Class will be meeting next Sunday, April 24, for the girls only.
Last time, we finished up Chapter 11: Dating with Purpose and Purity. Some important points:
- The modern dating "norm" of recreational dating loses sight of the actual purpose of dating (to find a spouse).
- It hurts rather than helps one's chances of entering a happy and faithful marriage in several ways:
- By focusing on the recreation aspect, it encourages an attitude of viewing dates largely in terms of their ability to provide pleasure.
- Similarly, it places feelings over facts so that the couple is more likely to stay together for the wrong reasons.
- By encouraging intimacy too quickly, it actually hinders getting to know the other person as a person.
- If the dating couple sleeps together, they have demonstrated to each other a willingness to engage in sex outside of marriage. This undermines both trust and faithfulness.
- They also invite pregnancy, which in turn may lead to (a) marrying because of pressure, (b) single parenting, or (c) abortion, none of which are outcomes we should wish for someone we love.
- Couples who are unchaste before marriage also increase their odds of divorce.
- This is NOT an exhaustive list.
- Students should be able to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy dating relationships, and list a number of strategies to avoid situations that could compromise a life of purity.
- Purity / chastity protects the great gift of sexuality and the dignity of persons involved in a relationship. This is the opposite of prudishness, which views sexuality as bad / dirty.
- In trying to live up to the high ideal of pure love, as with any aspect of the Christian life, we will fail from time to time. The secret is then to get up and try again. Jesus gave us Confession and the other sacraments because he knows we need them!
Quotes to ponder:
“A home is not warmed by the fire of pleasure which burns quickly like a pile of withered grass. Passing encounters are only a caricature of love.” – Pope St. John Paul II
“Love ... is victorious because it prays.” – Pope St. John Paul II
At home assignment:
Please read "Science and the Theology of the Body" on p. 174. Also, read the appropriate section of "Live it out: Modesty" on p. 175.
If you missed missed class or want to review:
Read TOB for Teens, Chapter 11, pages 166 - 169, first para. Pause to answer questions on p. 167 and 169. Also see the assignment above.
Future class dates:
April
24 Class - Girls only
May
01 Class - Boys only
08 Class - Chapter 12
15 NO class - First Communion Sunday
Happy Easter!