Self-Control in a Sex-Crazed World.
In our time, over 80% of what we watch on TV are quite harmful to the soul ranging from the movies to music to the fashion show etc. Surely the fashion shows cannot be left out of the carriage, considering the crazy designs ( e.g. the modern jeans torn at the knees, ridiculous dresses displayed on fashion tv shows) and the "almost-nude" dresses aimed at exciting lust. The shocking aspect is that over half of the world population sees nothing wrong in modern fashion trend; in fact the society craves for these immodest fashions, in other words the love looking "sexy."
It is no mere coincidence that this deplorable condition arose as soon as the world dumped the ascetic ideal i.e subduing the lustful impulses of the flesh for the benefit of the soul. Concepts such as self-mastery, self-discipline barely exists; now its all about "having fun."
The society today have drank to its dregs, the poison of concupiscence; and being dead to self control( Asceticism), the stench of its decaying body reeks even at its basic unit - the family. Infidelity within this basic unit is no longer news.
Our educational institutions are not actually giving us hope of producing students who are glowing in chastity. The story is not different both in the political and religious circles. The story is the same - Sexual Perversion, Sex Scandals.
Matters get worse as the society, in view of solving this problem subscribes to superficial intellectual solution called Sex Education.
Exponents of this method believe that the solution lies in educating the masses on issues relating to human sexuality which includes sexual activity and safe-sex.
They disparage the Church's ascetic methods, and accuse the medieval Catholics of neglecting nature through penance and mortification.
Unfortunately this disgusting programme has found its way in Catholic Schools, homes etc and as a result, the Catholic gentleman has awoken to a sex-crazed world.
It is no mere coincidence that this deplorable condition arose as soon as the world dumped the ascetic ideal i.e subduing the lustful impulses of the flesh for the benefit of the soul. Concepts such as self-mastery, self-discipline barely exists; now its all about "having fun."
The society today have drank to its dregs, the poison of concupiscence; and being dead to self control( Asceticism), the stench of its decaying body reeks even at its basic unit - the family. Infidelity within this basic unit is no longer news.
Our educational institutions are not actually giving us hope of producing students who are glowing in chastity. The story is not different both in the political and religious circles. The story is the same - Sexual Perversion, Sex Scandals.
Matters get worse as the society, in view of solving this problem subscribes to superficial intellectual solution called Sex Education.
Exponents of this method believe that the solution lies in educating the masses on issues relating to human sexuality which includes sexual activity and safe-sex.
They disparage the Church's ascetic methods, and accuse the medieval Catholics of neglecting nature through penance and mortification.
Unfortunately this disgusting programme has found its way in Catholic Schools, homes etc and as a result, the Catholic gentleman has awoken to a sex-crazed world.
The Problem with Sex Education.
1.) Through its method of educating the masses on sexual activity and safe-sex, they end up attracting instead of distracting the mind from sex. St. John Vianney wisely points out that; "It requires only one immodest word to start a thousand evil thoughts," therefore it is no surprise why our educational institutions are cesspools of impurity despite the sex education initiative. Distracting the mind(especially of the young) consists of imprinting on the mind, the values of self-conquest or self-discipline and on the other hand make strong emphasis on the demerits or harmful effects of premarital sexual relationships. The later should be employed only when it is necessary.
The less you speak of sex related matters, the better.
The less you speak of sex related matters, the better.
2.)To overcome the concupiscence of the flesh, it takes much more than knowing . It requires action rather than just knowing(i.e over-dependence on intellect).
Sex Education places more emphasis on knowing and it is not surprising that their methods produces no success.
This Action consists not in negation of nature, but as earlier mentioned, subduing the lustful impulses of the flesh by acts of mortification.
St. Paul says, "I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection"( 1 Cor. 9 : 27).
St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, "We must realize that the avoidance of concupiscence demands much labor, for it is based on something within us. It is as hard as trying to capture an enemy in one's household."
Sex Education places more emphasis on knowing and it is not surprising that their methods produces no success.
This Action consists not in negation of nature, but as earlier mentioned, subduing the lustful impulses of the flesh by acts of mortification.
St. Paul says, "I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection"( 1 Cor. 9 : 27).
St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, "We must realize that the avoidance of concupiscence demands much labor, for it is based on something within us. It is as hard as trying to capture an enemy in one's household."
Life of Saints
For the Saints, it was no easy task overcoming the concupiscence of the flesh.
St. Benedict cast his body amidst sharp thorns so as to banish the thoughts through pain.
St. Macarius shouldered a heavy bag and walked through the desert to weaken his body and as a result overcame the temptation. His very words were, "I am tormenting the tormentor."
In St. Thomas Aquinas' case, the tempter who was a prostitute had to run for her life when the enraged Saint chased her with a big stick. The battle was lost even before it began.
St. Francis Xavier encountered his in an extraordinary manner. His companion seeing blood in his room made inquiries as to the cause. Under strict promise of silence, he narrated the following:
"I was asleep when an impure phantom clouded my mind. It seemed to me that I was in a certain
inn, and that a disreputable woman approached and placed her hand on my bossom. I, who by the great mercy of God still a virgin, was horrified at this audacious proceeding, that in order to push this abominable object from me, I vigorously used my arms, and in the violence of the struggle, ruptured a vein, which occasioned the copious flow of blood that you witnessed."
For the Saints, it was no easy task overcoming the concupiscence of the flesh.
St. Benedict cast his body amidst sharp thorns so as to banish the thoughts through pain.
St. Macarius shouldered a heavy bag and walked through the desert to weaken his body and as a result overcame the temptation. His very words were, "I am tormenting the tormentor."
In St. Thomas Aquinas' case, the tempter who was a prostitute had to run for her life when the enraged Saint chased her with a big stick. The battle was lost even before it began.
St. Francis Xavier encountered his in an extraordinary manner. His companion seeing blood in his room made inquiries as to the cause. Under strict promise of silence, he narrated the following:
"I was asleep when an impure phantom clouded my mind. It seemed to me that I was in a certain
inn, and that a disreputable woman approached and placed her hand on my bossom. I, who by the great mercy of God still a virgin, was horrified at this audacious proceeding, that in order to push this abominable object from me, I vigorously used my arms, and in the violence of the struggle, ruptured a vein, which occasioned the copious flow of blood that you witnessed."
Self Control can only be obtained in Asceticism. To understand the significance of asceticism, it should be remembered that natural life does not flourish unless the spirit retains the upper hand. Nothing could be more effective in bringing humanity back to the best traditions of manhood than a respect for the spiritual strength and conquest which is symbolised in ascetic lives of the Saints.
To ensure conquest over concupiscence, St. Thomas Aquinas says, "You must resist the flesh by means of fasting; for by fasting the flesh is weakened."
May God help us all.
To ensure conquest over concupiscence, St. Thomas Aquinas says, "You must resist the flesh by means of fasting; for by fasting the flesh is weakened."
May God help us all.
Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners - Pray for Us.
Comments
Post a Comment