On Holy Purity. MOTHER, MOST CHASTE! PRAY FOR US!
HATS OFF TO TIM TEBOW. WE NEED MORE CHRISTIAN MEN LIKE YOU.

I just came upon this news regarding Tim Tebow, winner of the famous Heisman Trophy, NFL player turned  broadcaster who was dumped by his girlfriend, a former Miss Universe, because he wanted to live up to his promise to be virgin until marriage.

And I just can’t help think of how much good he is doing to the men and women of our times, especially the young, with his great example to live the virtue of holy purity for love of God, undeterred by the mockery of some people who prefer to give in to their carnal desires, instead of living a pure heart, body and soul, respecting the dignity of the human person who deserves utmost respect and should not be instrumentalized to satisfy one’s instincts.

Holy Purity, as St. Josemaria once said, is not a negative virtue but rather a “ joyful affirmation”. He wrote:

“when I remind you now that CHRISTIANS MUST KEEP PERFECT CHASTITY, I am referring to EVERYONE: to the unmarried, who must practise complete continence; and to those who are married, who practise chastity by fulfilling the duties of their state in life.

 

IF ONE HAS THE SPIRIT OF GOD, CHASTITY IS NOT A TROUBLESOME AND HUMILIATING BURDEN, BUT A JOYFUL AFFIRMATION. Will power, dominion, self-mastery do not come from the flesh or from instinct. They come from the will, especially if it is united to the Will of God. In order to be chaste (and not merely continent or decent) we must subject our passions to reason, but for a noble motive, namely, the promptings of Love.

 

I THINK OF THIS VIRTUE AS THE WINGS WHICH ENABLE US TO CARRY GOD’S TEACHING, HIS COMMANDMENTS, TO EVERY ENVIRONMENT ON THIS EARTH, WITHOUT FEAR OF GETTING CONTAMINATED IN THE PROCESS. Wings, even in the case of those majestic birds which soar higher than the clouds, are a burden and a heavy one. But without wings, there is no way of flying. I want you to grasp this idea clearly, and to decide not to give in when you feel the sting of temptation, with its suggestion that purity is an unbearable burden. Take heart! Fly upwards, up to the sun, in pursuit of Love!”
St. Josemaria, Friends of God, n. 177.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us in nn. 2348 – 2349 that:

All the baptized are called to chastity. The Christian has “put on Christ,” the model for all chastity. ALL CHRIST’S FAITHFUL ARE CALLED TO LEAD A CHASTE LIFE IN KEEPING WITH THEIR PARTICULAR STATES OF LIFE. At the moment of his Baptism, the Christian is pledged to lead his affective life in chastity.

” ‘People should cultivate [chastity] in the way that is suited to their state of life. Some profess virginity or consecrated celibacy which enables them to give themselves to God alone with an undivided heart in a remarkable manner. Others live in the way prescribed for all by the moral law, whether they are married or single.’ Married people are called to live conjugal chastity; others practice chastity in continence.”

Dear friends: It is worthwhile to strive to lead a pure life! Without holy purity, there is no friendship and intimacy with God, and thus, holiness!
“TO DEFEND HIS PURITY, SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI ROLLED IN THE SNOW,
SAINT BENEDICT THREW HIMSELF INTO A THORN BUSH,
SAINT BERNARD PLUNGED INTO AN ICY POND… YOU…, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
(St. Josemaria, The Way, n. 143)”

Let us ask the help of our Mother Immaculate to keep us safe and lead us away from all the occasions which separate us from God. Mother most chaste, pray for us!

Below you have the news on Tim Tebow written by Jeff Kemp which is worth the read. Kudos to both of you!

-Fr. Rolly Arjonillo, priest of Opus Dei, CATHOLICS STRIVING FOR HOLINESS. We are also in Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CatholicsstrivingforHoliness. Hope you like our page and invite your friends as well to do so in order to help more people.

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****NEWS STARTS HERE****

BRAVO TIM TEBOW
(Jeff Kemp)

The Internet is abuzz with the news that Heisman Trophy-winner-turned-broadcaster Tim Tebow was allegedly dumped by former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo because he refused to break his vow to remain a virgin until marriage.

 

Whether or not this is true, what is indisputable is that the response to the “news,” particularly from sports media, has been disgraceful.

 

Rather than applauding Tebow for taking a moral stand and backing it up by his actions, the media made snarky quips to mock the former quarterback. I could list a host of mean comments thrown his way, but I’d rather not give any more attention to his detractors.

 

Instead, I want to applaud Tebow not just for choosing to live in a manner consistent with his professed values, but also for being willing to endure the ridicule of others rather than compromise what he believes. And, contrary to media presentation of him as some kind of freak of nature, he isn’t alone.

 

There are many men and women—some virgins, some who have had sex in the past—who have made commitments to celibacy for their future until marriage. While they may not have their commitment to abstinence sniped at on social media, they nonetheless face pressure from our culture to cave in when it comes to sex.

 

That’s why Tebow’s public stand is so important—because it encourages others who are on the same path. And the truth is, we need more Tim Tebows.

 

Sexual abstinence outside of marriage isn’t always easy, but it pays dividends. For individuals who practice it, saving sex for marriage can deepen one’s relationship with God and increase trust with a future spouse. It also protects the individual from the potential negative consequences of sex outside of marriage—from STDs to unplanned pregnancies to a higher level of regret at the end of a relationship.

 

But it isn’t just the individual who can be hurt by promiscuity. Our nation pays a high price for sex outside of marriage.

 

According to Pew Research, 34 percent of children in the United States live in single parent families. That number is a whopping 67 percent for black children according to the Kids Count research from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

 

Research has shown time and time again that single-parent families are more likely to be poor than are two-parent families. Children from single-parent homes are less likely to complete college, more likely to live in poverty as adults and more likely to face a teen pregnancy. And these are the lucky kids. After all, of the more than 1 million abortions that took place last year, it is estimated that 75 percent were performed on single women.

 

While I salute the hardworking single moms and dads who are doing their best to provide a firm foundation for their children, we must acknowledge that the cards are stacked against them and their children.

 

And so we come back to Tim Tebow, a young man who has decided that he will wait until marriage to have sex, regardless of what it may cost him in broken relationships and public mocking.

 

He won’t be contributing to the rise of unplanned pregnancies, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and the abortion epidemic. Instead, he will continue to live his life to please God and treat others well. That’s a good thing, right? Something worth applauding, right?

 

For those members of the media who have knocked him, I want to ask one question: would you prefer your daughter date a promiscuous “player” or a Tebow?

 

Jeff Kemp is a former professional quarterback in the National Football League. Jeff and his father, Jack Kemp (the former Vice-Presidential candidate and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development), were the first of only six sets of father/son NFL quarterbacks. In 2012, Jeff joined FamilyLife as a Vice President and national speaker.

NEWS SOURCE: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/12/01/bravo-tim-tebow.html

PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/495958977690890423/