Choose a topic from Part 2B:
1. The word chastity derives from the chastening orrebuking of concupiscence. By such chastening, chastising orcurbing, passion is held in control, and is kept in alignment withright reason. Chastity, therefore, is a virtue inasmuch as itsteadily tends to keep human conduct under the control ofreason.
2. And chastity is a special virtue for it concerns aspecial aspect of good, that is, the controlling, the keepingreasonable, of the tendencies of sex.
3. Chastity is not the same as the virtue of abstinence.For chastity is concerned with the control of sex pleasures,whereas abstinence is directly concerned with the control of thepleasures of the palate.
4. The words purity and chastity are sometimes usedinterchangeably, but they are not perfect synonyms. Chastitydirectly regards the sexual union. Purity refers to allthat is in any way associated with this union. Thus aperson is unchaste if he indulges in unlawful coition. Buta person is impure by reason of thoughts, imaginings,words, desires, and actions that have an unlawful sexual reference.Unchastity involves impurity, but impurity can exist withoutunchastity.
"A man should keep himself down, and not busy himself in mirabilibus super se."
St Philip Neri
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"The one thing necessary which Jesus spoke of to Martha and Mary consists in hearing the word of God and living by it."
R. Garrigou-Lagrange, OP
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"God gives us some things, as the beginning of faith, even when we do not pray. Other things, such as perseverance, he has only provided for those who pray."
St Augustine
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