St. Augustine, our very own saint who struggled with an attachment/addiction to sexual compulsivity and lust, can be a heavenly brother for all men who desire holiness and change. This is true even if you merely desire to desire that holiness and change. As St....
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Recovering from the Private Killer of Porn Addiction
| Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Personal Testimonies, Pornography & Sexual Addiction, Spiritual Tools, The Twelve Steps | 1 Comment
It was a catastrophic personal event that plunged me into three years of intense habitual and addictive behavior that needed to be addressed. It was then that I finally recognized my addiction needed to be stopped. Downloading porn videos and images as well as...
Why Being Sober Wasn’t Enough to Keep Me From Being Miserable
| Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Personal Testimonies, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, The Sacraments, The Twelve Steps | 5 Comments
After I first became sober I thought that I’m better now. I can handle it. I had been in AA for years and attended hundreds, maybe thousands, of meetings. I had volunteered, read the Big Book, and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, and worked through the Twelve...
Healing from Betrayal Trauma: My Story of Uncovering My Husband’s Sex Addiction
| Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Personal Testimonies, Pornography & Sexual Addiction, The Twelve Steps | 3 Comments
I had the privilege of being born and raised as Catholic, where the Irish nuns during my schooling emphasized that Jesus is our very best friend. That has made all the difference in my life. After discerning my vocation, I married my college sweetheart. We shared...
The Irreplaceable Role of a Priest in Recovery
| Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, The Sacraments, The Twelve Steps | 1 Comment
When I first came to a recovery program I was brought to it by a very caring woman who saw the pain I was going through. She stressed the need for having a sponsor and suggested that I listen and find someone with a length of sobriety whom I respected. There was an...
If All Our Sins Smelled Like Alcohol
| Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Prayer & Scripture Reflections | 0 Comments
Being a Lyft driver, I’m afforded a lot of unique interactions with people. As I was telling someone recently, the job is sort of like being an “ad hoc social worker on wheels.” You just never know who is going to come into your car or what their reason for needing a...
Combating the “Seven Deadly Sins” Through the Spiritual Practices of Recovery
| Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Spiritual Tools | 0 Comments
As we enter into Lent, I thought it would be beneficial to list the “Seven Deadly Sins” and the grave effects they have on one’s soul. Opposite each sin, I have listed a virtue that has been given to us as a gift by the Holy Spirit. These virtues help us to live a...
A Reflection on Attachment, Addiction, Psychology, and Spiritual Formation: Part Three
| Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Other Addictions, Psychology & Therapy, The Twelve Steps | 4 Comments
Attachment, as we have seen in previous articles (Part One and Part Two), is central to addiction, recovery, and spiritual growth. But what is it? Where does it come from? How does it get so compromised that we turn to substance abuse and other compulsive behaviors to...
The Four Virtues and The Role of Grace in Our Recovery
| Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Spiritual Tools, The Twelve Steps | 0 Comments
In a recent discussion on how to develop virtuous habits to combat negative ones connected with sexual sin, I was introduced to the four cardinal virtues, which are prudence, courage, temperance, and justice. Each of these virtues can help us live moral lives....
How to Respond to Anti-Catholic Sentiments in Recovery Meetings
| Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, The Twelve Steps | 9 Comments
When I first walked through the doors of a 12-step meeting over 13 years ago I was hopeless, helpless, and desperate for a change. It was by far the hardest and best thing I ever did and I immediately felt accepted in a room full of complete strangers. 30 days earlier...