I am catholic. i recently started masterbating in the past few months, i no its a sin am i a virgin?

Hi honey! 1st I usually answer these questions by saying "this is NOT a sin - an NO WHERE in the bible does it mention being a sin.." I understand that you feel bad honey! And I don't want you too! I also know that you KNOW it's natural, but I REALLY want you to know that Masturbation has NOTHING to do with Sex and YES you are STILL a virgin in EVERY WAY! Baby's in the womb, masturbate, babies do it, toddlers do it, children do it, and teenagers ESPECIALLY - as to hormones! MANY children will infact "grab themselves" to feel secure! It is the same as massage! You know if you are tense and someone gives you a massage? it is the same thing! IT releases good hormones to help you calm down and relax! And I hope you REALLY read what i just said, and I want you to believe that you are NOT a sinner - nor is your friend! BECAUSE IF you think you are then that is what you think of your friend too which is not right!

So stopping masturbation will be hard - as I said it's a natural movement (from our brains, not our sex organs) - so what you have to do is address the main instructor - your brain! To NOT look at this as a pleasurable thing! The ONLY down fall of this is when you DO get married, it will be hard to STOP thinking of this as a negative and actually cause problems with the marriage! Many people - as adults - have sexual hangups due to how they were made to feel as a young person (sin, dirty, loss of virginity etc which are ALL not true)

So start thinking of it as a negative - I HATE saying this too you! BUT I was chastized once for NOT giving advice to stop the natural feeling! Everytime you are about to touch yourself refocus on something different! IF you can't do this, you can NOT beat yourself up about it, as it's your body saying "I NEED to do this and why aren't you letting me"

Also masturbation is a VERY personal thing, most people don't talk about it and just do it in private, behind closed doors! It's just a fact of life that everyone just doesn't think about it! As it is the same as blinking, breathing, coughing etc. It's called INVOLUNTARY! You don't know WHY you do it! You just do it!

So I hope you look at this differently, and IF you want to continue and TOTALLY STOP this, then you will have to change your mind and how it thinks about this touch! I wish you good luck and health honey!

I do think it's a sin now that I am 53 and looking back. But lets just say it's not, it's like a gateway drug that can lead to more sin. Satan knows if he can get you hooked on that then he has made an inroad for bigger sin in your life. The Bible says resist the Devil and he will flee and it says "give no opportunity to the Devil". The person that responded that this is natural is correct but natural isn't Godly. There is another verse in the bible that says For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. Heed the holy spirit in you that is making you feel bad. I am not saying it's going to be easy but it is what God would have you do.

It is a sin. Go to Catholic answer and they have more detail answer from the catechism.
Don't worry about the confession, priest have heard all sins. and this is another beauty of confession, to admit your sin.
God forgives. Just pray daily. The battle is not easy but worthy. I'm on the same journey with you. harder on my side because I'm older and just separated.