1.
Questions to Ponder<br />1. Why do we experience shame only after sin?<br />2. Why does Bl. John Paul II say we should not fear the severity of Christ’s words about lust?<br />3. How did sexual desire change after the fall?<br />4. How does lust separate sexuality from God’s love?<br />5. What is St. Paul referring to when he says we “groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:23)?<br />6. How did Christ change our ethos or way of seeing the world?<br />7 Why do most people think of Christian morality as an oppressive list of rules? How do we live in freedom from the law? <br />1<br />

2.
Shame <br />Man is ashamed of his body because of lust. In fact, he is ashamed not so much of his body as precisely of lust (see TOB 28:5). <br />Shame also has a positive function as a “natural form of self-defense for the person against the danger of descending or being pushed into the position of an object for sexual use” (LR, 182). <br />2<br />

3.
The battle against Lust<br />The words of Christ<br /> “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28-28).<br />St. Paul’s interior battle <br />“So, I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members.” (Romans 7:21-23)<br />3<br />

4.
The redemption of the Body through Christ<br />The commandments – they are a pedagogical tool to teach man the way back to God<br />Christ appeals to the human heart – the heart is the symbol of the conscience and desire which point man to his true end in God<br />The life of virtue – this is the ultimate calling of man and the only way to restore his understanding of sexuality<br />4<br />

5.
Ethos – the values that shape our way of thinking and seeing reality<br />5<br />Christ can change our ethos<br />

6.
Grace working in our lives<br />6<br />Conversion of St. Augustine through the intercession of St. Monica<br />“Prayer “ of St. Augustine before his conversion<br />Lord give me Chastity, but not now <br />Baptism of St. Augustine<br />

7.
The stages of the spirituality and chastity<br />Purgative way (or beginners) – Custody of the eyes. Avoiding and fleeing lust<br />Illuminative way (those advancing) – starting to grow in virtue, learning how to live affective maturity<br />Unitive (saintly figures on earth) – seeing all things as pure, living the commandments without needing the laws<br />7<br />

8.
The Law of God is necessary for those still on the way<br />Christ said to the young man<br /> And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."<br />8<br />

9.
The life of Virtue steps to restore ones understanding of sexuality<br />Continence<br />Chastity<br />Purity heart – a pure vision of God and man<br />9<br />