On the Importance of Persevering in Prayer, Especially When in Mortal Sin

Continuing with prayer even in the state of mortal sin is essential to making progress against lust. Oh, how demons love to whisper in your ear, “How dare you approach the throne of grace with such a filthy soul? You lusted, then did vile and impure things with your own body, and then turn to God soon thereafter? Because you are a hypocrite, God will not hear your prayers. He is too angry with you. Quit wasting your time.” How many times have we bought into this lie? Of course, it is a lie, because the devil is the father of lies (cf. John 8:44), and here is his effort to further separate you from God. Logically, even the holiest person alive today is unworthy to approach God, yet Christ welcomes sinners, inviting them to eat at His feast. He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17). It is when we are in mortal sin that we need God the most.

After a mortal sin, aside from Confession, communicating with the Almighty in prayer is the most important act one can make. God does not reject the sinner who sincerely seeks Him, but rather welcomes the him, as in the parable of the prodigal son. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him (Luke 15:20). God does not welcome the repentant sinner alone. Accompanying our blessed Lord is His beautiful Virgin Mother, the saints, and the angels. All await invocation for assistance and intercession: But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect (Hebrews 12:22-23).

For your own sake and for the glory of God, do not wait until your next confession to continue your spiritual life. If you only talk to God in-between confessions, you will unlikely make progress in your battle against lust. Even if you have given in to lust so many times in a single day that you have lost count of the impurity, continue to communicate with the Almighty in prayer: ask for mercy and forgiveness, praise Him, thank Him, adore Him, make intercession for the behalf of others, make petition on behalf of yourself. As the apostle Paul writes: Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).