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Recent Posts
5 Strategies for Overcoming an Addiction to Porn and Masturbation
Jan 28, 2020 | Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Pornography & Sexual Addiction, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Spiritual Tools, The Sacraments, The Twelve Steps
Before discussing five strategies that help me stay clean with regard to porn and masturbation, let me start by explaining that nothing short of the grace and mercy of God ever worked in helping me experience victory over this ongoing battle, which spanned over 40...
Patrons and Saints to Pray to for Addiction Recovery
Jan 22, 2020 | Help from the Saints, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Spiritual Tools
It seems we Catholics have a patron saint for just about everything. But have you ever wondered if there is a patron saint for addiction? My research uncovered several. Hopefully, one of these will resonate with you. Perhaps the best-known patron saint for addiction...
A Reflection on Attachment, Addiction, Psychology, and Spiritual Formation: Part Two
Jan 14, 2020 | Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Other Addictions, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Psychology & Therapy, The Twelve Steps
In my last article, I talked about “attachment” as a common thread among addiction, psychology, and spirituality. Attachment in all of these areas is about relationships, whether spiritual (God and the human being), psychological (mother and child), or...
Nature’s Solace on the Journey of Recovery
Jan 9, 2020 | Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Spiritual Tools
In my effort to maintain sobriety, it has often been necessary to find time to be alone, away from the perceived and actual craziness that is life. For when things become too crazy there can come the sense of hopelessness. And if this is not tended to, an apathy can...
For the Addict Who Still Suffers: How Recovery Brings About Unexpected Relationships
Jan 7, 2020 | Alcohol & Drug Addiction, The Twelve Steps
My first sponsor in SAA (Sex Addicts Anonymous) formed a relationship with me that included doing step work, but also included other activities not related to recovery. Seeing my youth, strength, and a willingness to help, he once asked me to come to his house in...
An Alcoholic from a Family of Drinkers Takes a Bad Fall and Unexpectedly Finds Sobriety
Jan 1, 2020 | Personal Testimonies
Patrick’s drinking started in the late 1960s and continued for nearly fifty years. He was part of a family of drinkers: his father, both grandfathers, and all of his siblings drank. Patrick often drank during social outings, where one or two drinks would turn into ten...
Allowing the Infinite Power of God to Save Us from Our Sinfulness and Addictions
Dec 30, 2019 | Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, The Twelve Steps
Scripture tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:30). Too often, when we think of or talk about God, we speak of a being who is meek and mild. We see Him as completely approachable, and that there is nothing to fear in approaching Him....
Remembering the Truth of Christmas In Order to Stay Sober
Dec 23, 2019 | Alcohol & Drug Addiction, The Twelve Steps
The snow falls quietly. And slowly all is covered and blanketed in whiteness. The cold of winter is in the air, and it gets in your bones when outside. There is the anticipation of the holidays and all of the hopes and dreams of Christmas that come with the onset of...
Love Is Coming: Preparing the Manger of Your Heart This Advent
Dec 17, 2019 | Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Spiritual Tools
As the church enters a new liturgical year, She also marks the beginning of Advent. This is made evident by the color purple, which adorns the worship space and also the priests’ vestments. Each Sunday, a candle is lit, illuminating a path that leads us to hope, love,...
Caught in the Hands of a Loving God
Dec 12, 2019 | Pornography & Sexual Addiction, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, The Sacraments
Those of us who have fought the battle of habitual sin often times have had difficulty with the feelings and consequences of being caught in our sins. When we think back to the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, after the Fall, we recall that they hid...
![5 Strategies for Overcoming an Addiction to Porn and Masturbation](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CIR-Blog-Images.png)
5 Strategies for Overcoming an Addiction to Porn and Masturbation
Jan 28, 2020 | Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Pornography & Sexual Addiction, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Spiritual Tools, The Sacraments, The Twelve Steps
Before discussing five strategies that help me stay clean with regard to porn and masturbation, let me start by explaining that nothing short of the grace and mercy of God ever worked in helping me experience victory over this ongoing battle, which spanned over 40...
![Patrons and Saints to Pray to for Addiction Recovery](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CIR-Blog-Images-1.png)
Patrons and Saints to Pray to for Addiction Recovery
Jan 22, 2020 | Help from the Saints, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Spiritual Tools
It seems we Catholics have a patron saint for just about everything. But have you ever wondered if there is a patron saint for addiction? My research uncovered several. Hopefully, one of these will resonate with you. Perhaps the best-known patron saint for addiction...
![A Reflection on Attachment, Addiction, Psychology, and Spiritual Formation: Part Two](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CIR-Blog-Images-8.png)
A Reflection on Attachment, Addiction, Psychology, and Spiritual Formation: Part Two
Jan 14, 2020 | Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Other Addictions, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Psychology & Therapy, The Twelve Steps
In my last article, I talked about “attachment” as a common thread among addiction, psychology, and spirituality. Attachment in all of these areas is about relationships, whether spiritual (God and the human being), psychological (mother and child), or...
![Nature’s Solace on the Journey of Recovery](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CIR-Blog-Images-7.png)
Nature’s Solace on the Journey of Recovery
Jan 9, 2020 | Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Spiritual Tools
In my effort to maintain sobriety, it has often been necessary to find time to be alone, away from the perceived and actual craziness that is life. For when things become too crazy there can come the sense of hopelessness. And if this is not tended to, an apathy can...
![For the Addict Who Still Suffers: How Recovery Brings About Unexpected Relationships](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CIR-Blog-Images-6.png)
For the Addict Who Still Suffers: How Recovery Brings About Unexpected Relationships
Jan 7, 2020 | Alcohol & Drug Addiction, The Twelve Steps
My first sponsor in SAA (Sex Addicts Anonymous) formed a relationship with me that included doing step work, but also included other activities not related to recovery. Seeing my youth, strength, and a willingness to help, he once asked me to come to his house in...
![An Alcoholic from a Family of Drinkers Takes a Bad Fall and Unexpectedly Finds Sobriety](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/CIR-Blog-Testimonials-2-1080x600.png)
An Alcoholic from a Family of Drinkers Takes a Bad Fall and Unexpectedly Finds Sobriety
Jan 1, 2020 | Personal Testimonies
Patrick’s drinking started in the late 1960s and continued for nearly fifty years. He was part of a family of drinkers: his father, both grandfathers, and all of his siblings drank. Patrick often drank during social outings, where one or two drinks would turn into ten...
![Allowing the Infinite Power of God to Save Us from Our Sinfulness and Addictions](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/CIR-Blog-Images-3.png)
Allowing the Infinite Power of God to Save Us from Our Sinfulness and Addictions
Dec 30, 2019 | Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, The Twelve Steps
Scripture tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:30). Too often, when we think of or talk about God, we speak of a being who is meek and mild. We see Him as completely approachable, and that there is nothing to fear in approaching Him....
![Remembering the Truth of Christmas In Order to Stay Sober](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/CIR-Blog-Images-2.png)
Remembering the Truth of Christmas In Order to Stay Sober
Dec 23, 2019 | Alcohol & Drug Addiction, The Twelve Steps
The snow falls quietly. And slowly all is covered and blanketed in whiteness. The cold of winter is in the air, and it gets in your bones when outside. There is the anticipation of the holidays and all of the hopes and dreams of Christmas that come with the onset of...
![Love Is Coming: Preparing the Manger of Your Heart This Advent](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/CIR-Blog-Images-4.png)
Love Is Coming: Preparing the Manger of Your Heart This Advent
Dec 17, 2019 | Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Spiritual Tools
As the church enters a new liturgical year, She also marks the beginning of Advent. This is made evident by the color purple, which adorns the worship space and also the priests’ vestments. Each Sunday, a candle is lit, illuminating a path that leads us to hope, love,...
![Caught in the Hands of a Loving God](https://catholicinrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/CIR-Blog-Images-5.png)
Caught in the Hands of a Loving God
Dec 12, 2019 | Pornography & Sexual Addiction, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, The Sacraments
Those of us who have fought the battle of habitual sin often times have had difficulty with the feelings and consequences of being caught in our sins. When we think back to the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, after the Fall, we recall that they hid...