Here’s a pamphlet you may find useful, borrowed from our Diocese’s
Chastity
Protects
Mother
Teresa has said that the most precious gift you can give to your spouse on your
wedding day is the gift of your virginity. Think about that. Isn’t it true that
you are the only person in the whole world who can give this gift? It is such a
special gift, more precious than jewels, so you want to cherish it and protect
it with all your might. You can only give this gift one time, so your future
husband or wife is surely the only person in all the world who deserves this
total and complete gift of yourself.
If young men and women would make
the decision at an early age to remain a virgin until marriage, they would not
be faced with spur-of-the-moment decision making. They would know their goal
and be willing to do whatever it takes to achieve that high standard. They
would be cautious of the company they keep and their areas of entertainment.
They would be aware of temptations and difficult situations and better prepared
to avoid them. They would be free to grow and mature and learn and discover
God’s wonderful plan for their lives. They would not have to worry about “late”
periods, pregnancy, abortion, “birth control,” venereal diseases, AIDS and all
the other physical, spiritual, psychological, and emotional consequences of
premarital sexual intercourse. They would have real respect for themselves and
their friends, and they would be confident that they were living in a way that
is pleasing to God. They would be protecting and saving themselves for the one
and only special person God has chosen to be their lifelong husband or wife if marriage
is their vocation.
Do young people think about such
things? Do they ever hear the words “virginity,” “chastity,” “purity,”
“modesty” or “self-mastery?” do these words sound as if they were part of a
foreign language because no one ever uses them anymore? Is this beautiful gift
of total self giving not worth saving for their one and only marriage partner?
God thinks it is. He has told us this is precisely what He expects of us
because He loves us. And, He gives us all the grace we need to be able to do
it.
It is very important for parents and schools and churches to teach
these truths clearly and to reinforce each other. Otherwise, our young people
will never hear the words or learn God’s truth because the TV, movies, music
and the world do not love the children or care about them. So many young people
have lost their virginity and self respect because they believed the lies of
the world. We must offer them the hope and freedom of “secondary virginity.”
They can ask for God’s forgiveness and be forgiven. They can “start over” and
make their commitment to remain chaste until their wedding day. They need this
opportunity and encouragement to begin again and to change with God’s grace.
If we recognize marriage and conjugal love to be a sacred part of God’s
plan, then we can understand the importance of chastity. Chastity protects. It
strengthens. It builds character. It encourages self control. It inspires
reverence. It guarantees freedom. It guards against selfishness, and it applies
to every human person. Chastity is not always easy, but it is always possible
with God’s help. Chastity reaffirms marriage and the sexual relationship
between a husband and wife as very good, very special, and very holy. The
sacredness of cooperating with God in His creation of a new human life is so
powerful and so awesome that this precious gift should only be shared in the
security of a loving, generous and committed marriage relationship. This is
God’s way, and it is definitely worth waiting for because the total, complete
gift of pure love that the bride and groom give to each other on their wedding
day is truly a precious gift.
Reprinted with
permission from Diocese
of Memphis NFP Center. They also
have chastity cards and stickers, so check them out!