Related Articles
We live in a time when purity seems like an outdated value—almost ridiculous in the eyes of the world. The body is treated as an object, pleasure as an idol, and the heart as an emotional toy. Yet the Church, faithful to the Truth revealed by Christ, continues to propose a luminous vision of the human person, of sexuality, and of the capacity to love. Within this horizon, three words become especially important: chastity, celibacy, and continence. These are words that many confuse, others fear, and few truly understand. This article aims to be a compass to help you discover their true meaning, their theological foundation, and how to apply them in your Christian life.
I. Why talk today about chastity, celibacy, and continence?
In a hypersexualized culture saturated with messages that exalt instant gratification and despise true self-giving, talking about chastity seems countercultural. But it’s more urgent than ever. The loss of the meaning of the body, the dignity of the person, and the value of true love is destroying families, confusing vocations, and leaving hearts deeply wounded.
Christ, however, calls us to a love that is great, free, fruitful, and pure. Not to repression, but to redemption of desire. Not to contempt for the body, but to its integration in charity. That’s why understanding chastity, celibacy, and continence is not only important for religious people or consecrated souls, but for every Christian who wants to love as Christ loves.
II. Defining clearly: What is chastity, celibacy, and continence?
Although they are related, they are not the same. Let’s examine each one separately:
1. Chastity: the universal virtue of rightly ordered love
Chastity, from the Latin castus, meaning “pure,” is a moral virtue, part of the cardinal virtue of temperance, which enables us to live sexuality according to God’s plan. But it’s not merely about “not having sex.” It’s about loving with the body and the heart in a true and full way, according to our state in life.
- The married person is chaste when they are faithful to their spouse and live the marital union with respect and openness to life.
- The single person is chaste when they wait with patience and purity for the right time, or discern a consecrated vocation.
- The consecrated person is chaste when they give their body and their affections entirely to God.
So chastity is not abstention—it’s integration. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:
“Chastity includes an apprenticeship in self-mastery which is a training in human freedom.” (CCC 2339)
2. Celibacy: a free choice for the love of the Kingdom
Celibacy is the voluntary renunciation of marriage and sexual relations for the love of Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven. It is a particular charism, a specific vocation. It is not imposed, but chosen. Jesus clearly taught this:
“There are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.” (Mt 19:12)
Celibacy is not a rejection of human love, but a more radical way of loving. It is a scandalous testimony to the world, but profoundly fruitful. It is the promise of Heaven already begun on earth. Therefore, it is proper to priests, religious men and women, and consecrated lay people.
3. Continence: temporary or permanent abstinence
Continence is the abstention from the use of sexual acts, whether temporarily (as in married couples during certain periods) or permanently (as in celibacy). It refers to concrete behavior, not to the interior virtue. It can be part of chastity, but it is not a synonym.
A very clear example is St. Joseph, who was chaste, continent, and celibate. He had no sexual relations, did not fully enter into marriage in the conjugal sense, and lived in purity of body and soul, caring for the Virgin Mary and Jesus.
III. Biblical and Patristic Roots of These Virtues
Sacred Scripture presents all these realities with great clarity and beauty.
- Chastity is exalted in many passages, such as in the First Letter to the Thessalonians:
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor.” (1 Thess 4:3–4)
- Celibacy is lived by Jesus himself and recommended by Saint Paul:
“I wish that all were as I myself am […] The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.” (1 Cor 7:7,32)
- Continence appears in contexts of prayer, fasting, or discernment (cf. 1 Sam 21:5; Ex 19:15).
The Fathers of the Church also taught these virtues. Saint Augustine wrote of chastity as “the beauty of the soul” and praised celibacy as “an angelic life on earth.”
IV. Practical Applications: How to Live This Today?
Whatever your state in life, you can and should live these realities. Here is a practical guide from a theological and pastoral perspective.
A. For the Married
- Live marital chastity: mutual respect, openness to life, avoiding pornography and adultery—even in the heart.
- Practice continence during times of intense prayer or discernment, as the Church recommends.
- Teach your children the beauty of chastity, not from fear, but from love.
B. For the Single
- Chastity is not anxious waiting, but a school of love: strengthen your soul, will, and view of others.
- Seek spiritual guidance to discern your vocation and build your interior life.
- Be radical: do not feed your mind with what poisons your heart (e.g., certain shows, social media, toxic environments).
C. For Consecrated Persons and Priests
- Celibacy must be lived joyfully—not as a burden, but as a gift. It is a superior way of loving.
- Consecrated chastity implies constant vigilance, intense prayer, and healthy fraternity.
- Do not be afraid to ask for help if you struggle: purity is not repression but redemption.
V. Common Obstacles and How to Overcome Them
1. “It’s impossible to live chastely today”
No, it isn’t. It’s hard, yes. But with grace, effort, and the sacraments, it is possible. God does not ask for the impossible.
2. “What about desire? Isn’t it bad?”
No. Desire is good—but it must be rightly ordered. The problem is not desire itself, but being dragged by disordered desire.
3. “What if I fall?”
Get up. Purity is not measured by the absence of falls, but by the fidelity in rising again and trusting God’s mercy.
VI. Chastity as Prophetic Witness
In a world wounded by lust, chastity is a revolution. Celibacy is a cry of hope that reminds us there is a Love greater than eros. Continence is an act of freedom that dismantles idols. Every Christian who lives in purity is a beacon in the night, a witness of the coming Kingdom.
Conclusion: “Blessed Are the Pure of Heart”
Jesus said it clearly:
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Mt 5:8)
Seeing God is not only for Heaven—it begins here, in this life, when the heart is clean and the gaze is pure. Chastity, celibacy, and continence are not chains. They are wings to fly toward true Love.
It doesn’t matter what your story is. You can begin living in purity today. God does not call the perfect; He perfects those He calls. And He is calling you.
