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...
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Why Fasting Matters for Us During Lent
| Pornography & Sexual Addiction, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Spiritual Tools | 0 Comments
During this wonderful season of Lent, many of us turn our attention to the discipline of fasting. Similar to making New Year’s resolutions, many of us decide to give something up for Lent. As a child, I remember wondering why we were called to refrain from meat,...
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...
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...
5 Strategies for Overcoming an Addiction to Porn and Masturbation
| Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Pornography & Sexual Addiction, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Spiritual Tools, The Sacraments, The Twelve Steps | 2 Comments
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
| Help from the Saints, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Spiritual Tools | 13 Comments
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
| Alcohol & Drug Addiction, Other Addictions, Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Psychology & Therapy, The Twelve Steps | 3 Comments
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
| Prayer & Scripture Reflections, Spiritual Tools | 0 Comments
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...