Foundation for Life 2013 Annual Banquet & Auction Saturday, November 2, 2013

Foundation for Life

Star Parker 
Keynote Speaker

2013 Annual
Banquet & Auction

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Star Parker

Founder and President of CURE

Star Parker is the founder and president of CURE, the Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Before her involvement in social activism, Star had seven years of first-hand experience in the grip of welfare dependency. Her personal transformation to conservative crusader has been chronicled by ABC's 20/20, Rush Limbaugh, James Dobson, The 700 Club and Christianity Today, to name a few. Star has a B.S. degree in Marketing and Business from Woodbury University and has lectured on poverty issues at more than 180 colleges and universities and has served on advisory boards for several organizations ranging from CareNet to the Cato Institute. Currently, Star is a regular commentator on CNN, TBN, CSPAN, CBN, and FOX News. She is the author of three books: “Pimps, Whores & Welfare Brats”, “Uncle Sam's Plantation”, and “White Ghetto: How Middle Class America Reflects Inner City Decay”

Marriott Town Square
16090 City Walk
Sugarland, Texas 77479

VIP Reception
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Reception and Silent Auction
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Dinner and Program
7:00 pm

Buy Tickets Online Today!

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August 29, 2013

USCCB »  Bible »  Daily Readings

« August 28  |  August 30 »

Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist 
Lectionary: 428/634

Reading 11 THES 3:7-13

We have been reassured about you, brothers and sisters,
in our every distress and affliction, through your faith.
For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord.

The wording is a little confusing to me.  But St. Paul seems to be praising the Thessalonians for their faithful assistance when the Apostles needed it.

What thanksgiving, then, can we render to God for you,
for all the joy we feel on your account before our God?

Because of this, they thank God for the joy the Thessalonians have given them.

Night and day we pray beyond measure to see you in person
and to remedy the deficiencies of your faith.

And they pray for an opportunity to see the Thessalonians again and to show them more about the Faith of Jesus Christ.

Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus
direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase
and abound in love for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

And he ends with a prayer that God may make them holy and strengthen them to persevere in good works to the end.  Amen.

Responsorial PsalmPS 90:3-5A, 12-13, 14 AND 17

R. (14) Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!

When things look bleak, turn to God in prayer and never give up.  God with you always.

GospelMK 6:17-29

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

Herod arrested St. John because St. John reprimanded him for having an affair with his brother's wife.

Herodias ...

Herodias is the brother's wife.  Which I find a bit confusing because she bears their last name as her first name, apparently?

…harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.

Herodias, the woman in question, wanted St. John killed because he was endangering her position as the mistress of the most powerful man in Jerusalem.

Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.

But Herod himself, seemed to have a bit of a conscience and recognized that St. John was a holy man.

When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.

He enjoyed listening to St. John even though he did not obey St. John's advice.

She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers,
his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias’ own daughter came in
and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.

However, the woman, Herodias, had an opportunity to kill St. John on Herod's birthday.  Her daughter danced before him and his guests and delighted them all.

The king said to the girl,
“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
He even swore many things to her,
“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.”

At that time, he offered her anything that she wanted.

She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”

So, she went to  her mother to ask for advice.

She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
“I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

And the young girl asked for the life of St. John the Baptist.

The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.

And because he had painted himself into a corner in front of all the guests, Herod could not deny the request.

So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.

So he had St. John beheaed and the head brought to the girl, who in turn gave it to her mother.

When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

When St. John's disciples heard about it, they asked for his body in order to give him a decent burial.

Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn - September 1st 2013 - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn-Read and listen to Dr. Scott Hahn's reflections on this Sunday's readings-    September 1st 2013 - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Listen Here! To Go Up Higher Readings: Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 Psalm 68:4-7,10-11 Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24 Luke 14:1, 7-14 We come to the wedding banquet of heaven by way of humility and charity. This is the fatherly instruction we hear in today’s First Reading, and the message of today’s Gospel. Jesus is not talking simply about good table manners. He is revealing the way of the kingdom, in which the one who would be greatest would be the servant of all (see Luke 22:24-27). This is the way He showed us, humbling Himself to come among us as a man (see Philippians 2:5-8), as one who serves, as the bearer of glad tidings to the poor (see Luke 4:18). This is the way, too, that the Father has shown us down through the ages - filling the hungry, sending the rich away empty, lifting up the lowly, pulling down the proud (see Luke1:52-53). We again call to mind the Exodus in today’s Psalm - how in His goodness the Lord led the Israelites from imprisonment to prosperity, rained down bread from heaven, made them His inheritance, becoming a “Father of orphans.” We now too have gained a share of His inheritance. We are to live humbly, knowing we are are not worthy to receive from His table (see Luke 6:7; 15:21). We are to give alms, remembering we were ransomed from sin by the price of His blood (see 1 Corinthians6:19-20). The Lord promises that if we are humble we will be exalted and find favor with God; that if we are kind to those who can never repay us, we will atone for sins, and find blessing in the resurrection of the righteous. We anticipate the fulfillment of those promises in every Eucharist, today’s Epistle tells us. In the Mass, we enter the festal gathering of the angels and the firstborn children of God, the liturgy of the heavenly Jerusalem in which Jesus is the high priest, the King who calls us to come up higher (see Proverbs 25:6-7). Yours in Christ, Scott Hahn, Ph.D. P.S. Do you want your friends, family, and co-workers to know the treasures of the Catholic faith through the treasure of God’s Word? Then join me in praying for the work of the St. Paul Center and please make your most generous financial contribution today. You can donate now by credit card by visiting our secure, convenient website at www.salvationhistory.com If you appreciate this service forward it to a friend!

August 28, 2013

USCCB »  Bible »  Daily Readings

« August 27  |  August 29 »

Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church 
Lectionary: 427

Reading 11 THES 2:9-13

You recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery.
Working night and day in order not to burden any of you,
we proclaimed to you the Gospel of God.

When the Apostles came to preach the Gospel, they would also work in order not to burden the community.

You are witnesses, and so is God,
how devoutly and justly and blamelessly
we behaved toward you believers.
As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children,
exhorting and encouraging you and insisting
that you walk in a manner worthy of the God
who calls you into his Kingdom and glory.

And they looked after their flock as a parent looks after his children.

And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly,
that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us,
you received it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God,
which is now at work in you who believe.

And they gave thanks to God that the people Thessalonia understood that the Apostles were teaching them the Word of God.

Responsorial PsalmPS 139:7-8, 9-10, 11-12AB

R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

Where can I go from your spirit?

From your presence where can I flee?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.

R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

If I take the wings of the dawn,

if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,

Even there your hand shall guide me,

and your right hand hold me fast.

R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall hide me,

and night shall be my light”–

For you darkness itself is not dark,

and night shines as the day.

R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

God sees everything we do.  There is nowhere to hide from God.  Therefore, do not be fooled by people who say, "what happens here, stays here."  As though they can do things which will remain in secret.  Little do they realize that everything which they do in secret, will be brought to light:

Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

GospelMT 23:27-32

Jesus said,
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside,
but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.
Even so, on the outside you appear righteous,
but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.

Still our Lord condemns the holy men of Israel for not doing what they preach.  They preach one thing and do another.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You build the tombs of the prophets
and adorn the memorials of the righteous,
and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors,
we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’
Thus you bear witness against yourselves
that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;
now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”

And the Pharisees thought themselves holier than their ancestors.  Believing they would not commit the same sins.  But this is again a warning to us.  We also should understand that we are no better than our fathers.  And if our fathers committed sin, so shall we, unless we turn to God with all our hearts and repent of all our sins.  

Memorize the Bible - Philippians 4:13

Have you ever wanted to memorize the Bible?  I have.  So, I decided to start and see how far I could get.

I didn't know how to start.  Starting from the beginning and memorizing by rote seemed boring.  So, I looked into a memory trick called mnemonics.  That sounded impressive, so that's how I'm going to begin.  I'm going to start with certain verses that I already love and therefore would have a propensity to remember.  And I'm going to use some the mnemonic tools that I found here.  Especially, the numeric (aka phonetic) alphabet.

I haven't read the entire website, but I know that they also recommend visualization, exaggeration, humor and any trick to make the thing more memorable.

With that in mind, let's begin.

This is the verse I want to memorize:

Philippians 4:13 I can do all these things in him who strengtheneth me.

Let's break Philippians down into the following:

Phili sounds like "filly" and a filly is a female colt, a female horse.  So, picture a filly in your mind.
pains sounds like "piano" and a piano is a large instrument to play music.  So, picture a piano next to that filly.

Now, if you go to the numeric alphabet, you'll see that the number "4" is represented by the letter "r".
And the number "1" can be represented by the letter "d".
And the number "3" can be represented by the letter "m"

So, we've got the letters r, d, and m.

Which I've put together to make the phrase, "ride'em".

So, in order to remember Philippians 4:13,

Let's visualize a piano riding on the back of a filly.  So, say to yourself, "filly piano ride 'em".  And picture a piano riding on top of a filly.

Now, let's go to the text.  It says, "I can do all these things in him who strengtheneth me."

Now, visualize yourself approaching the filly with the piano riding on top of it and putting your hands on the filly's belly and attempting to dead lift the filly with the piano on top of it.  The filly turns and looks at you quizzically, like asking, "What are you doing?"

At first you can't do it.  But then, you feel a hand on your back, you turn to look and the hand belongs to Jesus.  And then, you get back to work and dead lift the filly, piano and all.  Because Christ strengthens you and you can do anything.  Therefore, "you can do all things in Him who strengthens you."

I'm going to practice this all week and then I'll post another one.

Sincerely,

De Maria

Del Génesis a Jesús,

Centro de Teología Biblica San Pablo Viaje A Través De las Escrituras Estudio Bíblico Católico, Del Génesis a Jesús, Presentado en Houston Texas. Querido amigo en Cristo, El Estudio Bíblico Del Génesis a Jesús, se presentara en Houston Texas. Este Estudio Bíblico es parte fundamental del programa Journey Through Scripture desarrollado por el Centro San Pablo de Teología Bíblica con el propósito de ser ofrecido dentro del ámbito Parroquial. Journey Through Scripture es una serie dinámica de Estudios Bíblicos que se presenta en Parroquias locales. Incluye presentación en vivo, multimedia, discusiones en grupos pequeños y un poco de lectura fuera del aula. Esta serie es una gran alternativa para que los católicos crezcan en su conocimiento de las Escrituras y profundicen en las riquezas de la fe católica. El Santo Padre cita regularmente la famosa frase de San Jerónimo que dice: la ignorancia de las Escrituras es ignorancia de Cristo. Si usted se ha preguntado antes:-¿De qué se trata la Biblia?- pero no sabía dónde empezar en su búsqueda, Del Génesis a Jesús  es para usted. Este estudio analiza las alianzas que Dios ha hecho con su pueblo por medio de figuras como Adán, Abraham, Moisés y David. Y muestra cómo cada una de estas alianzas se cumple en Cristo y su Iglesia. Del Génesis a Jesús enriquecerá su entendimiento y amor por la Palabra de Dios. Pero no sólo dé por cierto lo que le digo yo. Escuche un comentario de un participante…alguien tal como usted: “Este fue el mejor estudio al que he asistido desde que me hice católico hace casi treinta años”. Tres estudios de  Del Génesis a Jesús  se presentarán en Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church (11507 Huffmeister Road ~ Houston, TX 77065): ·         Los jueves a las 10 AM, a partir del 29 de agosto, en inglés ·         Los martes a las 10 AM, a partir del 3 de septiembre, en español ·         Los martes a las 7 PM, a partir del 3 de septiembre, también en inglés Se imparte en siete lecciones de dos horas durante siete semanas consecutivas. Por eso, por favor, intente asistir a la primera sesión para recibir los materiales de participante. El costo es de $25, y este precio incluye el material del curso en inglés o español. El registro y entrega de libros será el 27 de agosto en Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church, en el Aula 201 de 10 AM a 12 PM y de 7 a 8 PM, o se puede imprimir el formulario desde el sitiowww.ctrcc.com y enviarlo a la misma Parroquia dirigido a  Deacon Jack. Para más información, contacte a Ana Luisa Arellano, aluisa12@yahoo.com, o Deacon Jack,jalexander@ctrcc.com o llame al (281) 469-5533. Lo invito a que se una a nosotros para comprender la Palabra de Dios y prepararnos para compartirla con el mundo. La Nueva Evangelización es ahora…¡Así que esperamos verlo a usted allí! Tuyo en Cristo, Scott Hahn, Ph.D. Our mailing address is: St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology 2228 Sunset Blvd Suite 2A Steubenville, Ohio 43952

August 27, 2013

USCCB »  Bible »  Daily Readings

« August 26  |  August 28 »

Memorial of Saint Monica 
Lectionary: 426

Reading 11 THES 2:1-8

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters,
that our reception among you was not without effect.
Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated,
as you know, in Philippi,
we drew courage through our God
to speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle.

St. Paul is recounting to the Thessalicans, the trouble they had when they first came to preach to them the Gospel.

Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives,
nor did it work through deception.
But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel,
that is how we speak,
not as trying to please men,
but rather God, who judges our hearts.

He further explains that the matter of preaching the Gospel is not something that he invented himself, nor does he do it to please men.  But he does it because it is God's will and he wants to please God.

Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know,
or with a pretext for greed–God is witness–
nor did we seek praise from men,
either from you or from others,
although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ.

Therefore, when the Apostles preach Christ, they don't flatter certain people, nor throw their weight around, but they preach the truth.

Rather, we were gentle among you,
as a nursing mother cares for her children.
With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you
not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well,
so dearly beloved had you become to us.

And when they taught the people at Thessalonia, they taught with gentleness and love.

Responsorial PsalmPS 139:1-3, 4-6

R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

God knows us better than we know ourselves.  We can't hide anything from God.  Even the very hairs on our head have been counted.  Therefore, let us always live our lives as though God is present with us.  As though He is witness to everything we do.  Because, indeed, He is.

GospelMT 23:23-26

Jesus said:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.

You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin,

and have neglected the weightier things of the law:

judgment and mercy and fidelity.

But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.

Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!

Jesus is berating the holy men of Israel because they claim to know the Will of God but don't.  They were fastidious about doing material works, but ignored the love, respect and mercy which God wills.  God didn't want one without the other.  All should be done.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.

You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,

but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.

Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,

so that the outside also may be clean.”

All people need to take this advice.  We should was the inside of the cup by making holy habits which lead us to holy living and to sanctification.  St. Peter says:

2 Peter 1: 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

 

Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn-Read and listen to Dr. Scott Hahn's reflections on this Sunday's readings-    August 25th 2013 - 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Listen Here! Gateway to Life Readings: Isaiah 66:18-21 Psalm 117:1, 2 Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 Luke 13:22-30 Jesus doesn’t answer the question put to Him in this Sunday’s Gospel. It profits us nothing to speculate on how many will be saved. What we need to know is what He tells us today - how to enter into salvation and how urgent it is to strive now, before the Master closes the door. Jesus is “the narrow gate,” the only way of salvation, the path by which all must travel to enter the kingdom of the Father (see John 14:6). In Jesus, God has come - as He promises in this week’s First Reading - to gather nations of every language, to reveal to them His glory. Eating and drinking with them, teaching in their streets, Jesus in the Gospel is slowly making His way to Jerusalem. There, Isaiah’s vision will be fulfilled: On the holy mountain He will be lifted up (see John 3:14), will draw to Himself bretheren from among all the nations - to worship in the heavenly Jerusalem, to glorify Him for His kindness, as we sing in Sunday’s Psalm. In God’s plan, the kingdom was proclaimed first to the Israelites and last to the Gentiles (see Romans 1:16; Acts 3:25-26), who in the Church have come from the earth’s four corners to make up the new people of God (see Isaiah 43:5-6; Psalm 107:2-3). Many however will lose their place at the heavenly table, Jesus warns. Refusing to accept His narrow way they will weaken, render themselves unknown to the Father (see Isaiah 63:15-16). We don’t want to be numbered among those of drooping hands and weak knees (see Isaiah 35:3). So we must strive for that narrow gate, a way of hardship and suffering - the way of the beloved Son. As this week’s Epistle reminds us, by our trials we know we are truly God’s sons and daughters. We are being disciplined by our afflictions, strengthened to walk that straight and narrow path - that we may enter the gate, take our place at the banquet of the righteous. Yours in Christ, Scott Hahn, Ph.D. P.S. Do you want your friends, family, and co-workers to know the treasures of the Catholic faith through the treasure of God’s Word? Then join me in praying for the work of the St. Paul Center and please make your most generous financial contribution today. You can donate now by credit card by visiting our secure, convenient website at www.salvationhistory.com If you appreciate this service forward it to a friend!

Two doorways to heaven

Jesus said:

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

To my mind, this can mean two things.

1.  Either, very few people will enter heaven but more people will go to eternal punishment (i.e. hell)

… or…

2.  A few people will go straight into heaven and a lot of people will enter heaven through purgatory and a few people will go to eternal punishment.

I tend to believe its the second because in life, the average tends to abound. While there are very few that are excellent and very few that terrible in comparison.  Therefore, I believe most people will go to purgatory.  From there, the next step is heaven.

However, purgatory is not something which Jesus takes for granted. He uses the prison metaphor so that we can relate to it:

Matthew 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.  25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.  26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Therefore, purgatory and eternal hell can be lumped together as the wide doorway to destruction.  However, those who build upon Christ, will be saved, but as though through fire:

1 Corinthians 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

That is why St. Peter warns:

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

So, don't take purgatory for granted.  Aim higher.  Aim to enter through the narrow door.

Sincerely,

De Maria

Read the Catechism- Masturbation

Read the Catechism in a Year

Day 285 - Is Masturbation an Offense Against Love? The Sixth Commandment: You shall not commit adultery. Is masturbation an offense against love? Masturbation is an offense against love, because it makes the excitement of sexual pleasure an end in itself and uncouples it from the holistic unfolding of love between a man and a woman. That is why "sex with yourself" is a contradiction in terms. The Church does not demonize masturbation, but she warns against trivializing it. In fact many young people and adults are in danger of becoming isolated in their consumption of lewd pictures, films, and Internet services instead of finding love in a personal relationship. Loneliness can lead to a blind alley in which masturbation becomes an addiction. Living by the motto "For sex I do not need anyone; I will have it myself, however and whenever I need it" makes nobody happy. (YOUCAT question 409) Dig Deeper: CCC section (2352) and other references here. A Talk that Saved Thousands of Lives: Detox by Jason Evert This text comes from the YOUCAT - an accessible expression of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in a simple Q & A format. [Learn more here] Copyright 2011 by Ignatius Press, San Francisco. Sponsored by Lighthouse Catholic Media, NFP. Powered by Flocknote.

Part 3: Life in Christ (1691 - 2557)

Section 2: The Ten Commandments (2052 - 2557)

Chapter 2: You Shall Love Your Neighbor as Yourself (2196 - 2557)

Article 6: The Sixth Commandment (2331 - 2400)

Jesus said to his disciples: "Love one another even as I have loved you."¹ ⇡

You shall not commit adultery.¹¹³

You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery." But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.¹¹⁴ ⇡

II. THE VOCATION TO CHASTITY ⇡

Offenses against chastity ⇡

1735
(all)

2352

By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. "Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action."¹³⁸ "The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose." For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of "the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved."¹³⁹

To form an equitable judgment about the subjects' moral responsibility and to guide pastoral action, one must take into account the affective immaturity, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety or other psychological or social factors that lessen, if not even reduce to a minimum, moral culpability.

1.

Jn 13:34.

113.

Ex 20:14; Deut 5:18.

114.

Mt 5:27-28.

138.

CDF, Persona humana 9.

139.

CDF, Persona humana 9.