CHASTITY
(Q): Why Chastity?
(A): Why not? Sleeping together is not the norm. There are still those who treasure the gift of virginity that the good Lord requested until the union of a couple in marriage. Sleeping together cheapens the woman and the man loses respect for her. Yes, he gets a chance to test out the produce (intercourse) before he buys it (marriage) but he is missing the most important part. A solid loving relationship is never built on sex. No, a solid loving relationship is built on love and commitment. Intercourse is not what it is about; it is about someone who loves you for who you are; someone you can grow old with.
(1 Cor. 7:8) "To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I do. (9) But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion."
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states the following: "Fornication is the carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality, which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption of the young."
(Q): What does the Bible say about fornication?
(A):(Col. 3:5-6) - "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (6) On account of these the wrath of God is coming."
(Gal 5:19) - "Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, (21) envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
(Mk 7:20) "What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. (21) For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, (22) coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. (23) All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man."
(1 Cor 5:1) -"It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father's wife."
(Q): What does being chaste free you from?
(A):(from The Springtime of Your Life Audio Visual Program)
1. Pregnancy
2. Hurry-up wedding
3. Adoption decision
4. Abortion decision
5. Guilt
6. Sexually transmitted diseases
7. Cancer of the cervix
8. Hazards of birth control
9. Self-induced sterility
10. Being used
11. Loss of reputation
12. Ruining your future(Q): How do these freedoms of chastity help?
(A):1. Develop friendships
2. Help others
3. Understand sex
4. Resist temptation
5. Plan your future(Q): What does the Catechism of the Catholic Church state on
chastity?
(A):2348 All the baptized are called to chastity. The Christian has "put on Christ," the model for all chastity. All Christ's faithful are called to lead a chaste life in keeping with their particular states of life. At the moment of his Baptism, the Christian is pledged to lead his affective life in chastity.
2349 "People should cultivate [chastity] in the way that is suited to their state of life. Some profess virginity or consecrated celibacy, which enables them to give themselves to God alone with an undivided heart in a remarkable manner. Others live in the way prescribed for all by the moral law, whether they are married or single." Married people are called to live conjugal chastity; others practice chastity in continence:
There are three forms of the virtue of chastity: the first is that of spouses, the second that of widows, and the third that of virgins. We do not praise any one of them to the exclusion of the others. This is what makes for the richness of the discipline of the Church.
2350 Those who are engaged to marry are called to live chastity in continence. They should see in this time of testing a discovery of mutual respect, an apprenticeship in fidelity, and the hope of receiving one another from God. They should reserve for marriage the expressions of affection that belong to married love. They will help each other grow in chastity.
Prayer to Live a Chaste Life
Lord God, we live in an age when sexuality is
trivialized and when covenants are broken routinely.
We are bombarded with cultural insensitivity for the
sacredness of life and what was once considered
perverted is now common place and accepted. Please
help me increase my sensitivity to the Truth of Your
commandments and show me where I need to amend my
attitudes and my actions. Forgive me my failures in
this area and strengthen me to live a chaste life.
Free me from the bondage of my passions and make me
the master of my inclinations. Heal me of past hurts
and the impact of erroneous instruction and guide my
relationships in purity, fidelity and love. Amen.
We are concerned Roman Catholics who are obedient
to the Pope and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church
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