"Ilya Muromets", the great warrior of many fictional stories, which were inspired by Ilya Pechersky, who was a warrior-monk in 12th century, canonized as a saint in 1643, and exhumed by communist government in 1988.
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Those of you who struggle with lust, remember that for God and with God, you'll win.
As you may already know, it takes a toll on your will, mind, body, and soul, to the profit of evil forces on Earth that produce pornography and to Satan, while consolidating as a habit and becoming harder to deal with.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/1874574
However, there are people who attained sainthood by personal struggle with lust and by repentance, such as St. Mary of Egypt among others.
To combat lust, consider these measures :
1. Do not accept or entertain defiling thoughts, but rather dismiss them.
2. Deny yourself access to defiling content, for example, by blocking all connections from pornographic websites.
3. Abstain from sharing, allowing, and drawing near the content that may arouse lust. "Bad company corrupts good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33).
4. Remember the threat that lust poses to your soul and to your ability, and resent weakness.
5. Read & internalize the prayers regarding defilement and repentance. https://silouanthompson.net/2010/08/rule-against-defilement/
6. Go to Confession, confess the sin's occasion without going into unasked for details, because it is unlikely that the priest will need them. To overcome vice and receive salvation you need confession and humility and you are nothing special.
There are more measures to uproot the vice; be resourceful in your attacks. Communicate with a group of people who struggle with lust, too, to share tips & encouragement.
If you succeed this November, maintain your purity up until the point that you are married (though it's still possible to abuse sexuality in marriage, that's a problem too).
If you've fallen into lust unexpectedly, know that it will keep happening, but do not despair. Focus on prayer immediately, and do not let guilt make you avoid God.
As you may already know, it takes a toll on your will, mind, body, and soul, to the profit of evil forces on Earth that produce pornography and to Satan, while consolidating as a habit and becoming harder to deal with.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/1874574
However, there are people who attained sainthood by personal struggle with lust and by repentance, such as St. Mary of Egypt among others.
To combat lust, consider these measures :
1. Do not accept or entertain defiling thoughts, but rather dismiss them.
2. Deny yourself access to defiling content, for example, by blocking all connections from pornographic websites.
3. Abstain from sharing, allowing, and drawing near the content that may arouse lust. "Bad company corrupts good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33).
4. Remember the threat that lust poses to your soul and to your ability, and resent weakness.
5. Read & internalize the prayers regarding defilement and repentance. https://silouanthompson.net/2010/08/rule-against-defilement/
6. Go to Confession, confess the sin's occasion without going into unasked for details, because it is unlikely that the priest will need them. To overcome vice and receive salvation you need confession and humility and you are nothing special.
There are more measures to uproot the vice; be resourceful in your attacks. Communicate with a group of people who struggle with lust, too, to share tips & encouragement.
If you succeed this November, maintain your purity up until the point that you are married (though it's still possible to abuse sexuality in marriage, that's a problem too).
If you've fallen into lust unexpectedly, know that it will keep happening, but do not despair. Focus on prayer immediately, and do not let guilt make you avoid God.
Jamanetwork
The Brain and Pornography Consumption
Kühn and Gallinat determine whether frequent pornography consumption is associated with the frontostriatal network.
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Forwarded from Synaxarion
Holy Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica
Saint Nestor was a youth who had learned the Christian faith from Great Martyr Demetrios. While Demetrios was in prison, Emperor Maximian amused himself watching his gladiator Lyaeus, a giant in stature and strength, slay every opponent. Maximian compelled innocent Christians to fight Lyaeus, and after they were beaten, they were thrown onto a forest of upright spears and impaled. Grieved by the pagan brutality, young Nestor resolved to fight Lyaeus himself. He visited Demetrios in prison and received his blessing. Saint Demetrios signed Nestor with the Cross and told him that he would prevail but he would suffer for Christ. In the arena, Nestor crossed himself and cried "God of Demetrios, help me!" With God's help, Nestor overcame Lyaeus, felled him, and threw the giant onto the spears. The crowd roared "Great is the God of Demetrios!" The emperor, embarrassed before his people, ordered Saint Nestor beheaded and the glorious Christian hero entered the Kingdom of Heaven.
Saint Nestor was a youth who had learned the Christian faith from Great Martyr Demetrios. While Demetrios was in prison, Emperor Maximian amused himself watching his gladiator Lyaeus, a giant in stature and strength, slay every opponent. Maximian compelled innocent Christians to fight Lyaeus, and after they were beaten, they were thrown onto a forest of upright spears and impaled. Grieved by the pagan brutality, young Nestor resolved to fight Lyaeus himself. He visited Demetrios in prison and received his blessing. Saint Demetrios signed Nestor with the Cross and told him that he would prevail but he would suffer for Christ. In the arena, Nestor crossed himself and cried "God of Demetrios, help me!" With God's help, Nestor overcame Lyaeus, felled him, and threw the giant onto the spears. The crowd roared "Great is the God of Demetrios!" The emperor, embarrassed before his people, ordered Saint Nestor beheaded and the glorious Christian hero entered the Kingdom of Heaven.
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