Formation in Christian Chastity Program

The basic theme is creation. It starts with simple concepts and moves to the creation of the human person, why we were created and finally the family of Jesus. A listing of the teaching points follows, and concludes with some ideas of how you might present these concepts.

The basic theme is the human person as a child of God. It starts with simple concepts and moves to the gift of the Lord to us in the sacramental life, and how we reverence these gifts of God by care for the body we have been given. A listing of the teaching points follows, and concludes with some ideas of how you might present these concepts.

The basic theme is the mystery of the triune God. It starts with the basic teachings of God as the Trinity of Persons, and moves to the mystery of the human family. A listing of the teaching points follows, and concludes with some ideas of how you might present these concepts.

The basic theme is the mystery of God and our personal relationship to Him. Starting with God, we see how we grow to love Him in our life, and how our lives can be offered in service to Him. A listing of the teaching points follows, and concludes with some ideas of how you might present these concepts.

During the first four years, the formation program in chastity was presented almost exclusively by the parents. The teaching points that were provided to you accomplished this. As the young people reach the middle school years, there are some elements of formation that will be covered in the school or parish catechetical programs. However, the parents will give the intimate and very personal information. Since each child differs in their needs and personal rate of development, the information needed by one child is often very different from others.

If we want to know the truth, we need to do all we can to learn about Jesus. By reading the Bible, learning the teachings of the Church, and following the teaching of the Pope and the bishops in union with him, we will come to know Jesus and the truth. The Church teaches that each person is a unique creation and should be treated with dignity and respect.

For young people, friendships outside the home are very important. Parents should know who their child’s friends are, along with where they spend their time. Especially note if your child is “hanging around” with students who are several years older. This is always a red flag for parents. Also, be conscious of the adults that spend time with your children. Do they meet with your approval, and is the time and circumstances of their involvement appropriate? Media influences are very much parts of the cultural formation young people receive. Monitor movies, books, and especially computer use. Computers should be in a “public” area of the home under the watchful eye of parents. Children alone can be susceptible to the activity of strangers via chat rooms. Mixed group activities are best for young people in the middle grades; we strongly discourage single dating until much later in the high school years.

Today we have learned that God creates every person out of love and that because we are made in his image, we must love him above all things and our neighbor as ourselves. True love involves self-sacrifice. Jesus shows us this by his whole life and especially by his death for us on the cross.

True friends are those who are for the good of another person and who help them along the path to heaven. Love of neighbor rules out ever doing harm to another, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. We must never be unkind to anyone. Gossip, bullying, and ridicule are acts, which are displeasing to God. We should avoid those who seek to use us for their own pleasure or selfish gain.

As your child matures, it is your privilege and responsibility to communicate the truth and meaning of human sexuality to your child and to help him/her through the stages of development. The relationship and trust you establish now, will help your child to navigate his/her way from childhood, through adolescence, to adulthood in a virtuous and successful way.

As parents, the love and support that you give your children during this time of transition from childhood through adolescence to adulthood will pay big dividends down the road. While making sure to give proper supervision, it will be important for parents to respect their child’s increasing need for privacy.

Today we have discussed that our true and lasting happiness is to be found in loving God and neighbor. If we love God, we will keep His commandments. We are responsible for our acts because of the freedom that God has given us. We need God’s grace to live morally upright lives and we receive grace primarily through Mass, prayer, and the Sacrament of Penance.

People express their love physically, as well as emotionally and spiritually. The fullest physical expression of love takes place in the marriage of a man and a woman. The act of intercourse (the marital act) is the sacramental expression of love between a husband and wife, which is founded on the marriage covenant. This act is a sign of deep love and self giving between husband and wife and is intended by God for two primary purposes: the generation of life (procreative end) and the deepening of the union between husband and wife (unitive end). Every marital act (act of intercourse between husband and wife) must be open to these two ends. In marriage, the physical intimacy of the spouses becomes a sign and pledge of their spiritual communion. This bond between a baptized man and a baptized woman is sanctified in the Sacrament of Matrimony.

Today you have learned that in the sacrament of marriage the husband and wife are called to make a total gift of self. You know that the marital act must always be open to life and love, and this is reserved for the sacrament of marriage. Any sexual act outside of marriage is gravely sinful, however, God always gives us the grace to live chaste lives. We gain this grace primarily from Mass and the sacraments, through prayer, keeping the commandments, and through virtuous acts. If a person has fallen into sin, he should never despair. God’s love and mercy are without limit. He always wants to reconcile us to Himself and He does this through the Sacrament of Confession.