Discernment

[Bennn]

Well, I do want to follow Gods calling, though.

By the way, the consecration to Mary in the way of St. Louis de Montfort is indeed very powerful. I have already made that consecration a few years ago and I try to renew it each year.

+Pax Domini,
Ben

[aalpha1989]

I have no advice (at least not publicly ...) but I offer you my prayers.

[Bennn]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' date='23 May 2010 - 11:35 PM' timestamp='1274650554' post='2116117']


Considering [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison%27s_Disease#Famous_addisonians"]other people[/url] who had Addison's Disease, I don't see why it would be an issue. Not sure what you mean by X-ald though.

In Christ,
Jason
[/quote]

[url="http://www.x-ald.nl/facts.htm"]X-ald[/url]

Thanks Alphaa, keeping you in my prayers as well.

+Pax Domini,
Ben

[Shana]

I suggest you study Theology of the Body more in depth. A good place to start is Christopher West's Theology of the Body for Beginners. We need a healthy and true attitute toward our bodies, our sexuality because they are an integrated part of who we are regardless of vocation. You may be interested in checking out my blog which is largely about TOB: john1v14.blogspot.com

Christopher West's website has some good articles too which you may find helpful.

Talk to me anytime about TOB!

[Bennn]

[quote name='Shana' date='30 May 2010 - 01:10 AM' timestamp='1275174620' post='2120366']
I suggest you study Theology of the Body more in depth. A good place to start is Christopher West's Theology of the Body for Beginners. We need a healthy and true attitute toward our bodies, our sexuality because they are an integrated part of who we are regardless of vocation. You may be interested in checking out my blog which is largely about TOB: john1v14.blogspot.com

Christopher West's website has some good articles too which you may find helpful.

Talk to me anytime about TOB!
[/quote]

You know, I've always wondered how we are supposed to view this in light of what the Church Fathers said. Sts. Augustine, Jerome and I think Thomas Aquinas said that sex is in itself an 'unclean' act because of the pleasure that is derived from it, but that the Sacrament of Marriage witholds one from being culpable for it. Yet, the Catechism seems to say that sexual intercourse between two married persons has nothing unclean at all. Does that mean they were wrong in calling it an unclean act, justified by the Sacrament?

+Pax Domini,
Ben

[Cherie]

[quote name='Bennn' date='18 June 2010 - 02:59 PM' timestamp='1276887579' post='2130996']
You know, I've always wondered how we are supposed to view this in light of what the Church Fathers said. Sts. Augustine, Jerome and I think Thomas Aquinas said that sex is in itself an 'unclean' act because of the pleasure that is derived from it, but that the Sacrament of Marriage witholds one from being culpable for it. Yet, the Catechism seems to say that sexual intercourse between two married persons has nothing unclean at all. Does that mean they were wrong in calling it an unclean act, justified by the Sacrament?

+Pax Domini,
Ben
[/quote]

I would be curious for quotes on exactly what was said by Church Fathers, and in what context - from having studied Thomas Aquinas in the convent, I would not say he said sexual intercourse was "unclean" per se.

However, Thomas Aquinas wasn't right about the Immaculate Conception, either. In regard to views like this, they should not be held to (on those rare occasions) when they disagree with what the Church has since established as true. The views of no one theologian, even an Aquinas, may be held in preference to what the Church later establishes. Aquinas's views--[i]as he himself would insist[/i]--simply cease to count as evidence concerning what a Catholic should believe once the Church has infallibly determined otherwise.

You can be assured that chaste sexual intercourse between married persons is certainly not "unclean."

Edited June 18, 2010 by CherieMadame

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='Bennn' date='18 June 2010 - 01:59 PM' timestamp='1276887579' post='2130996']
You know, I've always wondered how we are supposed to view this in light of what the Church Fathers said. Sts. Augustine, Jerome and I think Thomas Aquinas said that sex is in itself an 'unclean' act because of the pleasure that is derived from it, but that the Sacrament of Marriage witholds one from being culpable for it. Yet, the Catechism seems to say that sexual intercourse between two married persons has nothing unclean at all. Does that mean they were wrong in calling it an unclean act, justified by the Sacrament?

+Pax Domini,
Ben
[/quote]

The saints you mentioned were very wise men, and we can learn a lot from what they wrote. But, their writings are not considered sacred scripture (I think), so sometimes what they say is "wrong," or while not necessarily wrong, simply different from what another equally holy person might experience. For example, some saints practiced what we would consider today to be extreme penitential actions--that doesn't mean that it is necessary or wise for all of us to follow their example in every detail. To follow the wisdom of all these wise saints in detail would be impossible anyway, since although their writings are very wise, each writer was also very different from another, and, thus, each had their unique view of God and their relationship with him.

Take a look at my signature. I chose it for a reason. We gain in wisdom throughout life, and even St. Thomas Aquinas said when near death that his writings didn't capture what he had experienced since he wrote them. That's quite a statement coming from one of the wisest men to ever live. I chose that quote to remind myself that there are still so many things to learn about God that even the wisest of humans don't learn them until very late in their lives--and I suspect, many of us, who are not so wise, never learn them at all.

I don't know much about the backgrounds of St. Aquinas and St. Jerome, but I know a little about St. Augustine. For a good part of his life he was quite the "man about town," so I might expect that, after his conversion, he might hold strong negative views about what he had done previously in his life.

My feeling about sex is that God could have created us to reproduce in some other fashion, but he chose not to. And, I am not of the belief that anything that gives pleasure is in and of itself inherently bad or sinful. Sex brings along with it complex emotions, and in the wrong context, sex can be very hurtful or sinful. But, as someone who has been married, sex also creates a unique, very personal bond between husband and wife that is difficult to describe. My personal view is that, in the context of marriage, the sexual bond strengthens the marriage. As that great "theologian," Paul Simon, wrote in a song about his own marriage, "Their hearts and bones, they can't come undone..."

When we are very young, sex often seems repulsive, and it's hard to understand why anyone would gain pleasure from it. My first reaction to being told about sex was, "Yuck. Who'd ever want to do that?" But, when you love someone enough to want to spend the rest of your life with them, sex is no longer "yucky"--it's a good thing, and yes, is fun.

But, everyone is different. And, not everyone is called to marriage, and that's fine. There are enough humans who are called to marriage that the race is not going to die out anytime soon.

As always, these are just my thoughts, based on my own personal experiences, and others will have other points of view.

Edited June 18, 2010 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[Geras16]

It seems to me that love is not just about union, but everything good that leads to it. It can include honoring, praying, forgiving, reconciling, understanding, sacrificing, serving, and believing always in the one you love. Whether it be God Himself, or your significant other.

What could help determine if a relationship (or in this case marital union) is pure or not, is if your loved-one trusts you enough to forgive him/her for any spiritual harm they may cause you (without feeling the negative obligation to give you pleasure or negative obligation to suffer). So whatever responsibility love has, I think it needs to be positive, hopeful, and trusting in the Mercy of God.

[media][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFwZ7Ekg080&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.c...feature=related[/url][/media]

Edited June 24, 2010 by Geras16