Chastity

The Annunciation by Philippe de Champaigne, 1644

Chastity requires a proper understanding of human sexuality. This requires the realization that every single person has worth. Everyone, therefore, should have respect: respect for themselves and for others. Each of us wants to be respected. We do not want to be treated as things for the use of others. We do not exist for someone else’s convenience or pleasure.

Human sexuality reveals that we are created male and female and that there is a complementarity to the sexes. It is the fulfillment of our vocation to love which is fruitful. Love is a living virtue. It cannot be reduced to feelings or sensations. That would be static, without meaning. The mutual gratification of individuals is not love. Love involves truly giving oneself to the beloved without holding back, that is, without closing off the possibility of new life coming from that love.  

In his address to a group of bishops from the United States, Pope Benedict said this:

 "It is in fact increasingly evident that a weakened appreciation of the indissolubility of the marriage covenant, and the widespread rejection of a responsible, mature sexual ethic grounded in the practice of chastity, have led to grave societal problems bearing an immense human and economic cost." (Vatican City, March 9, 2012) He pointed out that whatever hurts marriage and the family hurts society. "Sexual differences cannot be dismissed as irrelevant to the definition of marriage. Defending the institution of marriage as a social reality is ultimately a question of justice, since it entails safeguarding the good of the entire human community and the rights of parents and children alike."

We truly need God’s love in each of our hearts. This is the love that we know and appreciate as we honor our mothers today. Good mothers show the love of God in their selfless dedication to their children. If we can apply that same love to others, we will not be thinking about what we can get out of others, but rather how we can help others. We will be thinking about how we can honor marriage and see others as sons and daughters of God.


Father Stanley

Human Sexuality

There is a distinction between a puritanical attitude towards the body and a Catholic understanding. Often the two are confused. First let's start with Adam and Eve. They sinned they disobeyed God. The Protestant view is that they lost not only Grace but also their humanity. They fell beneath the good human nature which God gave them. Later, when God through His Son bestows Grace upon a person, human nature is not transformed but rather covered over by God's divine life. The classical example is that the bestowal of God's grace is like covering a garbage heap (that is, us) with snow (that is, grace). Again this is not the Catholic view.

From Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, God's Revelation, we understand that when Adam and Eve sinned, they lost supernatural grace; they did not lose their human nature. They retained their humanity, but without grace. Our Lord's redemptive act upon the Cross freed us from sin and once more brought Divine grace into the world.

This makes a big difference in terms of sexual morality and the human body. The influence of Puritanism had the effect of seeing the body as a hindrance to God's grace. One could even conclude that certain parts of the body are dirty. The Catholic Church on the other hand teaches that the human body is good, not just good but beautiful. Why? Because God created it. There isn't a problem with our bodies nor with human sexuality. The problem arises with our treatment of these matters.

We understand that sexual immorality -- sex outside of marriage, homosexual acts, self-gratification, adultery, etc. -- are wrong not because they are "dirty acts." They are wrong because they constitute a misuse or abuse of the body and God's purpose in creating it. So, a sexual sin is a sin because it's , first of all, a disobedience of God's law, and, then, consequentially it's harmful to the person. It's contrary to the purpose for which we are created.

Some times a puritanical attitude was found among Catholics. But, that's what it was -- an attitude and not true Catholic teaching. It would be worthwhile to look up Blessed Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body. Here you will get a deeper understanding -- and a beautiful one too -- of the human body and sexuality.

Father Stanley

Looking into Ourselves - The Examination of Conscience

The Repentant Magdalene by Georges De La Tour

We have to be on guard for those things inside ourselves of which we might not be aware - those things of which we might have a vague knowledge. St. Augustine said:

For while you give yourself up to evil, you come to consider yourself good, because you do not take the trouble to look at yourself. You reproach others and do not take stock of yourself. You accuse others and do not examine yourself. You place them before your very eyes and place yourself behind your back. So, when the time comes for Me to reckon with you, I shall do the opposite; I will turn you around and confront you with yourself. Then you will see yourself and you will weep.

We tend to give ourselves a free pass when it comes to admitting guilt. The examination of conscience is the exact tool that we need to combat this tendency.

The Church recommends frequent examinations. It's a good habit to get into. We start off by asking guidance from the Holy Spirit. We can ask our Lady to pray for us too. Then, we simply look into ourselves over a period of time, the time since our previous examination of conscience (ideally not more than a day). Our search is for any thoughts, words, deeds and omissions that have offended God. It's helpful to have a guide at hand, at least in the beginning. The Knights of Columbus have one online here.

The reason for this is twofold. First, as St. Augustine said, we would like to look anywhere but ourselves for guilt. Secondly, love for God means that we are sorry specifically for each and every sin, and we admit that indeed we have sinned.

God spares us knowing the depths and all the ramifications of our sins. If we are serious about knowing ourselves, He will help us to see more and more our failings. We will realize the number of times we have chosen to be distant from Him.

The examination of conscience is not the end of it. It gives us the matter to bring to the Sacrament of Reconciliation where we are restored to grace in the case of confessed mortal sins, and given an increase of grace in the case of confessed venial sins.

Let's get into the habit of making daily examinations of conscience before going to bed. Then, we will be on the road to thorough confessions and on the way to greater union with God.

Father Stanley