Chastity today as a serious virtue has a stigma associated with it. A word, both quaint and contemptuous, that might emerge from the diatribes of Christian fundamentalists and abstinence advocates. Arguments for chastity may be labeled “silly” or “naïve” by some, a defense of an obsolete virtue that brings up thoughts of pledge cards, chastity belts and medieval times. But having any place in a civilized, educated, post-modern culture? To be sure, the idea of chastity may be one of the hardest concepts to grasp in our time, but, when combined with the strength of Christian identity, it can be a very powerful personal force in one’s life, and a virtue that everyone ought to aspire to.

Temptations are all around us and at every stage of our lives. Chastity is a tool given to us by God not only to resist temptation, but also to purify our motives and goals. In essence, it pertains not only to sexuality or sexual abstinence, but also to the greater fulfillment of our human potential. By living our lives purposefully and freely, without infringing upon or scandalizing others morally, physically or psychologically, the practice of chastity brings about the fruits of joy and respect in our own lives.

The famous writer and theologian G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “Chastity does not mean abstention from sexual wrong; it means something flaming, like Joan of Arc.” Chesterton understood chastity as a virtue that empowered many saints in their lifetimes. Chastity means integrating our Christian identity with complete purity of intention. We are each called to live our life with reverence and to not let go of our self-control to fulfill our personal desires. At the root of the virtue of chastity is respect for oneself and others. Therefore it can be practiced and applied by everyone striving for a deeper spiritual life, regardless of one’s state in life.

Although chastity is not exclusively a sexual concept, the fruits of chastity can be found in well-integrated sexuality. For this reason, abstinence and chastity may often go together. In order to practice abstinence, one must understand chastity. If abstinence is voluntarily giving something up for a greater good, then integrating chastity with this brings on a whole new meaning for abstinence. It is not giving up for its own sake. Rather, it is restraint and simplicity in the expression of something for our personal integrity and for a greater good. Chastity in a sexual context is therefore the expression of responsible sexuality.

Time magazine (July 2, 2008) recently published an article highlighting the increased rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among 45-year-olds and older who are facing problems with diseases and infections previously thought to have been issues only faced by younger adults and teens. Chastity is not practiced primarily for the avoidance of disease. But it is clear how, when abstinence may be necessary, chastity can be an enabling virtue to be striven for at any age.

Even in a married relationship that is open to the creation of new life, chastity plays a big role in holding the hearts of spouses in a respectful place. Just because in marriage, one is free to engage in sexual intimacy, respect for one’s self and one’s partner demands the personal discipline of chastity. Therefore, chastity has to be at the core of conjugal love, otherwise it becomes easy to make of one’s spouse a mere object for personal gratification, thus devaluing the other person and the relationship.

We recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of Humanae Vitae with two special issues of The Tablet exploring its themes. In that encyclical by Pope Paul VI that was published at a time in which the so-called “sexual revolution” of the 1960s was underway, we can recognize the timeliness of what the Holy Father wrote and how this document, in retrospect, was a powerful response to the consequences of what the pope foresaw. In the end, his vision of chastity was that of the virtue of hope, which offers joy, love and the prospect of a strong family life!

Robin Lynn, the director of Respect Life Education at the diocesan Office of Faith Formation, is engaged to be married in January.