-
Viewpoint
-
 CHASTE
TEACHINGS
- By
Leslie Freires
-
-
Have you ever
wondered what chastity really means? Because of my limited or incomplete
knowledge of the said word, I consulted the expert, Mr. Webster. It says
in the Webster Pocket Dictionary of the English Language, “chaste means
free from unlawful sexual activity; virtuous”. Panic struck me as I
thought of what to write about the topic. Gone were my ideas on proper and
reserved decorum in the way we dress, st and,
walk and sit. I have gotten it all mixed up with being chaste! I realized
the virtue of chastity was more than a mere set of standards and norms of
doing things. I was led to think chastity and modesty were one, but,
oh no, I was totally wrong! That was one big lesson in writing this
article. Thank you, Lord.
The best was yet to
come when I was led (by the Holy Spirit) to focus on the three teachings
of our holy Faith regarding the virtue of chastity. It made me see in a
wider perspective and better my understanding of the said virtue.
Herewith, based on the Catholic Treasures publication entitled Immodest
Dress, The Mind of the Church, let me quote for you…
“The first teaching
of our Faith is that the law of purity is imposed on every human being. It
binds him in public and in private, in marriage and outside of marriage,
in youth and in old age. It is one of the serious laws that God has made
which means that it is one on which the salvation of our souls depends. It
is quite obvious that this law of purity forbids the evil deed and the
evil word. The same law of purity equally forbids the unchaste desire (“I
say to you that anyone who even looks with lust at a woman has already
committed adultery with her in his heart”. Matthew 5:28) Impurity,
therefore, in thought and desire, as well as in word and deed, is a
serious violation of a law established by God Himself.
The second
teaching of our Faith, which we ask you to recall, is the doctrine on
original sin. Every human being, except the Immaculate Mother of God, has,
through original sin inherited a tainted nature. It is the teaching of our
Faith that through original sin, man’s nature has been wounded. The wound
in our nature is especially through the struggle that we have to control
our imagination and our passions. Imagination is simply a picture-making
power. To feed the imagination with all sorts of pictures that serve to
excite the passion in man’s bodily nature is obviously against God’s plan
and God’s will. That is sin!
The third teaching
of our holy Faith is that this weakness of human nature, which is the
result of original sin, can be met with prudence and right reasoning and
by using the plentiful means of supernatural graces provided for us.
Prudence tells us that we must reasonably avoid whatever tends to make the
imagination rebel against the intellect and will, and to draw both of
these away from God.”
May these
teachings help us in practicing the virtue of chastity. And, just in
case, next time you are unsure of a word, look it up in a dictionary. It
will do a lot of good. It did to me! God bless everyone!
-
-
- TELL US LIKE IT IS!
- Has something
wonderful and unique happened in your life lately? Did God answer your
prayer in a very unexpected way? Did you, like Isaiah, meet God’s
whisper?
- Have you felt His
powerful hand working in your life recently?
- Everyday, people are
experiencing God’s mighty Word in their lives and it is a pity that very
few know about it. Do you have a story to tell? Some Good News to
share?
- E-mail us (genesis@catholic.org) or fax us
(021-6627384), and tell us about it. That’s right! You don’t have to be
a great writer to do this. We can help you write it – just tell us like
it is!
- Don’t forget to write
the subject: “Let Me Tell You A
Story”
For comments, suggestions or
ideas:
E-mail us: genesis@catholic.org
Write us: Jl. Bacang No. 20 Kebayoran Baru,
Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Call us: (6221) 720-3824
Fax us: (6221) 662-7384
Genesis Catholic
Community - All Rights Reserved 2003
No part of this website may be copied,
reproduced or modified without the permission from the
webmaster.
|
This site has been awarded
IN THIS ISSUE:
HIS Servant
by Bro. Pete Lapid
Our Faith
By Fr. KJ Veeger, MSC
Surabaya Corner
By Ramon Martillano
Place of Refuge
By Philip Yuson
The G Kidspace*
By Louise Escuban
Here's the Latest
By Pinky Torres
Viewpoint
Straight from the heart
By Carolle Bautista
God Answers Prayers
In Focus
by Sansu Garin
Compiled by Armand Sol
Your letters
Saint for the Month
- Meet the
Staff
-
-
- Catholic
Links
-
-
- PROFILE OF THE
- GENESIS CATHOLIC
COMMUNITY
|
