An Education Center manager working with young people, in the Catholic Peace Weekly's Peace Column, expresses his opinion on a serious subject often passed over.
Whether you are a believer or not, left-wing or right-wing, there are many things on which our society today can agree. Words such as freedom, peace, environmental protection, and democracy are universally accepted. Even when something that goes against these values happens on the other side of the world, protests break out in our country, and the media raises its voice. This was not the case in the past, so in a way, it is a very positive and beautiful sign of our times. We must make good use of this trend and take it as an opportunity to build bridges and create dialogue.
However, at the same time, there are some topics that are quietly buried as if they did not exist, even within the Church. These are essential topics. For me, the sixth and ninth commandments are prime examples. These days, many people seem to view these commandments as “optional,” and their deep meaning and beauty are often overlooked.
How unpopular are these topics? When was the last time you heard the word “chastity” in a sermon? Were topics such as premarital chastity, contraception, in vitro fertilization, masturbation, and pornography mentioned during baptismal or marriage catechesis? This kind of talk is taboo. It is a difficult but necessary topic.
However, chastity is not something negative but a positive virtue and a path of love that can continue to grow. The body was created by God, and His only Son became human and took on a body like ours. Our bodies are also temples of the Holy Spirit. Sex is also a gift from God and one of the most profound and most powerful expressions of humanity. It is an act of love so powerful that it can bring new life into the world.
The problem arises when we forget the purpose of this gift, which is to “give,” and use it only for ourselves. We were born to love, and if we do not use the power of love that God has given us properly, we end up abusing that energy.
Of course, it is not easy. Temptation is always with us, and today's society does little to help us practice this virtue. We, too, sometimes sin and fall. But what is essential is the willingness to fight without giving up. Many people think, “This is impossible from the start,” and give up easily without even trying. No. It is entirely possible.
Such a change in life does not happen overnight. Even if someone receives baptism at 20 and begins a life of faith, it takes time to fully understand this concept intellectually and put it into practice in daily life. To do so, one must strive to understand the “reason” why the Church teaches this way. And above all, one must sincerely love Jesus. If one loves Him, one will follow Him even if one does not fully understand. Love makes it so. And since the most significant sign of love is the Eucharist, if you try to receive the Eucharist often, you will be able to love more deeply.
In addition, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of “what is sin and what is not.” When you truly love God, if you do something that hurts His heart, you must also feel pain. That pain leads us to ask for forgiveness and to approach Him again through confession.
This virtue was once considered attractive, and society accepted it as a true form of love. That is no longer the case. Therefore, we who know Christ, who is love, have a responsibility to live out this virtue fully and show its beauty to the world. When we sincerely live out chastity, the world will once again be able to smell the fragrance of true love within it.
