Sinful Dreams QUESTION from Konrad on September 19, 2002 Can dreams be sinful? I lived a life of very loose morals until two years ago when I made a good confession and then began to go to Mass and say the Rosary every day. I pray constantly for the virtue of purity, and my prayers are being answered one day at a time. I don't indulge in pornography, immoral books, movies or TV. I really do feel like a new person . . except when I sleep. Once or twice a week in my dreams I become the man I used to be, and I find that I am still subconsciously anything but pure. Perhaps God is just keeping me humble and aware of how much I need His help, but I feel that I am being unfaithful to my loving wife and children as I sleep. I can't understand why God does not protect me from having these wicked thoughts when I want so much to be pure.
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius, OLSM on September 24, 2002 Dear Konrad:
Praise God that you have become a new man in Christ.
No, dreams are NOT sins. You have do direct control over your dream life and thus it is no sin no matter what you dream.
If you are bothered by the nature of your dreams, however, you may ask God to help to protect your dream life from these things. There is no guarantee that God will do this. He may decide that to allow you to continue with these dreams to remind you of your past.
Remember St. Paul had some bothersome thing that he asked God to remove from him. God said no in order to keep Paul humble.
I think you will likely fine these dreams fading away as you continue to live the good Catholic life. It may take a few years and even then you may have flashbacks sort-of.
Take to God about it, but know that you ARE NOT SINNING and you are NOT being unfaithful to your wife.
We will be in prayer for you.
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