The Sword of Purity: Chastity in a Modern World
To the modern mind, chastity sounds like unnecessary self-deprivation. It sounds like a list of things you can’t do. People assume there must be something wrong with you if you don’t seek to indulge in sensual pleasures.
For the Knight of the Holy Eucharist, however, chastity is a shield and a weapon. It is the shield that protects the senses along with the heart and mind. It is also the sword that slices through the chains of selfishness and frees the heart to love fearlessly.
Freedom, Not Repression
Chastity is not the repression of love, buried under a litany of don’ts; it is a set of parameters, teaching the proper ordering of love. As St. Augustine famously said, “Chastity is not the refusal of love, but the order of love.”
In a culture that is often obsessed with immediate gratification and viewing all things through the lens of lust, a chaste man is a warrior. He avoids immoral behaviors, of course. Yet, he also guards his eyes to look away from those who are provocatively dressed. He guards his ears to turn from hearing lewd speech. He guards his mind from speaking of vulgar topics. He guards his heart and mind, following St. Paul’s advice to dwell upon those things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable (see Philippians 4:8).
A chaste man has conquered his own passions through consistently choosing virtue, hour by hour, day by day. He is not a slave to his impulses. Because he possesses himself, he is free to give himself away in service to others.
A Eucharistic Love
Our vow of chastity is deeply connected to the Eucharist. In the Mass, Jesus says, “This is my Body, given up for you.” He holds nothing back. The Knight responds in kind. We give our whole bodies, our whole hearts, and our whole lives to Him. We hold back nothing. We do not divide our hearts.
The Strength of Purity
In the Beatitudes, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Christ did not say, Blessed are those who avoid such-and-such. He said there is a special blessing for those who maintain a purity of heart. It’s not about what we give up. It’s about the treasure we hold dear.
Purity grants us clear vision. While the world is confused about the meaning of love and the dignity of the human person, the chaste heart sees clearly. This clarity allows us to serve the youth, the poor, and the Church with a joy that is overflowing, attractive, and radiant.
Purity is power. It is the armor that protects the Knight’s heart, allowing him to love with the very heart of Christ.