The Virtue of Chastity and

👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾 On the Virtue of #Chastity and #virginity: A Treatise for Our Time Part One: On the Protection of Purity and the Struggle Against Temptation I. Of the Perils of Fornication Take heed of the words of the Apostle: "the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4). As fornication is not marriage, nor is it the commencement of marriage, one who violates chastity must seek repentance. Beware, young souls, for the Enemy does not commence his attack with gross sins; rather, he subtly draws away your conscience from remembrance of God. The fathers advise that in resisting the devil's seductions, you must arm yourselves with prayer and spiritual labor, remembering the Creator in your youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Prayer is the fire that scorches the serpent's eye, for he fears it above all. II. On Resisting the Siren Calls of the World Flee from the temptation: Be ever vigilant against the cries of temptation that the Evil One whispers around you. Though the buzz of sin surrounds you in all places, you cannot merely ignore it; instead, avert your attention from it. Arm yourself with the Word of God, and partake in the spiritual life through Scripture, particularly the Gospel of John. Against the Sin of the Devil: For the youth who is unable to fend off the serpent's wiles, he must be cautious of sin's allure. Strive to flee from evil desires, for in doing so, you run toward sanctification. Engage immediately in spiritual work: prayer, worship, or calling upon a spiritual father. On Dreams and Temptations: Sometimes the battle against sin invades even your dreams. Be wary not to follow the path of thoughts into sin and seek guidance from the spiritual fathers if your mind becomes troubled. Let not idle thoughts become a weapon for Satan. III. On the Act of Repenting Should a soul fall into the traps laid by the Tempter, it must not despair. Rather, it must turn quickly to repentance, as King David did, and strive never to return to that sin. If one falls repeatedly, let him rise again and again through constant repentance, always relying on the guidance of spiritual fathers. IV. An Exhortation to Parents Fathers and mothers, if you perceive your children ensnared by sin, urge them to repentance rather than despair. For despair may lead them to further sin, and even apostasy. Your duty is to guide them on the path of righteousness and not to cast stones at them. Part Two: Concluding Remarks In an age filled with temptations and worldly distractions, it is a sacred duty for each soul to preserve its chastity. We must remember that it is not merely a call to abstain from sin, but a positive invitation to grow in virtue and sanctity. Let the words of the Psalmist guide you: "Flee from evil, and do good" (Psalm 33:14), for they are intertwined and inseparable. Let us all, then, strive to walk in the footsteps of the saints, ever aiming to live a life of purity, holiness, and unswerving devotion to our Lord and Savior. May His grace keep you, and may you ever abide in His love. Amen. May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every language that He has created, today and always. May the blessings of the Holy Mother of God, the Virgin, and the Cross be upon us. Amen. © John's Repentance Reach out to us on our social media platforms and share it with your friends: https://linktr.ee/johnsrepentance