33. God's plan for life and love

33. GOD'S PLAN FOR LIFE AND LOVE THE VIRTUE OF CHASTITY IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT AND PRACTICE THE TRUTH ABOUT MARRIAGE, SEXUALITY, AND HUMAN LIFE Compendium 487-502 527-530 Dt 5:18 Matthew 5:27-28 1. Chastity is a gift from God and a virtue which calls us to self mastery and is necessary in all states of life in order to build a culture of life and to avoid losing our human dignity and living like mere animals. 2. Even married couples are called to purity. "Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God" Chastity is at the heart of a happy marriage, safeguarding unity, fidelity, indissolubility and openness to new life. 3. The purpose of human sexuality is to express the exclusive love of husband and wife in a manner which is open to procreation. 4. The sixth commandment forbids adultery, lust, masturbation, pornography, fornication, homosexual acts, prostitution, rape, pedophilia. All of these destroy happiness. 5. Sterilization and contraception are anti-life. 6. Abstinence during periods of fertility is the only acceptable means of spacing pregnancy. This is called natural family planning. 7. Artificial insemination and fertilization are unnatural. There is no God given right to biological parenthood. Adoption is the generous and natural solution. 8. Divorce, polygamy, incest, cohabitation outside of marriage, and same sex marriage are enemies of harmonious family life. 9. The sacraments, prayer, mortification and temperance are necessary for control of our passions by the power of reason. 10. For consecrated souls celibacy is the means to keep an undivided heart and to be spiritual mothers and fathers to everyone and be truly free. 11. For married couples conjugal chastity is essential to express exclusive love open to procreation. 12. Children are not a "right" nor a burden and adoption is a wonderful option. 13. Chastity leads us to wholesomeness and joy. The lack of purity leads to depravity, misery and despair. 14. The sacraments of Reconciliation and Communion restore us completely to a chaste life in Christ.