"Virtue makes all respectful relationships possible. Two patient people will have a better relationship than two impatient people. Two generous people will have a better relationship than two selfish people. Two forgiving people will have a better relationship than two people who hold grudges and refuse to forgive. A considerate couple will have a better relationship than an inconsiderate couple. Two faithful people will always have a better relationship than two unfaithful people Two disciplined people will always have a better relationship than two undisciplined people.
Virtue makes for a great relationship.
Why? Virtue is the foundation of character. You can build your life on the foundation of virtues such as patience, kindness, humility, gentleness, forgiveness, and love. Or you can build your life on the foundation of whims, cravings, fancies, illegitimate wants and selfish desires. The former will create a life of passion and purpose, while the later will create an irritable, restless, and discontented life."
- The Seven Levels of Intimacy: The Art of Loving and The Joy of Being Loved, by Matthew Kelly, New York Times Best Selling Author, 10th Anniversary Edition
Most Holy Spirit, flood my heart with only right reason which is based upon Holy Love. In this way, lead me in true wisdom–
wisdom which has no selfish motive. Such wisdom flows from and fulfills the Divine Will of God. Use me through such a grace.
Amen.
We have a deep need for a love that will fill us to the brim. But for as much as we hear about love in movies, songs, and TV shows, there's a lot of confusion about how to satisfy that longing within us. Could it be that we're missing something?
Pop culture tells us love is mostly about feeling good, but true love is about wanting the absolute best for the person we love. Jesus wants the absolute best for us, and he asks us to follow his example of self-sacrificial love so we can live in union with him forever. Jesus showed us what real love looks like when he died for us on the Cross. He is the only one who can fill our hearts, and when we grow in love- becoming more like him - we become more fully the people we were created to be.
Choosing to live chastely is choosing to grow in love. It's not easy, but we know what true, authentic love looks like. It looks like the man on the Cross. This deep, pure love that motivated Jesus to offer his life for ours, is the love that will answer the longing in our hearts if we let it. And how can we let it? For starters, by asking Jesus to enter and transform our hearts, and by following his example of self-sacrificial love- for his sake, for the sake of those around us, and for our own sake.
Regardless of whether we've made past mistakes, what matters now is how we choose to live our lives going forward. That means that whatever our past, we can choose love- real love- starting today and for the rest of our lives. So, let's get started!
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RESPECT LIFE PROGRAM
USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities
www.usccb.org/respectlife