Chastity is the successful integration of sexuality in the inner union of man’s body and soul. Sexuality expresses man’s belonging to the bodily and biological world. It becomes truly human when integrated into the relationship of spouses in their lifelong mutual gift to each other. Chastity involves the integrity of the person and the integrality of the gift.
Chaste persons maintain the integrity of their sexual powers, and insure a unity of the person. Chastity does not tolerate a double life.
Chastity demands an apprenticeship in self-mastery (a training in human freedom). Man either governs his passions or is dominated by them. Freed from slavery to his passions, man gains his dignity and freely chooses the good.
Remaining faithful and resisting temptations require adopting the needed means: self-knowledge, self-discipline, obedience to God’s commands, moral virtues, and prayer. “By chastity, we are led back to the unity from which we were fragmented into multiplicity” (St. Augustine).
Fornication (a carnal union between an unmarried man and woman) is gravely contrary to human sexuality which exists for the good of spouses and procreation of children. A grave scandal exists when the young are corrupted in this matter.
