Praying through purity

By Robert Batch

Antonius the Hermit by Cranach the Elder
(photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Jose Maria Escriva said: “Temptation is necessary to make us realize that we are nothing in ourselves.”  Are we really nothing in ourselves? Go back to the beginning in the book of Genesis.

“In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Gen. 3:19)  A magnificent and powerful God has created us out of dust.  So without God, we are nothing, just dust. How great is our God!  Compared to his greatness and splendor we are “nothing in ourselves”.

 In the battle with temptation, purity and chastity, it is not possible to win without knowing and accepting the grace of Jesus Christ. Remember the Lords mercy and love for us is never ending.
When I struggle with purity and chastity, my focus changes and is not on the grace and power of the Lord. I turn away from the Lord, and I focus on how much power I have on and for myself.  The chains that I create are ones that I could not break loose on my own. Rather, I need to re-direct my actions and thoughts, to glorify God.


Continue reading at Robert's blog Love is Calling.

The great task of teaching kids purity

By Robert Batch

 


I just returned from a speaking engagement in the diocese of Joliet Illinois this past weekend speaking to parents and 8th graders.  I was speaking to the 8th graders about the importance of Confirmation, and giving a workshop to the parents on how to keep their kids active in the faith life after being confirmed.

During the Confirmation retreat, one of the chaperones approached me and told me how much of a pressing issue purity and sex is with today’s youth and even young adults.  I asked, “Are you surprised?” and the answer was simply, “No, but what do we do about it?”

Unfortunately, I had to go and give my next talk, but my quick answer was: “We have a great task ahead of us.”

I was pondering that on the flight home, and realized the most important word of that answer would be “we.”  The devil is at work in all of us but the majority of today’s youth have been wired, and brought up in what I like to call a “sex driven generation.”


Continue reading at Robert's blog Love is Calling.