The idea of pure desires might sound contradictory to you, but chastity means being sexually attracted, but choosing the greater good for the other. It means you allow God's love to permeate your affections. In order for this to happen, we must first throw aside the false notion that religion and sexuality are at enmity with one another. Could it be possible that erotic love could be pure? Could sexual intimacy be sanctifying? In God's plan for sex, the answer to both questions can be an emphatic yes!
Although in the past you may have used your body in a way that drove you and others further from God, you are still made in His image and likeness. Your body is still capable of expressing the love of the Blessed Trinity. This is quite a calling. But you're worthy of nothing less.
- How to Find Your Soulmate Without Losing Your Soul by Jason and Crystalina Evert (152)
Great selection. Especially for those of us who — well, TMI ....
ReplyDeleteI post things that are good reminders for myself :) If it helps others, too, great!
ReplyDeleteThey write some amazing things! I'm so glad they can dumb down Theology of The Body so that I can understand it but not demean its message. :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI really hate it when people throw out lines like "Your body is still capable of expressing the love of the Blessed Trinity." with out explaining what they mean. I really hope he does explain what he means by it; because sex isn't the only means of self giving love.
ReplyDelete"chastity means being sexually attracted, but choosing the greater good for the other. It means you allow God's love to permeate your affections." I'd really like to know where he got this definition. I've always taught my students that chastity is about have the proper relationship with those around you in your curent state of life. I am called to live a chaste life with all those around me. I'd hate be be in a constant state of sexual attraction because others are near me. Maybe I'm reading this out of context.
Two things of late that bother me with the whole 'dumbing down' of ToB is 1) the need to constantly talk about sex and 2) the hyper-spiritualization of sex.
Paul, you mention some really important points. To start with your final two points, I would say the following: 1. It is so necessary today for we Catholics to discuss the truth & beauty of God's plan for human sexuality because much of Western culture (and the world at large) only displays a utilitarian perspective about human sexuality that focuses solely on obtaining sexual pleasure to the complete disregard of the person, self-gift, marriage, etc. Culturally influential people and media outlets inundate the populous, especially youth, with a daily barrage of messages about sexuality and love that run counter to the Gospel. The recent heavy emphasis from the Church about human sexuality (see Love & Responsibility, Humanae Vitae, Theology of the Body, Familiaris Consortio, and more) is always discussed in the context of life according to the Spirit and the need to make choices that reflect Christ's free, total, faithful, and fruitful gift of self on the Cross. So many people today experience tragedy, confusion, and despair because of their misuse of sexuality, and they need to know that the Cross and resurrection provide a lasting hope for them.
ReplyDelete2. I would also contend that, while sometimes watered-down or not well-articulated, what can appear to be a hyper-spiritualization of sexual behavior is actually a strong attempt by Catholic writers/apologists to explain the relationship between eros and ethos as found in TOB audiences 47 - 48. For example, Blessed John Paul II states that "it is necessary continually to rediscover the spousal meaning of the body and the true dignity of the gift in what is 'erotic'" because "if one does not assume this task, the very attraction of the senses and the passion of the body can stop at mere concupiscence, deprived of all ethical value."
As for your earlier comments, I agree that statements about expressing the Trinity's love with one's body do need to be explained and not just mentioned by an author or speaker. For that specific topic, I would first recommend 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 and 2 Corinthians 4:7-11. You certainly are right on in saying that sexual intercourse is not the only means of expressing self-gift. I would also recommend reading the introduction and first chapter of Christopher West's book Good News about Sex & Marriage.
I think your comments about chastity and the quote from the blog post both express correct facets of a wonderful definition of chastity given by Karol Wojtyla (JPII) in Love & Responsibility: "The essence of chastity consists in quickness to affirm the value of the person in every situation, and in raising to the personal level all reactions to the value of 'the body and sex.'" Chastity certainly involves recognizing the value a person has as a son/daughter of God, which of course involves respecting the person's unique vocation, personality, gifts, talents, dreams, etc. Chastity also specifically involves placing the value of the person as such above the sexual values of a person.
God bless you and all of us on our journey with and toward the Lord!
Brendan,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the suggestions. I am quite versed in ToB and the debates that surround it. My critique has always been how people apply the message of JPII.
" Christ's free, total, faithful, and fruitful gift of self on the Cross." There are many many many more ways that this is done than in the bed room and in the sexual union with one's spouse. Yet, the way some of the apostles of ToB speak one might assume the only way to give of self as Christ did on the cross is through the sexual union. If we really want to combat the utilitarian, Kantian, view of our society the mantra for our world should be "Happiness is found in service to others as a gift of self."