"We must be pure. I do not speak merely of purity of the sense. We must observe great purity in our will, in our intentions, in all our actions. To possess purity of life - in this, all consists."
St. Peter Julian Eymard
For Reflection:
How does purity of will, of intention, of action lead to purity of life in all things?
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"Where Christ is, there modesty is found."
St. Gregory of Nazianzen
For Reflection:
Where is Christ in me? How do I see modesty in those areas? Where is Christ not in me? Where do I see immodesty?
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"We can gain nothing from God but by purity, and by holiness. God does great things only by pure souls."
St. Peter Julian Eymard
For Reflection:
What great things have I seen God do through the pure souls of our day and time? How does this encourage me toward purity of heart, mind, soul, and deed?
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"It is he who, after having broken down the ramparts of his passions, ascends with force to the Kingdom of Heaven."
St. Gregory the Great
For Reflection:
St. Gregory gives us insight into the reward of our efforts to remain chaste. What is it? Can I experience this reward even now? How has this been so in my own life?
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"The devil flatters that he may deceive us; he charms that he may injure us; he allures that he may slay us."
St. John Climacus
For Reflection:
What three tactics of the evil one does this quote reveal? How have I seen them exhibited in my fight to remain chaste? To what extent does this revelation help me to assess my strategy and remain diligent to the fight?
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"The tempter, ever on the watch, wages war most violently against those whom he sees most careful to avoid sin."
Pope Saint Leo the Great
For Reflection:
What can I expect to experience as I wage a war against impurity and seek to practice the virtue of chastity? How can this encourage my efforts?
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"It is necessary that temptations should happen; for who shall be crowned but he that shall lawfully have fought, and how shall a man fight if there be none to attack him?"
St. Bernard
For Reflection:
How does this help me to fight more strongly against the temptations that assail me including those against the virtue of chastity?
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"As a tower defends a camp, so does humility of heart guard the chastity of the body."
St. Anthony of Padua
For Reflection:
St. Anthony of Padua lived in the 13th century. How did a tower defend a camp in that time? What image does this conjure in my imagination regarding humility and chastity? How am I working to cultivate the virtue of humility?
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"Humility is the safeguard of chastity. In the matter of purity, there is no greater danger than not fearing danger. When a person puts himself in an occasion, saying 'I shall not fall' - it is an almost infallible sign that he will fall, and with great injury to his soul."
St. Philip Neri
For Reflection:
What do I see as the connection between purity and humility? Do I exhibit pride by placing myself in the near occasion of sin? In what ways? I will confess my pride at the next opportunity.
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"There is no remedy so powerful against the heat of concupiscence as the remembrance of our Savior's Passion. In all my difficulties, I never found anything so efficacious as the wounds of Christ. In them I sleep secure. From them, I derive new life."
St. Augustine
For Reflection:
Which one wound of Our Lord speaks most to my heart? How can meditation on this wound help me to fight off all of the temptations that assail me?
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