Aaron's Story - A Call To Readers!!

Temptation / Masturbation

Here are two other important themes on which I would love to have your opinion/advice: Masturbation and temptation, since they're the ones broached in some chapters I just finished but will come back to in future chapters.

I have seen that masturbation is considered a sin in some branches of Catholicism, I even found a few verses, but it's not very clear. As a reminder, Aaron's family is really zealous, to the point that his parents never have sex (meaning the last time they did was when they tried for Aaron...). So in this respect, it's obvious that they would consider masturbation as a sin too.

Just wondering if you have any thoughts on that, or example of verses or proverbs maybe. Aaron will have a conversation with his father about this, but they also talk about wet dreams at the same time. His father tells him he needs to fight temptation. Right now, I have him make Aaron pray after the conversation and he'll send him to confess at church too, but I wonder what a parent would really do in such a situation (a parent like Aaron's father of course...).

There is also a conversation with the Priest...

Anyway, here are a few excerpts again and if you have any verses I could add (that his father or Father Joseph could quote), that would be great!

Passage 1 (Chap5): Conversation with Father Joseph (I'm sure this one could be developed with a quote about masturbation...

"I'm sure it will, Father..." I replied with a sigh I couldn't control. [talking about the summer camp that will be good for him]

"You are almost seventeen, Aaron, and I can imagine how difficult it is sometimes for young men to... struggle with their teenage urges," he said a bit awkwardly and I thought, oh please God, not the sex talk!! "I advised your parents to choose a camp with very strict rules and an only-boy gathering. Temptation is a dangerous thing as you already know, God is trying you, so you have to resist. And you shall not let it lead you away from your education. Not only your education is more important than all these hormones bubbling within you, but I shall remind you that God condemns those who sin with temptation before marriage," he said in his most serious voice.

Passage 2 (Chap6): This is part of a conversation between Aaron and his father after his mother discovered doubtful stains in his bed... I'm absolutely not sure about this conversation, and once again, I think I would like the father to quote some verses.

And my question is: if their extremism forbids masturbation, what about wet dreams? Like... THat's not something you can control, so how would they react about that? How are wet dreams considered in Catholicsm?

"Do you often masturbate, Aaron?" he asks bluntly and I wish the floor would open beneath me and swallow me whole.

"Nooooo!!"

"But you still do this at times?" he insists. Yeah, almost every morning and every night, Dad... I like getting off!

"No, never!!!" I lie.

"Is that about wet dreams then?" he asks softly.

Yeah, something like that... with the help of my right hand, Dad...

"Ugh..." is all I can manage as I hide my heated face in my hands. I can't believe I'm having this conversation with my father!

"Okay, it's not as bad as I thought then," he surprisingly says. "Listen to me, Son," he orders softly, pulling my hands down. "I believe Father Joseph has had a talk with you recently on temptation, Aaron."

Yeah, I knew he would have told my parents...

"You need to fight it, Son, even in your dreams. Lust is a terrible sin as you know, and you cannot allow yourself to yield. Fornication is condemned by God and sex should only bear the purpose of producing offspring."

Fuck! I feel you, Dad... I'm almost seventeen so you must be in a severe case of blue balls since the last time you had sex!!!

"Masturbation is also prohibited, this is a waste of your seed."

Oh Gosh, if you only knew how much of my seed has been wasted down the shower drain and in the washing machine...

"This is a sin and if that ever happens, you should confess to Father Joseph at church too, pray to God for His forgiveness, and repent."

Sure, I can totally imagine myself going to confessional and tell that to Father Joseph... I will even tell him I masturbated to males. And then, I'll end up in a boarding school...

"Temptation is hard at your age, God will try you in every way He can, but you will have to resist, Aaron, prove Him how strong, loyal and faithful you are. Is this clear?"

"Yes, Dad..." I reply simply because I just want this conversation to end.

"Alright, I'm proud of you, Son. Now let's say a prayer and then, you'll get back to work in this bedroom..."

Said prayer takes a whole half hour during whichmy father apologizes – and makes me apologize too!! – for my unconscious sin and prays God to forgiveme. Honestly, I tune him out at some point. It's not nice, but I just can'twait for him to leave my room, which he does at some point, though not withoutreminding me that I should go confess at church later this day.