416 CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE

YOUCAT Lesson 416

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

416  What are the essential elements of Christian marriage?

(1)    Unity:  Marriage is a covenant that by its very nature brings about bodily, intellectual, and spiritual union between a man and a woman;

(2)    Indissolubility: Marriage lasts “until death do us part”;

(3)    Openness to offspring: Every marriage must be open to children;

(4)    Commitment to the spouse’s welfare.  [2360-2361, 2397-2398]

RoseMarie and Don L. Bragg in 2008 on their 40^th wedding anniversary.  ….. 416

If one of the two spouses deliberately excludes one of the four points listed above at the time of their wedding, the sacrament of Matrimony does not take place.  64, 400

“Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as the grave.  Its flashes are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame.  Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.  If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly scorned.”  Song of Songs 8:6-7

“Today, the need to avoid confusing marriage with other types of unions based on weak love is especially urgent.  It is only the rock of total, irrevocable love between a man and a woman that can serve as the foundation on which to build a society that will become a home for all mankind.”  Pope Benedict XVI, May 11, 2006

[2360-2361, 2397-2398]

III. THE LOVE OF HUSBAND AND WIFE

2360 Sexuality is ordered to the conjugal love of man and woman. In marriage the physical intimacy of the spouses becomes a sign and pledge of spiritual communion. Marriage bonds between baptized persons are sanctified by the sacrament. –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

2361 "Sexuality, by means of which man and woman give themselves to one another through the acts which are proper and exclusive to spouses, is not something simply biological, but concerns the innermost being of the human person as such. It is realized in a truly human way only if it is an integral part of the love by which a man and woman commit themselves totally to one another until death." (Familiaris Consortio 11.)¹⁴³ –CCC

Tobias got out of bed and said to Sarah, "Sister, get up, and let us pray and implore our Lord that he grant us mercy and safety." So she got up, and they began to pray and implore that they might be kept safe. Tobias began by saying, "Blessed are you, O God of our fathers. . . . You made Adam, and for him you made his wife Eve as a helper and support. From the two of them the race of mankind has sprung. You said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; let us make a helper for him like himself.' I now am taking this kinswoman of mine, not because of lust, but with sincerity. Grant that she and I may find mercy and that we may grow old together." And they both said, "Amen, Amen." Then they went to sleep for the night. (Tobit 8:4-9.)¹⁴⁴  --CCC

IN BRIEF

2397 The covenant which spouses have freely entered into entails faithful love. It imposes on them the obligation to keep their marriage indissoluble. –CCC

2398 Fecundity is a good, a gift and an end of marriage. By giving life, spouses participate in God's fatherhood. --CCC

415 HOMOSEXUALITY

YOUCAT Lesson 415

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415  What is the Church’s judgment on homosexuality?

God created man as male and female and destined them for each other in a bodily way as well.  The Church accepts without reservation those who experience homosexual feelings.  They (persons who experience homosexual feelings) should not be unjustly discriminated against because of that.  At the same time, the Church declares that all homosexual relations in any form are contrary to the order of creation.  [2358-2359]  65

While then a cardinal Pope Francis viewed morality in the context of an encounter with Christ that is "triggered" by mercy": "the privileged locus of the encounter is the caress of the mercy of Jesus Christ on my sin." And thus, he says, a new morality—a correspondence to mercy—is born. He views this morality as a "revolution": it is "not a titanic effort of the will", but "simply a response" to a "surprising, unforeseeable, and 'unjust' mercy". Morality is "not a 'never falling down' but an 'always getting up again.'"  Photo from L’Osservatore Romano/AP  ….. 415

[2358-2359] 

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition. –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection. --CCC

414 AIDS

YOUCAT Lesson 414

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414  What does the Church say about using condoms to fight AIDS?

Apart from the fact that condoms provide no absolutely safe protection against contagion, the Church rejects their use as a one-sided, mechanical method of fighting AIDS epidemics and advocates above all a new culture of human relationships and a change in social consciousness.

The sixth commandment, according to the USCCB, summons spouses to an emotional and sexual fidelity they call essential to marriage and is reflective of God's fidelity to humanity. ….. 414

Only practicing fidelity and refraining from casual sexual contacts can provide lasting protection from AIDS and teach a holistic approach to love.  Respect for the equal dignity of women and men, concern about the health of the family, responsibility in dealing with one’s urges and desires, and also refraining (at appropriate times) from sexual union are all part of it.  In the countries of Africa where societal campaigns have promoted such behavior, the rates of infection have decreased significantly.  Besides that the Catholic Church does all she can to help people who are afflicted with AIDS.

“Fidelity within marriage and abstinence outside it are the best ways to avoid infection and to halt the spread of the virus.  Indeed, the values that flow from an authentic understanding of marriage and family life constitute the only sure foundation for a stable society.”  Pope Benedict XVI, December 14, 2006

413 RAPE

YOUCAT Lesson 413

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413  Why is rape a serious sin?

Someone who rapes another person thoroughly and completely debases that person.  He violently breaks into the deepest intimacy of another and wounds the victim at the core of his ability to love.  [2356]

Jesus writing in the sand by Pieter Bruegel, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London. – John 8:3-11 ….. 413

The rapist commits an outrage against the very nature of love.  An essential part of sexual union is the fact that it is a gift that can only be given freely within the context of love.  And so it is possible for rape to occur even within a marriage.  The most despicable is rape within social, hierarchical, professional, or familial relationships of dependence, for instance, between parents and children or between teachers, educators, pastors, and those who are entrusted to their protection.  386

“Those who remain silent are responsible.”  St. Edith Stein (1891-1942, Jewish-Christian, philosopher and Carmelite, killed at Auschwitz)

Offenses against chastity

  

[2356]

2356 Rape is the forcible violation of the sexual intimacy of another person. It does injury to justice and charity. Rape deeply wounds the respect, freedom, and physical and moral integrity to which every person has a right. It causes grave damage that can mark the victim for life. It is always an intrinsically evil act. Graver still is the rape of children committed by parents (incest) or those responsible for the education of the children entrusted to them. –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

412 PORNOGRAPHY

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412  Why is the production and consumption of pornography a sin against charity?

Someone who misuses love by detaching human sexuality from the intimacy of a committed, loving relationship between two spouses and turns it into commercial goods sins seriously.  Anyone who produces, buys, or consumes pornographic materials violates human dignity and seduces others to sin.  [2523]

World map of pornography (18+) laws   Green: Pornography legal      Yellow: Pornography legal under some restrictions      Brown: Pornography illegal      Grey: Data unavailable  (People  Sin  Pornography). …..412

Pornography is a degenerate form of prostitution, for here too there is the suggestion that man can get “love” for money.  Models and actors, producers and distributors are equally Involved in this serious offense against charity and human dignity.  Anyone who consumes pornographic materials, visits pornographic websites, or participates in pornographic events finds himself in the wider circle of prostitution and supports the dirty, billion-dollar business of selling sex.

2523 There is a modesty of the feelings as well as of the body. It protests, for example, against the voyeuristic explorations of the human body in certain advertisements, or against the solicitations of certain media that go too far in the exhibition of intimate things. Modesty inspires a way of life which makes it possible to resist the allurements of fashion and the pressures of prevailing ideologies. --Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 17, 2017

Jesus teaching Peter and the apostles

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 17, 2017
Lectionary: 130

Reading 1   SIRach 27:30—28:7

Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.  The vengeful will suffer the LORD's vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail.  Forgive your neighbor's injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.  Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the LORD?  Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself, can he seek pardon for his own sins?  If one who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins?  Remember your last days, set enmity aside;
remember death and decay, and cease from sin!  Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor;
remember the Most High's covenant, and overlook faults.

Responsorial Psalm   PSalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12

R. (8) The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

Reading 2   ROMans 14:7-9

Brothers and sisters:  None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.  For if we live, we live for the Lord,and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.  For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

Alleluia   JohN 13:34

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment, says the Lord;
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel   MaTthew 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive?  As many as seven times?"  Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.  That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants.    When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.  Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt.  At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.'  Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.  When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount.  He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.'  Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'  But he refused.  Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt.  Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.  His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.  Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?'  Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt.  So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart."

411 PROSTITUTION

YOUCAT Lesson 411

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411  Why is prostitution a form of fornication?

In prostitution “love” becomes a commodity and the person is degraded to an object of pleasure.  That is why prostitution is a serious offense against human dignity and a serious sin against charity.  [2355]

A world map showing the legislative situation in different countries to prevent female trafficking as of 2009 according to WomanStats Project.

Color code for above map: Gray - No data; Green - Trafficking is illegal and rare; Yellow - Trafficking is illegal but problems still exist; Purple - Trafficking is illegal but still practiced; Blue - Trafficking is limitedly illegal and is practiced; Red - Trafficking is not illegal and is commonly practiced.-- by Kant66 - I, Ahjteam (People  Sin  Human Trafficing)

The average cost of a human trafficking victim today is USD $9,000 whereas the average slave in 1800 America cost the equivalent to USD $40,000. –Source Wikipedia

Certainly those who profit from prostitution—human traffickers, pimps, clients—burden themselves with greater guilt that the women, men, children, and young people who sell their bodies, often under duress or in situations of dependence.

“Since love cannot be sold, it is invariably killed by money.”  Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)

“If anyone thinks that Christians regard unchastity as the supreme vice, he is quite wrong.  The sins of the flesh are bad, but they are the least bad of all sins…for there are two things inside me, competing with the human self which I must try to become.  They are the Animal self, and the Diabolical self.  The Diabolical self is the worse of the two.  That is why a cold, self-righteous prig who goes regularly to church may be far nearer to hell than a prostitute.  But, of course, it is better to be neither.”  C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)

Offenses against chastity

[2355]

2355 Prostitution does injury to the dignity of the person who engages in it, reducing the person to an instrument of sexual pleasure. The one who pays for prostitution sins gravely against himself: he violates the chastity to which his Baptism pledged him and defiles his body, the temple of the Holy Spirit. (Compare 1 Corinthians 6:15-20.)¹⁴⁰ Prostitution is a social scourge. It usually involves women, but also men, children, and adolescents (The latter two cases involve the added sin of scandal.). While it is always gravely sinful to engage in prostitution, the imputability of the offense can be attenuated by destitution, blackmail, or social pressure.