Questions to Ponder

► 1. Why do we experience shame only after sin?

► 2. Why does Bl. John Paul II say we should not fear the severity of Christ’s words about lust?

► 3. How did sexual desire change after the fall?

► 4. How does lust separate sexuality from God’s love?

► 5. What is St. Paul referring to when he says we “groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:23)?

► 6. How did Christ change our ethos or way of seeing the world?

► 7 Why do most people think of Christian morality as an oppressive list of rules? How do we live in freedom from the law?

1

Shame

► Man is ashamed of his body because of lust. In fact, he is ashamed not so much of his body as precisely of lust (see TOB 28:5).

► Shame also has a positive function as a “natural form of self-defense for the person against the danger of descending or being pushed into the position of an object for sexual use” (LR, 182).

2

The battle against Lust► The words of Christ “You have heard that it was said,

You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28-28).

St. Paul’s interior battle

► “So, I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members.” (Romans 7:21-23)

3

The redemption of the Body through Christ

The commandments – they are a pedagogical tool to teach man the way back to God

Christ appeals to the human heart – the heart is the symbol of the conscience and desire which point man to his true end in God

The life of virtue – this is the ultimate calling of man and the only way to restore his understanding of sexuality 4

Ethos – the values that shape our way of thinking and

seeing reality

5

Christ can change our ethos

Grace working in our lives

6

Conversion of St. Augustine through the intercession of St. Monica

Baptism of St. Augustine

Lord give me Chastity, but not now

“Prayer “ of St. Augustine before his conversion

The stages of the spirituality and chastity

►Purgative way (or beginners) – Custody of the eyes. Avoiding and fleeing lust

►Illuminative way (those advancing) – starting to grow in virtue, learning how to live affective maturity

►Unitive (saintly figures on earth) – seeing all things as pure, living the commandments without needing the laws

7

The Law of God is necessary for those still

on the way►Christ said to the

young man

And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."

8

The life of Virtue steps to restore ones understanding of

sexuality

Continence

Chastity

Purity heart – a pure vision of God and man

9