The Church teaches that fraternal charity, or love of neighbor, is a fundamental expression of the theological virtue of charity, which has its source in God's Trinitarian love 1. This love is not merely a generic benevolence but a self-giving love, mirroring Christ's sacrifice for humanity 2.

Source and Nature of Fraternal Charity

Fraternal charity flows from the love of God and is infused in believers by the Holy Spirit 1. It is a participation in God's own love, enabling believers to love others as God loves them 1. Saint Augustine noted, "If you see charity, you see the Trinity," emphasizing that the Church's charitable activity manifests Trinitarian love 3. The Holy Spirit harmonizes the hearts of believers with Christ's heart, moving them to love their brethren as Christ loved them, even to the point of giving His life 3.

Dimensions of Fraternal Charity

Fraternal charity is expressed in two interconnected dimensions: love of God and love of neighbor 1. The First Letter of John states, "He who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen" (1 Jn 4:20) 1, 4. This highlights that love of neighbor is a touchstone for the love of God 4.

Characteristics of Christian Charity

Christian charity, or agape, is a gift from God that enables believers to love Him above all things and their neighbor as themselves 5. It surpasses natural inclinations like friendship or familial affection 5. This divine love drives Christians to love those whom they might not naturally love, including the poor, the unlovable, and even enemies 5. Jesus Himself taught, "Love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish" (Lk 6:35) 5.

Universal Scope of Love

Christ teaches a universal love, recognizing all people as neighbors, regardless of their origin, race, culture, or religion 6. This solidarity is rooted in Christ's Incarnation, through which He united all humanity to Himself 6. The Holy Spirit impels believers to love everyone, not just those who share their values, and to be good Samaritans to a suffering humanity 7.

Practical Implications

The Church's entire activity is an expression of love that seeks the integral good of man, including evangelization through Word and Sacrament, and promoting human dignity in various aspects of life 3. This service of charity attends to human sufferings and material needs 3. Those who administer the Church's charity must be moved by Christ's love, recognizing that their actions should flow from a love nourished by an encounter with Christ 8. This means that charitable acts are not merely about doing good, but about witnessing to Christ through selfless service 8. The saints, like Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, constantly renewed their capacity for love of neighbor through their encounter with the Eucharistic Lord, and this encounter gained depth through their service to others 9.

Jesus taught specific principles regarding prayer and almsgiving, emphasizing sincerity, humility, and a focus on God rather than human approval.

On Almsgiving

Jesus instructed His followers not to give alms in a way that seeks praise or admiration from others 1. He said, "whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward" 2. Instead, He taught that almsgiving should be done in secret: "when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you" 2.

Pope Francis further explained that almsgiving is not merely offering a coin in haste without looking at the person or understanding their true needs 1. It is a "gesture of love that is directed at those we meet," a sincere attention to those who ask for help, performed in secret where only God sees and understands its value 1. Pope Benedict XVI also highlighted that Christian almsgiving must be hidden, done for God's greater glory rather than personal interest or applause 3. If the goal is not God's glory and the well-being of others, but rather personal recognition, then the act falls outside the Gospel vision 3. Almsgiving, in the Gospel sense, is a concrete expression of charity, demanding an interior conversion to love of God and neighbor, in imitation of Christ 3.

On Prayer

Similar to almsgiving, Jesus warned against praying to be seen by others. He said, "whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward" 2. Instead, He taught, "whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you" 2.

Pope Francis reiterated this teaching, stating that true prayer is done in the secret of one's conscience and heart, visible only to God 4. It shuns falsehood, as it is impossible to pretend before God, who knows us intimately 4. This silent dialogue with God is like a glance between two people in love, where "man’s gaze meets God’s, and this is prayer" 4.

Jesus also taught against using "empty phrases" or "many words" in prayer, as the Gentiles do, thinking they will be heard for their verbosity 2. He assured His disciples that "your Father knows what you need before you ask him" 2. He then provided the model prayer, the "Our Father," which teaches disciples to pray with "You" on their lips, focusing on God's name, kingdom, and will, rather than their own desires 5, 4. The "Our Father" also includes petitions for daily bread, forgiveness, and deliverance from evil 5.

The Catechism of the Council of Trent notes that hypocritical prayers do not proceed from the heart 6. It emphasizes that the "chamber" Jesus refers to can be understood as the human heart, which should be closed against external distractions to perfect prayer 6.

Connection between Prayer, Almsgiving, and Fasting

The Church also teaches an intimate connection between prayer, almsgiving, and fasting. These three practices are seen as remedies for sin 6. Prayer appeases God's wrath, almsgiving redeems offenses against others, and fasting washes away personal stains 6. Saint Augustine also noted that fasting, abstinence, and frequent almsgiving are a great assistance in prayer, enabling one to seek the Lord through good works 7.

Incorporating fasting into your spiritual life, according to Catholic teaching, involves understanding its purpose as a form of penance and a means of drawing closer to God. Fasting is one of the three traditional forms of penance, alongside prayer and almsgiving, which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others 1, 2, 3.

Purpose and Meaning of Fasting

Fasting is a practice that helps in self-mastery, allowing individuals to be more demanding of themselves and ready to renounce not only food but also other enjoyments and pleasures 4. It weakens the tendency to violence, disarms us, and provides an opportunity for spiritual growth 5. By experiencing what the destitute endure, fasting fosters solidarity with the hungry and suffering 5, 6. It also expresses a spiritual hunger and thirst for life in God, making one more attentive to God and neighbor, and reviving the desire to obey God 5.

Historically, fasting has been understood as a means of mortification, helping rational creatures attain their ultimate end 7. It is a way to chastise oneself for sins 2.

Ecclesiastical Prescriptions for Fasting

The Church has specific laws regarding fasting, which have evolved over time. Currently, the universal law of the Church mandates fasting on two days: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday 8, 9, 10.

The law of fasting allows for only one full meal a day, but it does not prohibit taking some food in the morning and evening, provided that the quantity and quality adhere to approved local customs 11, 10. Historically, fasting often meant taking only one meal in the evening, with meat and wine sometimes entirely forbidden 12.

Who is Bound by the Law of Fasting

The law of fasting binds those of the faithful who have completed their twenty-first year of age and extends until the beginning of their sixtieth year 11, 10. For those of a lesser age, pastors and parents are encouraged to educate them in a true sense of penance 11, 10.

Incorporating Fasting Beyond Obligatory Days

While only Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting, the Church encourages a spirit of penance throughout the liturgical year. The seasons and days of penance, such as Lent and every Friday in memory of the Lord's death, are intense moments for penitential practice 13. These times are particularly appropriate for voluntary self-denial, including fasting 13.

Pope Paul VI emphasized that all the faithful are required by divine law to do penance 11, 10. He also noted that where economic well-being is greater, the witness of asceticism, including fasting, should be given more strongly to avoid being involved in the spirit of the "world" 14.

Therefore, to incorporate fasting into your life, you should:

• Observe the obligatory days: Fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as prescribed by the Church 8, 9, 10.
• Understand the meaning: Recognize fasting as a spiritual discipline for conversion, self-mastery, solidarity with the poor, and drawing closer to God 4, 5, 6.
• Consider voluntary fasting: Beyond the obligatory days, you can choose to fast on other Fridays of the year or during Lent as a personal act of penance and spiritual growth 13.
• Consult local customs: Be aware that local customs and episcopal conferences may have specific prescripts regarding fasting and abstinence 8, 9.
• Integrate with prayer and almsgiving: Remember that fasting is part of a triad of penitential practices. Combining it with prayer and almsgiving enhances its spiritual fruitfulness 1, 2, 4, 15, 3, 16, 13, 5, 14, 6.

Overcoming the habitual sin of lust and pornography is a challenging but achievable spiritual journey that requires grace, self-knowledge, and consistent effort. The Church teaches that chastity is essential for integrating sexuality within the person, leading to inner unity and genuine freedom 1, 2, 3.

Understanding Lust and Pornography

Lust is an inordinate desire for sexual pleasure, detached from the true meaning of sexuality and marital love 4. It uses another person as a means for sexual gratification, whereas chastity affirms the whole person, body and soul 4. Pornography, specifically, is gravely contrary to chastity because it perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other, into an illusion 5. It gravely offends against chastity by distorting the sexual act and reducing persons to objects 5.

The Path to Overcoming Lust and Pornography

1. Cultivate Chastity:

   • Integration of Sexuality: Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person, leading to inner unity in one's bodily and spiritual being 1, 3. It is a virtue that allows one to act rightly, goodly, and lovingly in relationships and sexuality 4.
   • Self-Mastery and Freedom: Chastity leads to self-mastery and genuine freedom in the sexual arena 4. It helps to control one's sexual impulses and restore harmony of body, soul, and spirit 6.
   • Gift of God and Spiritual Effort: Chastity is not only a moral virtue but also a gift from God, a grace, and a fruit of spiritual effort 7. It requires reliance on God's grace and perseverance to resist temptation 4.

2. Practice Ascesis and Self-Knowledge:

   • Means of Resistance: To remain faithful to baptismal promises and resist temptations, one must adopt means such as self-knowledge, an ascesis (spiritual discipline) adapted to one's situation, obedience to God's commandments, exercise of moral virtues, and fidelity to prayer 8.
   • Controlling Thoughts and Imagination: The examination of conscience provided in the "Guide to Reconciliation" asks: "Do I seek to control my thoughts and imaginations?" and "Do I pray at once to banish impure thoughts and temptations?" These questions highlight the importance of actively managing one's internal life.
   • Modesty: Cultivating modesty in dress and behavior is also part of living a chaste life, showing reverence for the dignity of oneself and others 4.

3. Frequent the Sacrament of Reconciliation:

   • Confession of Sins: The Sacrament of Reconciliation is crucial for overcoming habitual sin. The "Guide to Reconciliation" provides an examination of conscience to help recall sins, including those related to lust and pornography (e.g., "Have I been guilty of masturbation?", "Do I seek to control my thoughts and imaginations?", "Have I respected all members of the opposite sex, or have I thought of other people as mere objects?", "Have I consented to impure thoughts?", "Have I caused them by impure reading, movies, television, conversation or curiosity?").
   • Act of Contrition: Making a sincere Act of Contrition, expressing sorrow for offending God and a firm intention to amend one's life, is essential for receiving forgiveness.
   • Grace and Healing: This sacrament offers God's mercy and grace, which are vital for spiritual healing and strengthening one's resolve against sin.

4. Prayer and Reliance on God's Grace:

   • Prayer before Reconciliation: The provided "Prayer before Reconciliation" expresses a desire for forgiveness, a firm hope in the Redeemer, and sorrow for sin, imploring God's mercy and Mary's intercession. This kind of prayer is essential before and after confession.
   • Daily Prayer: Consistent daily prayer strengthens one's relationship with God and provides the grace needed to resist temptation. The examination of conscience asks, "Do I give God time every day in prayer?"
   • Seeking Divine Help: Chastity is a gift from God, and therefore, constant prayer for this virtue is necessary 7.

5. Avoid Occasions of Sin:

   • Identifying Triggers: The examination of conscience asks, "Have I caused them [impure thoughts] by impure reading, movies, television, conversation or curiosity?" This points to the importance of identifying and avoiding specific triggers that lead to sin.
   • Prudence in Media Consumption: Be careful about the media consumed, as it can significantly influence thoughts and desires.

6. Seek Support and Accountability:

   • While not explicitly detailed in the provided texts, seeking spiritual direction, counseling, or joining support groups can provide external accountability and guidance in overcoming habitual sins.

By diligently applying these principles, rooted in Catholic teaching, and consistently seeking God's grace through prayer and the sacraments, one can make significant progress in overcoming the habitual sin of lust and pornography.

Overcoming the habitual sin of lust and pornography involves a commitment to the virtue of chastity, seeking God's grace, and employing practical strategies for self-mastery. The Church teaches that chastity is essential for genuine love and human flourishing, integrating sexuality within the person 1, 2, 3, 4.

Understanding Chastity and its Importance

Chastity is defined as the successful integration of sexuality within the person, leading to inner unity in one's bodily and spiritual being 2, 4. It is a moral virtue, a gift from God, a grace, and a fruit of the Holy Spirit 3. Chastity allows a person to control sexual impulses and restores harmony of body, soul, and spirit 5. It is opposed to lust, which is an inordinate desire for sexual pleasure apart from the true meaning of sexuality and marital love 1. While lust uses another person as a means for sexual gratification, chastity affirms the whole person, body and soul 1.

The virtue of chastity involves the integrity of the person and the integrality of the gift of self 2. It is a spiritual energy that defends love from selfishness and aggression, enabling self-giving 4. Without self-mastery, which chastity provides, true self-giving is not possible 6.

Practical Steps to Overcome Lust and Pornography

1. Cultivate Purity of Heart:

   • Purity of heart is closely linked to chastity and involves attuning one's intellect and will to God's holiness, especially in areas of charity, sexual rectitude, and love of truth 7.
   • This includes purity of intention, purity of vision (both exterior and interior), discipline of the imagination and feelings, and prayer 8.
   • Actively work to control thoughts and imaginations, and pray immediately to banish impure thoughts and temptations ^confession.

2. Practice Self-Mastery and Discipline:

   • Chastity requires an "apprenticeship in self-mastery" 9. This means exercising control over one's passions and desires 10.
   • It is a "long and exacting work" that calls for reliance on God's grace and perseverance with fortitude to resist temptation 1.
   • The virtue of temperance supports chastity by guiding the passions and appetites toward what is good 10.

3. Seek God's Grace through Prayer and Sacraments:

   • Chastity is a gift of God and a fruit of the Holy Spirit 3. Therefore, prayer is essential. Pray for strength to overcome temptations and for growth in chastity ^confession.
   • Regularly receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). This sacrament offers God's mercy and grace for forgiveness of sins and strength to avoid future sin ^confession. The examination of conscience provided in the guide to reconciliation can help in preparing for confession, specifically addressing questions related to masturbation, impure thoughts, and respecting others ^confession.
   • Frequent reception of the Eucharist also strengthens one's spiritual life and resolve.

4. Avoid Occasions of Sin:

   • Identify and avoid situations, media, or environments that lead to impure thoughts or temptations ^confession. This includes being careful about reading materials, movies, television, and conversations ^confession.
   • The chaste person also cultivates modesty, which influences choices in clothing and behavior out of reverence for the dignity of oneself and others 1.

5. Respect the Dignity of Others:

   • Recognize that human beings are not meant to be used as objects but loved 1. Lust uses another person for sexual gratification, whereas chastity affirms the whole person, body and soul 1.
   • Strive to respect all members of the opposite sex and avoid thinking of them as mere objects ^confession.

6. Understand the Call to Chastity for All States of Life:

   • All individuals are called to live a chaste life, whether married or single 1, 11.
   • For married couples, chastity means permanent, faithful, and fruitful love, where sexual expression is ordered to the good of the spouses and the procreation of new life 1, 12.
   • For single individuals, chastity involves continence and respecting the dignity of others in all interactions 13.

Overcoming habitual sin is a journey that requires consistent effort, reliance on God's grace, and the support of the Church's sacraments and teachings.

The Church's teaching on fraternal charity emphasizes that it is a fundamental expression of the theological virtue of charity, rooted in God's Trinitarian love and essential for Christian life.

Source and Nature of Fraternal Charity

Fraternal charity, or love of neighbor, is not merely a generic benevolence but a profound self-giving love that mirrors Christ's sacrifice for humanity 1. It originates from God's own love, which is fully revealed in the Passover of the crucified and risen Son and infused into believers by the Holy Spirit 2. As Saint Augustine wrote, "If you see charity, you see the Trinity," indicating that the Church's charitable activity is a manifestation of Trinitarian love 3. The Holy Spirit harmonizes the hearts of believers with Christ's heart, moving them to love their brethren as Christ loved them, even to the point of washing their feet and giving His life 3.

Interconnectedness with Love of God

The virtue of charity is expressed in two inseparable dimensions: love of God and love of neighbor 2. The First Letter of John explicitly states, "If any one says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen" (1 Jn 4:20) 2, 4. This highlights that fraternal love is the "touchstone" of love of God 4. Pope John Paul II emphasized that one cannot love God if one does not love one's brethren, creating a deep and lasting communion of love with them 2.

Characteristics of Christian Charity (Agape)

Christian charity, often referred to by the Greek word agape, is a gift from God that enables believers to love Him above all things and their neighbor as themselves 5. This love transcends natural inclinations such as friendship or familial affection 5. It is a theological virtue that comes from God and is directed towards God, allowing believers to love their neighbors as God loves them, with the desire to share friendship with God 5.

This divine love compels Christians to love those whom they might not naturally love, including the poor, the unlovable, those who do not care for them, and even their enemies 5. Jesus Himself taught, "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them... But love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish" (Lk 6:32-35) 5. This means that Christians are called to treat even their enemies from God's perspective, as those called to be intimate friends in heaven 6.

Universal Scope and Practical Application

Christ teaches a universal love, recognizing all people as neighbors, regardless of their origin, race, culture, or religion 7. This solidarity is rooted in Christ's Incarnation, through which He united all humanity to Himself, making charity the distinguishing mark of His disciples 7.

The Church's entire activity is an expression of this love, seeking the integral good of humanity 3. This includes evangelization through Word and Sacrament, as well as promoting human dignity and addressing material needs through charitable service 3. Those who administer the Church's charity must be animated by Christ's love, ensuring their actions flow from "a love nourished by an encounter with Christ" 2. This means that charitable acts are not merely about doing good, but about bearing witness to Christ through selfless service 2. The saints, such as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, exemplify this by constantly renewing their capacity for love of neighbor through their encounter with the Eucharistic Lord, finding that this encounter deepened through their service to others 6.