The sixth commandment:The sixth commandment:you shall not commit adulteryyou shall not commit adultery5050

CRANACH, Lucas (1472-1553)Christ and the Adulteress

Wood, 153282.5 x 121 cm

Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest

Compendium of the Catechism 488. What is chastity? 2337-2338 Chastity means the positive

integration of sexuality within the person. Sexuality becomes truly human when it is integrated in a correct way into the relationship of one person to another. Chastity is a moral virtue, a gift of God, a grace, and a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

489. What is involved in the virtue of chastity?

2339-2341 The virtue of chastity involves an

apprenticeship in self-mastery as an expression of human freedom directed towards self-giving. An integral and continuing formation, which is brought about in stages, is necessary to achieve this goal.

Introduction

Saint Paul asks the Corinthians: Do you not know that your bodies

are members of Christ? ... Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body " (1 Corinthians 6:15;19-20).

Not only Christians, but all men of reason should respect their own bodies — and others’ — and strive for chastity in thought, word, deed and desire in accordance with reason.

DI GIORGIO MARTINI, FrancescoChastity with the Unicorn

1463 Convento dell'Osservanza, Siena, Italia

Main ideasMain ideas

1. Sexuality is a gift from God

We should recall the biblical teaching that God created man in his image and likeness, male and female he created them (cf. Genesis 1:27). And since sexuality comes from God, sexuality is good, it is God’s gift.

God has arranged an order in the use of sexuality. Thus sexual pleasure — whether in thought, word or deed— should be sought only within marriage and in accordance with God’s plan for human sexuality, that is: the transmission of human life and the communion and mutual aid of the spouses.BOSCH, Hieronymus

The Garden of Earthly Delights: Allegory of Luxury, central panel of triptychc.1500Museo del Prado, Madrid

2. The virtue of chastity

Chastity is the virtue which controls sexuality in thought, desire, word and action.

It consists in the submission of sexuality to reason and faith.

As with all virtues, chastity implies victory over and freedom from slavery to sin.

MORELLI, Domenico The Temptation of St. Anthony1878Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna, Rome

3. The harm caused by impurity

Sins against chastity not only harm men and women’s friendship with God, but also other important virtues.

Those who sin against chastity are easily affected by gloom because they become slaves of sin; they lack generosity because they put themselves and pleasure before God; their faith is weakened because their impurity darkens their hearts; and they lose that sensibility which enables them to love God and others.

CANO, AlonsoImmaculate Conception1648Oil on canvasProvincial Museum, Vitoria, Spain

4. Chastity is for all Each of us has to practise chastity

according to his vocation and state in life. God calls some to virginity or celibacy as a way of giving their hearts undivided to God, and he asks others to practise chastity in marriage or as single persons.

Married people have to practise conjugal chastity by being faithful to their matrimonial duties, and single persons have to practise continence.

The marital union of man and woman must be open always to the transmission of life: contraception and sterilization in order to avoid procreation are never licit.

HOGARTH, WilliamHenry VIII

Private collection

5. Sins against chastity

Those sin against chastity who — be they alone or with others — commit impure acts, look at impure things, consent fully to impure thoughts or

desires, talk or tell jokes about impure

things, voluntarily put themselves or

others in danger of sin. Sins that clearly violate chastity :

Masturbation, fornication, pornographic and homosexual activities.

Adultery, polygamy and casual sex feature among the sins that go against the dignity of marriage.

Such sins against chastity are always serious, if there is full knowledge and deliberate consent. In sins against chastity there is no such thing as a venial matter.

ARMITAGE, EdwardHerod's Birthday Feast1868 Ghildhall Art Gallery. London

6. Struggling for chastity To win the battle for chastity one

must flee from occasions of sin; in this matter fleeing is not cowardice but prudence. And prudence tells us to avoid friends, reading material, entertainment, conversations, etc., which might lead to sin.

Another nugget of wisdom is to keep ourselves occupied with serious work so as not to become engrossed in egoism.

But more important is the use of the supernatural means: frequent confession and communion, praying for chastity with humility and perseverance, having recourse to Our Mother the most pure Virgin, etc.

LEIGHTON, Frederic Fatidica (c. 1893-94)

Lady Lever Art Gallery

Resolutions for Resolutions for Christian lifeChristian life

Resolutions to move forward

Turn to Our Lady when feeling temptations against chastity. Recite the “Memorare” prayer (Remember, O Most Gracious Virgin Mary, …).

Strive to be clean in our words, conversations, jokes, etc.