The Seven Heavenly Virtues: Chastity

The Seven Heavenly Virtues

Catholic tradition highlights Seven Heavenly Virtues that directly counter the Seven Deadly Sins​.Rooted in Scripture & early Church teaching, this list (Chastity, Temperance,  Charity, Diligence, Patience, Kindness, Humility)was first popularized by the 5th-century poet Prudentius as “contrary virtues” to vice.​ These virtues provide a blueprint for living a Christlike life. I will be discussing each for its origins in Scripture & tradition, what Jesus taught, insights from saints (e.g. St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John Paul II, St. Francis de Sales, St. Josemaría Escrivá), wisdom from Church sermons, & modern examples of Catholic men living the virtue in practical ways.

Chastity. Origins: Chastity (purity in thought & deed) has been treasured since the early Church as the antidote to lust. Scripture calls all believers to sexual purity: St. Paul writes, “abstain from sexual immorality” as part of God’s will (1 Thessalonians 4:3)​. This virtue is affirmed by Jesus in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8)Christ also warned that lustful looking is adultery of the heart​ raising chastity to a high standard.

Jesus’ Teaching: Jesus exemplified chastity through his celibate life devoted to the Kingdom, & he taught a radical purity. He said even internal lust is sinful, urging men to seek a pure heart oriented to God.​He praised those “who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:12) –a  call to celibacy for God – while affirming marriage’s sanctity against adultery.

Scripture References: Beyond the Gospels, the New Testament reinforces chastity. St. Paul reminds us “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit” & to “glorify God in your body,” fleeing sexual sin. The Old Testament also extols purity (see Psalm 51:10).

Insights from Saints: The saints celebrate chastity as freeing & ennobling. St. Augustine of Hippo—who famously struggled for chastity in his youth—later praised it: “Chastity, or cleanness of heart, holds a glorious & distinguished place among the virtues, because she alone enables man to see God; hence Truth itself said, Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. ’”Augustine’s quote links chastity to Jesus’ promise that the pure-hearted will behold God, highlighting its spiritual vision. St. Thomas Aquinas included chastity under the cardinal virtue of temperance, noting it moderates sexual desire according to reason & faith.

St. John Paul II, in his theology of the body, taught that chastity isn’t a “no” to love but a great “yes” to true love. He stated plainly: “Only the chaste man & the chaste woman are capable of true love.”​This insight – from his book Love & Responsibility emphasizes that real love is faithful & pure, never treating persons as objects. St. Francis de Sales gently advised even married couples to practice chastity by cherishing mutual respect & purity of intention. St. Josemaría Escrivá likewise counseled people to value chastity, Seeing it as essential to holiness in everyday life.

Homilies & Sermons: Church pastors through history have exhorted the faithful to embrace chastity joyfully. For example, Bishop Thomas Olmsted’s apostolic exhortation Into the Breach (promoted by the Knights of Columbus) reframes chastity as a source of strength. He writes that masculine chastity is not weakness but spiritual power, “a rejection of slavery to the passions.”​Far from a mere list of “don’ts,” chastity is portrayed as a “school of love” that trains a man in self-mastery & self-gift.​Modern clergy echo that chastity “leads to personal freedom” & authentic love​.correcting the culture’s lies that purity is repressive.

In a 2024 homily, one priest noted that Our Lord called all disciples to chastity (married or celibate), & that an “apprenticeship in self-mastery” is required​ hard work but fruitful. Such sermons inspire men to see chastity as attainable by grace & practice, not just for monks or youth but for every stage of life.

Modern Examples (Catholic Men Living Chastity): Inspiring models abound today. Many young Catholic men, often with support from groups like That Man Is You or parish men’s fellowships, commit to chastity by rejecting pornography & saving sex for marriage. Married men practice chastity through faithful devotion to their wives & custody of their eyes & hearts. The Knights of Columbus have taken up Bishop Olmsted’s Into the Breach initiative to help men pursue virtue, including chastity. In this brotherhood, men hold one another accountable & uphold chastity as a mark of true manhood. For instance, Knights’ programs encourage fathers to teach their sons the value of purity, & to use filters & accountability in the home. Such efforts show that chastity is “hard work,” but life-giving​.

Modern Catholic husbands & priests alike testify that living chastity brings peace & strength. They measure themselves not by worldly machismo but by the purity of heart that Christ asks for. Every man can ask himself: Do I view women as sisters in Christ with a pure heart, & do I use my sexuality in accord with God’s plan? Chastity challenges us to love rightly & promises the joy of seeing God, as Jesus said.

Catholic tradition highlights Seven Heavenly Virtues that directly counter the Seven Deadly Sins​.Rooted in Scripture & early Church teaching, this list (Chastity, Temperance,  Charity, Diligence, Patience, Kindness, Humility). Chastity (purity in thought & deed) has been treasured since the early Church as the antidote to lust.

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