Posts tagged purity

- Emily Stimpson, The Catholic Girl’s Survival Guide for the Single Years

Imagine settling down with a beautiful wife one day and having a baby daughter. She looks just like your wife, and you are in love all over again. Now imagine the lyrics of the song you mentioned being sung about your little princess. Would you sing along? Would you download a copy of the song or blare it from the speakers in your car stereo? Odds are, you would shatter the CD. If that is the case, why do we celebrate music that degrades the daughters of our heavenly Father?

ng that I like has a few sexual lyrics about women, does that make it wrong to listen to?

Our answer? “Well, it sounds cool.”

I will grant that it is difficult to let go of music we like. Getting rid of CDs you enjoy may feel like an amputation. It is painful. At the beginning of my conversion, I had tons of music that I would not exactly sing in church. But I did not want to let go of it. It was “my” music, and I liked it. I figured, “I’m not a bad person because of it. I’m not going to go have a one-night stand after listening to it. I just like the music.” So I clung to it. But God has a funny way of asking for things that we do not want to give up.

I did not want to be fanatical about it, so I started by getting rid of my worst CD. There comes a feeling of peace when you know you are giving something up for the love of God. I eventually let go of one CD after another until my entire collection was purged. So give it a shot. Give him your worst, and he will give you his best.

A friend of mine once said, “If it’s not of God, then I don’t want anything to do with it.” Life for her was black and white, and all she cared about was glorifying God with the short amount of time he gave her on Earth. Saint John Vianney had the same outlook on life. In his words, “Here is a rule for everyday life: Do not do anything which you cannot offer to God.”[1] So if you know a song has parts that are displeasing to God and are likely to drag you down spiritually, listen to another song.

Better yet, take some time to listen to nothing. Because we live in such a technological age, it is difficult to discover the value of silence. For this reason Pope John Paul II recommended to young people that if they want to encounter Christ, “above all, create silence in your interior. Let that ardent desire to see God arise from the depth of your hearts, a desire that at times is suffocated by the noise of the world and the seduction of pleasures.”[2] By creating more room for silence in your life, you’ll find it easier to listen to God. And what he has to tell you is more valuable than anything.

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[1]. Thoughts of the Curé D’Ars, W.M. B., ed. (Rockford, Ill.: TAN Books and Publishers), 25.

[2]. Pope John Paul II, “Message for 2004 World Youth Day,” Vatican City (March 1, 2004).

»»>please check out theporneffect.com to take action and take a stand on society degrading the beauty of sexuality and morality.

(Source: theporneffect.com)

O God, when others were ready to condemn Mary Magdalene, 
Jesus accepted her with all her imperfections. 
She in turn accepted Your Son as her Saviour. 
It was to St. Mary Magdalene, before all others, 
that Jesus committed the message of Easter joy. 
Through her intercession, may we proclaim Christ
as our living Lord and one day contemplate Him reigning in glory. 
Amen.

another prayer:
Saint Mary Magdalene,
woman of many sins, who by conversion became the beloved of Jesus, thank you for your witness that Jesus forgives through the miracle of love.

You, who already possess eternal happiness in His glorious presence,
please intercede for me, so that some day I may share in the same everlasting joy.

Amen.

Saint Mary Magdalene is my hero because she let go of her pride and accepted Christ’s forgiveness. Her relationship with Christ and her faith is testimony that none of us can ever fall so far away from grace that we are unforgivable. Mary, a former prostitute/adulteress, never left Jesus during His passion or at the foot of the cross. She was the first to see Him in glory after the resurrection. She represents hope and faith for all who have fallen and struggle with chastity.

The name of Jesus sends a rush of joy through my heart.

The name of Jesus conquers fear and slaughters demons.

The name of Jesus saves souls and gives life purpose.

The name of Jesus is my hope and true love.

Blessed be Your name.

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Don’t let me fall in love with the empty promises of this world, for I am not of this world. I am Yours and want to plant my heart firmly in Heaven. My love, if placed in Your wounded hands, will not become dust; the mere touch of Your holy Blood gives it new and eternal life. Help me to love everyone I meet half as much as I should. Let me dance with You until You send Mr. Right. Even then, be watching our dance like an older brother.

You don’t break what’s Yours. You won’t let someone else break me, either. Don’t let me follow the path of broken love. I want to follow the path of true love, Your path, because You are love. If I should stray and hurt myself, help my broken heart remember that You’re still waiting. If I should stray, gently remind me that You will accept me back.

The name of Jesus gives me healing.

Jesus, be mine.

I love You.

Amen. 

(Source: acatholicsheep.com)