Translate

Sunday, June 2, 2019

The Twelve Steps to Holiness and Salvation~6 Chastity

For I am sure that neither death, nor life, 
nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, 
nor things present, nor things to come, nor might,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, 
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, 
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
Douay Rheims, Roman Catholic Bible
     The month of June, brilliant with flowering color, is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The virtue of chastity is exemplified by Jesus and those closest to Him ~ Mary His Mother, Joseph His foster father and John the Baptist. Without any distraction or limits, Jesus gave us His Sacred Heart. He continues to do so. Safe within His heart, we are never without the hope of being with Him forever in Heaven. 
     Saint Alphonsus Liguori reminds us, in The 12 Steps to Holiness and Salvation, of the diligence required in preserving the virtue of chastity. Without this virtue, families and children are destroyed. Despair reigns and hope dies. Conversely through the very words of our Savior Jesus, we have the glorious assurance that "Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8 Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible.
     Vocations~ Priesthood, Religious, Single and Marriage~ are made beautiful by this virtue, which  makes our hearts and souls totally available to receive the bountiful graces of our Heavenly Father. To assist us, our Creator has blessed us with the protection of the Holy Angels, and the powerful prayers of the saints and faithful departed. Nothing can separate us from His love!