Tuesday, June 05, 2007
National Celibacy Awareness Month
Apparently, June is National Celibacy Awareness Month. Who knew! I ran across this headline on the dating page on MSN of all things - Celebrating Your Celibacy. Of course, I had to check it out!
Of course, what is really meant is chastity not celibacy. Chastity is the virtue that allows a person to live his sexuality in a manner that is consistent with his state in life. For the single person, this means abstention from sexual activity because the single person is not able to give himself totally, faithfully, fruitfully to another. Celibacy goes a step further. The celibate refrains from sexual activity in order to devote himself to God alone.
The article points out several reasons to celebrate living chastely including more secure relationships and better health and suggests that living chastely reminds us to turn outward in service to others.
"A great way for both single men and women to celebrate their celibacy is by mentoring teens in their church or local community,” suggests Shannon Ethridge, author of the Every Woman’s Battle series. “Teach young people that they don’t need to have sex to be worthy of love. If anything, knowing how to have a healthy relationship without sexual involvement sets them up for faithfulness in future relationships—we all have to learn to say ‘no’ at some point. You will also help them avoid consequences that can negatively impact their lives such as unplanned pregnancy, STDs, infertility, low self-esteem, etc. As you pour wisdom into impressionable minds and realize what a difference these values could make in their lives, you’ll feel proud that you’ve made the commitment to celibacy and can be a great role model to others.”
MSN is an unexpected place to find a positive story about chastity, but I'll take it.
Of course, what is really meant is chastity not celibacy. Chastity is the virtue that allows a person to live his sexuality in a manner that is consistent with his state in life. For the single person, this means abstention from sexual activity because the single person is not able to give himself totally, faithfully, fruitfully to another. Celibacy goes a step further. The celibate refrains from sexual activity in order to devote himself to God alone.
The article points out several reasons to celebrate living chastely including more secure relationships and better health and suggests that living chastely reminds us to turn outward in service to others.
"A great way for both single men and women to celebrate their celibacy is by mentoring teens in their church or local community,” suggests Shannon Ethridge, author of the Every Woman’s Battle series. “Teach young people that they don’t need to have sex to be worthy of love. If anything, knowing how to have a healthy relationship without sexual involvement sets them up for faithfulness in future relationships—we all have to learn to say ‘no’ at some point. You will also help them avoid consequences that can negatively impact their lives such as unplanned pregnancy, STDs, infertility, low self-esteem, etc. As you pour wisdom into impressionable minds and realize what a difference these values could make in their lives, you’ll feel proud that you’ve made the commitment to celibacy and can be a great role model to others.”
MSN is an unexpected place to find a positive story about chastity, but I'll take it.
Labels: chastity
