Catholic Faith Refresher Course

THE SIXTH AND NINTH COMMANDMENTS

"Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14)

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife." (Exodus 20:17)

DIRECTIONS TO THE STUDENT

It is a grave error to allow a convert to go through the instructions with only a vague notion of his obligations in chastity. This often leads to defection from the faith later on. The modern world teaches people that certain sins against chastity are not sins at all. Too often, the non-Catholic does not know the seriousness of impurity; he does not know about the many sins against chastity which can lead him to hell. Therefore, it is necessary to mention to adults various ways in which serious sins against chastity might be committed. These two commandments must be explained to an adult group thoroughly but tactfully, but we will not omit anything through a sense of false shame or from a groundless fear of offending someone.

The Sixth Commandment is, "Thou shalt not commit adultery ." The Ninth Commandment is, "Thou shalt not covet (desire unlawfully) thy neighbor's wife." Both commandments are placed in one lesson with all violations of the virtue of chastity included. The Sixth Commandment forbids especially unchaste actions; the Ninth Commandment forbids particularly unchaste thoughts and desires.

A. GOD'S CREATIVE POWER

     God Himself created the first man and woman. Then, in order to people the earth, He (as it were) shared His creative powers with man. He gave Adam and Eve the command "Increase and multiply ." (Gen 1 :28) In order to accomplish this, He implanted in them a sacred power which we call the sex passion. This passion is not a dirty thing. It is something holy. It is something good in itself. It is something very important in God's plan of creation and providence. The misuse, the wrong use, the abuse of this sex passion is what is evil. In fact, the misuse of this sacred power is an insult to God; it is mortal sin.

B. THE VIRTUE OF CHASTITY

     The virtue of chastity is the virtue by which you regulate the use of your sexual passions according to the law of God. Outside of the marriage state, no one has the right to satisfy the sexual urge. He must at all times keep it under control. Only husband and wife have the right with each other to satisfy their sexual desires in a lawful way, and thus be God’s instruments in bringing children into the world.

C. THE NECESSITY OF THE VIRTUE OF CHASTITY

Without the virtue of chastity no one can hope to save his soul. St. Alphonsus tells us that there are more souls in hell because of the violation of this virtue than for any other reason. St. Jerome says that nine out of ten who are in hell are there because of sex sins.

Spiritual things become distasteful to the impure man. Violation of this virtue often means loss of Faith, the neglect of Confession and Holy Communion, the neglect of prayer and Mass. The impure, unchaste person develops a hardened conscience, a weak will, and often loses his character and self-respect. Often impurity makes a man stoop to any crime.

As we look back through the history of the human race we see how God punished people who violated chastity, and how they thus punished themselves.

God brought fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah for sins of impurity, principally that of homosexuality. To this day it carries the odious name of sodomy.

God destroyed twenty-four thousand Israelites in one day for this sin. He exterminated almost the entire tribe of Benjamin. Adultery led the great King David into the sin of murder. Henry VIII left the Catholic Church and led a miserable life with six wives because of sins of impurity. He even died a victim of a sexually transmitted disease.

Napoleon's downfall, some historians say, can possibly be attributed to his sins against chastity.

The Bible tells us that "neither fornicators nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor liars with mankind. ..shall possess the kingdom of God. " (1 Cor 6:9-10)

The Bible also tells us these sins keep a person out of heaven: .'Now the works of the flesh are manifest; which are fornication, uncleanness. immodesty, luxury ...of these which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God. " (GaI5:19-21)

St. Paul tells us that " no fornicators, or unclean person hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." (Eph 6:5 ) SO SINS OF IMPURITY (UNCHASTITY OR SEX SINS) MEAN ETERNAL PUNISHMENT

God loves the chaste. He chose for His mother the purest virgin among the Jews. St. John was the beloved disciple of Christ because he was so pure.

Christ said, .'Blessed are the clean of heart; for they shall see God." (Matt 5 :8)

Chastity gives great joy to living. Only the chaste are carefree and joyful in life. The world will become a world of reason and of beauty if men are chaste; the world and life itself will become undesirable if men are impure.

D.  MARRIED PERSONS ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO MAY USE THE SEX PASSION

     This passion is made for marriage and the begetting of children. When it is used for this purpose it is not a sin but rather an act of virtue. The normal use of the sex passion between man and wife is permitted, even rewarded by God.

E. THE GRAVITY OF SINS OF SEX

All deliberate sins against the sacred power of creation, the power of sex, are mortal sins. Only married people are allowed to use the sex passion. In the twentieth century , people have many erroneous ideas about chastity. Let it be clear that the following are mortal sins: deliberate impure thoughts, immodest touching, petting, necking, indecent dress and dancing, impure talk and kisses for the purpose of arousing passion, sins against nature, masturbation, impure shows and the like. In this matter there is no such thing as a venial sin. Our Lord said that even impure desires deliberately entertained, are mortal sin. The habit in some men of "undressing a women" by sight is a dangerous one to get started. "Whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her hath already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matt 5:28)

F.  ADULTERY

     Adultery is the sin of sexual intercourse between a man and woman, one or both of whom are married but not to each other. It is a very serious sin against chastity and against justice. You violate God's law of chastity when you commit adultery you also violate justice because you are unjust to the partner of the married person, you are violating the right which only married persons have; you have stolen his (her) most precious possession -his wife (her husband). Because you have seriously sinned against chastity and justice, you deserve eternal punishment.

The one sinful act might be two or three mortal sins for each participant in the act: (1) a mortal sin of impurity against the Sixth Commandment; (2) a mortal sin of injustice against the spouse of your partner (if she is married).

G. FORNICATION

Fornication is sexual intercourse between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. This is a mortal sin. Young men and young women who are keeping company have absolutely no sexual right to each other until they are married. Don't fall into the trap of the secular world which says that unmarried couples need to see how compatible they are, even sexually. During the time that they keep company, they must learn respect for each other; they should pray for each other; they should go to Confession and Holy Communion often. They must avoid any signs of affection that would arouse their passions.

The safe rule is always to keep out in the open, where people can see you. Even the best of intentions and the holiest of resolutions can fall by the wayside in the heat of passion.

H.  IMPURE THOUGHTS AND DESIRES

     Impure thoughts and desires are not sins in themselves. Even great Saints were troubled with these temptations. St. Jerome suffered by temptations for over twenty-five years. If the person deliberately consents to the thoughts and desires to gain pleasure from them, they then become mortal sins.

I.  IMPURE TOUCHING

    This is touching to arouse the sexual passion outside of the proper use of sex. It applies to touches done individually or on another person. Impure touching is a mortal sin.

J.  PETTING AND NECKING

    Petting and necking are always serious sins when their purpose is to arouse passion. Don't think that petting and necking is an innocent display of affection. They are mortal sins and can lead to very sad consequences.

K.  KISSING

     Kissing for the purpose of arousing sexual passion is a mortal sin. Kissing between parents and children, relatives, and so forth, is not a sin because it is not done to arouse the sexual passion.

L.  INDECENT DANCING

     Decent dancing is good recreation and is not sinful. However, indecent dancing is always a mortal sin. There are several ways in which this sin is committed: by "close" dancing, by certain kinds of slow dancing, and other forms of indecent dancing, for example, dancing in poorly lighted rooms, "dirty dancing" and so forth. Beware of dangerous dance halls. Keep your children out of such places.

M.  INDECENT DRESS  (Immodesty)

      Indecent dress is often a mortal sin; and even when it is not a mortal sin at first, it can easily become one. Men' s passions are easily aroused by low-cut dresses, short skirts, indecent sweaters and bathing suits. The Catholic girls will be taught by her parents to dress in a modern way, but in a modest way. Women are not alone in being careful about the manner in which they dress. Men also should be careful in their dress lest they be an occasion of temptation to women.

N. IMPURE TALK

    Impure or "dirty" talk is either a mortal sin or may lead to mortal sin. Always remember that you are in the presence of Almighty God. "Dirty" talk in front of children is one of the worst kinds of sins. Remember also that one impure story told to a group may be the cause of hundreds and hundreds of mortal sins if the story told is repeated by others. You never know where it ends and how many sins it has caused. Don 't do the devil's work by telling dirty stories.

O. SINS AGAINST NATURE

Sins against nature are disgusting sins; they are called sexual perversions. They are always mortal sins. They are committed with another person of the same sex or the opposite sex, or with animals.

"Do not err": neither. ..the effeminate nor liars with mankind. ..shall possess the kingdom of heaven," ( 1 Cor 6:9-10)

P. MASTURBATION

This is the sin known as self-abuse, or of enjoying the sexual passion alone. Solitary sex is also forbidden by the Sixth Commandment just as seriously as forbidden sex between unmarried couples. Care must be taken to avoid the first inclinations to this sin lest it becomes a habit that is very hard to break.

Q. IMPURE SHOWS / MOVIES

In the modern world there are a variety of impure shows which can lead people to sin. To watch impure floor shows, stage shows, movies or videos, or to read books or magazines with the deliberate intention of arousing the sex passion is always a mortal sin. Other shows and books border on the impure; these are dangerous and should also be avoided.

R. IS IT POSSIBLE TO LEAD A PURE LIFE?

It is possible to lead a pure life. Not only is it possible with the help of God's grace, but it is necessary as well. Observe the following rules and you will not find it too difficult:

1. Keep busy. An idle mind is the devil's workshop. The first sin an idle mind generally turns to is impurity.

2. Keep away from bad companions and evil conversations, especially with people of the opposite sex. Keep away from immoral books, magazines and newspapers. Avoid indecent shows, pictures and games. Stay away from dangerous dances, dangerous rides in automobiles and anything else that has led you into sin in the past.

3, Pray fervently and frequently. In time of temptation say: "Mary most pure, pray for me," or "Mary , help me; Jesus save me;" then turn your mind to something worthwhile. Longer prayers should be said in moments of calm, when no temptation is present.

4. Gently yet firmly push impure temptations aside. Don't try to fight the passion of lust with the passion of anger. Don't get angry at yourself if temptations arise. Bad thoughts afflict all men. You will be successful in overcoming temptations if you maintain calm in your life.

5. Maintain the presence of God, Remember that you are always in the presence of Almighty God! Even if others don't see you, remember that God sees you.

6. Develop a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The saints greatly recommend the practice of this devotion.

7. Receive the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion frequently, at least once a week. 'Walk in the spirit,' and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." (Gal. 5:16) "Oh how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory, for the memory thereof is immortal; because it is known both with God and with men." (Wisdom 4:1)