Chastity 5. Chastity in our constitutions
The vow of chastity in our Constitutions
Art. 18 of our Constitutions say that Chastity is first of all a gift given by God.
Chastity is something that does not come naturally, and sometimes asks us to act against the desire of our human nature. To follow it is possible and good because we are not merely human but also “divine” through the grace coming to us from the Cross of Jesus. It is to this divine aspect that the vow of chastity refers to, and it is in the name of the fulfilment of this aspect that we are called to sacrifice some aspects of the human nature. We are called to be in intimate communion with the Trinity, communion which is love, and chastity is the way of reaching the highest level of love.
As children of God with a special vocation, we are called to witness this divine reality present in us. (Art. 19). If wedding is a covenant among two people to live and love each other in the name of God, chastity is a covenant with God himself, to live and love him, and through him love all mankind.
Art. 20 explains further this aspect saying that through chastity we make a free gift of our whole person to the service of God and of our brothers.
Is our lifestyle diminishing our nature in any way?
No! Giving up some aspects of our nature does not prevent us from reaching the full development of our personality, but actually gives us a better control of all aspects, and more capacity of opening our love to the whole world. We achieve higher maturity and inner freedom (Art. 21). This is not something automatic and achieved by all because it is possible only when the renunciations are done willingly and joyfully (Art. 22).
How to preserve such precious and delicate gift? We have to use a mixture of spiritual and psychological helps. The psychological tools will guarantee the maturity, the spiritual tools serve to strengthen and consolidate such maturity. Art. 23 indicates some of this tools:
Friendship with Christ; tender and strong devotion to Our Lady; meditation in order to deepen the roots of our donation; prayer for faithfulness so not to feel alone in the moments of trial; mortification of the senses; analysis of our affections to see if they are guided by the Spirit.
I would like to spend a few words on the last two points, not because they are more important but because today are often neglected.
The mortification of the senses was very much used in past ages; now it has become difficult and so is often considered useless. Society bombards us from every side with images of erotic content. In the west it is easy to encounter images of nakedness especially in movies; in the east this is not there but the culture is becoming more and more accustomed to sensual postures, provocative dressing and actions, which, without showing anything, make one imagine and desire what he actually does not see.
As our stomach is filled with the things we eat, so our mind, our memory and also our feelings are fed by the things we hear, see etc. So as we may get used or addicted to some food or drink, so it happens to our mind and even in a larger scale. The more we fill up our time, our reading, our watching, listening with spiritual things, the more we get accustomed to them and learn to recognize the voice of God. When, instead, we fill up our mind with earthly things, we get addicted to them and desires pop up in unexpected moments. This is valid especially for erotic things, pictures, jokes, thoughts; even when we say that they are innocuous because we do not see or do anything. Sexuality is a very strong part of our life and should be respected on every side.
What is at stake here is our capacity of loving because we educate ourselves to control the desire to be free, to give or satisfy the desires and put ourselves at the centre.
The second aspect is to learn to analyze our affections. It is a matter of honesty towards God that has to be at the centre of everything, towards people whom we need to treat with respect, with the purest love, and towards ourselves for consistency with our vocation.
The exercise of examination of conscience is a very powerful instrument. In analyzing the relationships we had during the day, especially with the people close to us, we can ask ourselves: “What was I after, while dealing with this person?” “”what was I hoping for?” “Is God really present and at the centre of this relationship?”
St. Augustine said: “Amor meus pondus meum”. Love is the one thing which decides my position in life. Our loves will attract us in one direction or the other and without we even notice it. We can also ask ourselves “Am I afraid that people come to know about this friendship of mine or am I happy to introduce this friend to my community?”
In the art. 23 we saw mainly the spiritual helps, now in the art. 24 we see the human ones. 3 are the one indicated:
- brotherly communion
- mental and physical health
- work
As we said when we spoke about the relationship between the vow of chastity and the community, community is now our family. We need a family who supports us, encourages us, in which I feel at home when I come back and I can relax. If I do not find this environment in my community, then I will automatically look for it somewhere else. So good, happy relationships among confreres are very useful for our emotional and affective stability.
Health of mind and body is also very important. A weak or tired or depressed person is more at risk of temptations. Especially sadness and depression are the moments in which we look for anything that can make us forget those moments and give us the impression of being strong and alive. Most of the first approaches of sexual excitement like pornography or prostitution happen in moments like this. Our barriers are low and we are vulnerable. Also in the relationship with people of the opposite sex, especially if they show us understanding, pity, care, concern etc.
Manual work is a great help to discharge tensions, find satisfaction and keep our body and mind fit.
Manual work teaches us also the virtue of self-discipline which is of fundamental importance against temptations.
Once we have applied all the above resources, can we say that we are safe? Art. 25 reminds us never to overestimate our capacity of resisting. We should trust in the help of God but if we feel that we would not be able to make it even without the help of God, then the risk is too big.