the temptation persists. 

This plan is not heroic. It is practical—and it works. 

Make the Plan Personal 

Each person’s plan will look different. 

Ask yourself: 

• When am I most vulnerable? (late at night, alone, tired, stressed) 
• What device or situation leads me to fall? 
• Who can I reach out to quickly? 

Write your plan down. Review it often. Use it without hesitation. 

Grace works best when temptation finds us already moving away. 

Do Not Fight Alone 

Isolation strengthens addiction. Community weakens it. 

You may need: 

• A trusted priest or confessor 
• An accountability partner 
• A small support or recovery group 
• Professional counseling 
• Clear boundaries with technology 

Asking for help is not failure. It is humility—and humility attracts grace. 

There Is a Future Beyond This Struggle 

Your life is more than this sin. Your desires are meant for love, not escape. Your body is meant for gift, not use. 

Christ does not merely forgive—He restores. 

“Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” (Romans 5:20) 

Begin again today. 

Hope is not naïve. Hope is obedience to God’s mercy. 

Closing Prayer 

Lord Jesus Christ, I place my weakness, my desires, and my struggle into Your Sacred Heart. Teach me humility, give me wisdom, and lead me into freedom. I trust in Your mercy. Amen.