Marriage, Continence, the Intellect, Virtuous sexual activity

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Continence: restraint, abstinence esp. sexual activity.

Is there a word that means virtuous restraint of intellectual activity? I specifically mean a word that would involve describing the cold, unfeeling, iceberg of a person who operates by intellect alone. Just a word and not a phrase.

Is there a word that means the virtuous submission to sexual activity? I am referring to the marital activity of a couple as both a good and righteous act. Just a word not a phrase.

Lust means the corruption of a virtue esp. sexual activity.

Is there a word that describes the purity of sexual desire as a most virtuous activity? Just a worn not a phrase.
 
Continence: restraint, abstinence esp. sexual activity.

Is there a word that means virtuous restraint of intellectual activity? I specifically mean a word that would involve describing the cold, unfeeling, iceberg of a person who operates by intellect alone. Just a word and not a phrase.

Is there a word that means the virtuous submission to sexual activity? I am referring to the marital activity of a couple as both a good and righteous act. Just a word not a phrase.

Lust means the corruption of a virtue esp. sexual activity.

Is there a word that describes the purity of sexual desire as a most virtuous activity? Just a worn not a phrase.
Passion?
Love? (Within the context of marriage to seperate love from sexual desire is modern shenanigans)
Ador?
Crave?

Idk…

But within the context of a marriage I would not necessarily count “lust” as having the bad meaning… words… quite subjective.

When in doubt say giggity?
 
Continence: restraint, abstinence esp. sexual activity.

Is there a word that means virtuous restraint of intellectual activity? I specifically mean a word that would involve describing the cold, unfeeling, iceberg of a person who operates by intellect alone. Just a word and not a phrase.

Is there a word that means the virtuous submission to sexual activity? I am referring to the marital activity of a couple as both a good and righteous act. Just a word not a phrase.

Lust means the corruption of a virtue esp. sexual activity.

Is there a word that describes the purity of sexual desire as a most virtuous activity? Just a worn not a phrase.
Chastity or chaste are the words that I think you are searching for. All persons are called to chastity according to their state in life. Chastity within marriage is conjugal chastity. Chastity for the unmarried is sometimes referred to as “perfect chastity” because such persons practice chastity by complete continence.

Chaste marital relations are virtuous and good and righteous, and it includes both the inward thoughts and the outwards words or actions pertaining to marital relations. Chastity still includes warmth and desire, so it is not unfeeling. If you are asking about what to call someone who engages in marital relations merely mechanically and without warmth or love toward their spouse, that isn’t virtuous, but rather is sometimes referred to as frigidity.

Hope that helps.
 
Chastity or chaste are the words that I think you are searching for. All persons are called to chastity according to their state in life. Chastity within marriage is conjugal chastity. Chastity for the unmarried is sometimes referred to as “perfect chastity” because such persons practice chastity by complete continence.

Chaste marital relations are virtuous and good and righteous, and it includes both the inward thoughts and the outwards words or actions pertaining to marital relations. Chastity still includes warmth and desire, so it is not unfeeling. If you are asking about what to call someone who engages in marital relations merely mechanically and without warmth or love toward their spouse, that isn’t virtuous, but rather is sometimes referred to as frigidity.

Hope that helps.
👍 Excellent post.
 
Chastity or chaste are the words that I think you are searching for. All persons are called to chastity according to their state in life. Chastity within marriage is conjugal chastity. Chastity for the unmarried is sometimes referred to as “perfect chastity” because such persons practice chastity by complete continence.

Chaste marital relations are virtuous and good and righteous, and it includes both the inward thoughts and the outwards words or actions pertaining to marital relations. Chastity still includes warmth and desire, so it is not unfeeling. If you are asking about what to call someone who engages in marital relations merely mechanically and without warmth or love toward their spouse, that isn’t virtuous, but rather is sometimes referred to as frigidity.

Hope that helps.
But can chaste marital relations also include passion? Traditionally there was a fear of passion in marital sexual activity because it could lead to carnality and the temporary loss of reason. Can marital chastity and passion co-exist, and if so, how?
 
But can chaste marital relations also include passion? Traditionally there was a fear of passion in marital sexual activity because it could lead to carnality and the temporary loss of reason. Can marital chastity and passion co-exist, and if so, how?
Well, the Catechism teaches that there is nothing inherently wrong with the passions as such; however, due to concupiscence, they can easily be turned away into sin.

At the same time (speaking as a married man), I find it hard to wrap my head around “chaste marital relations without passion” :p. The marital act is an act of mutual self-giving; it is not a simple exercise of the intellect or will. There are physiological changes occurring during this act which can potentially strengthen the bond between husband and wife. I think the key would be “moderation in all things”. Just as for food, we are not expected either to starve or to be gluttons, a middle way must be found by the couple. 🙂
 
Continence: restraint, abstinence esp. sexual activity.

Is there a word that means virtuous restraint of intellectual activity? I specifically mean a word that would involve describing the cold, unfeeling, iceberg of a person who operates by intellect alone. Just a word and not a phrase.

Is there a word that means the virtuous submission to sexual activity? I am referring to the marital activity of a couple as both a good and righteous act. Just a word not a phrase.

Lust means the corruption of a virtue esp. sexual activity.

Is there a word that describes the purity of sexual desire as a most virtuous activity? Just a worn not a phrase.
dispassionate: adj. devoid of or uninfluenced by emotion or prejudice; objective; impartial (Collins Dictionary - British)

***dutiful: ***: adj. showing, or resulting from, a sense of duty

prudish adj. a person who affects or shows an excessively modest, prim, or proper attitude, esp regarding sex
 
Chastity or chaste are the words that I think you are searching for. All persons are called to chastity according to their state in life. Chastity within marriage is conjugal chastity. Chastity for the unmarried is sometimes referred to as “perfect chastity” because such persons practice chastity by complete continence.

Chaste marital relations are virtuous and good and righteous, and it includes both the inward thoughts and the outwards words or actions pertaining to marital relations. Chastity still includes warmth and desire, so it is not unfeeling. If you are asking about what to call someone who engages in marital relations merely mechanically and without warmth or love toward their spouse, that isn’t virtuous, but rather is sometimes referred to as frigidity.

Hope that helps.
Only to add that chaste marital relations are also open to God’s gift of life.
 
The virtue of chastity.
1ke

Thanks and Thanks and Thanks are the only gift I can offer.

You have answered in one word exactly what I was hoping for to answer that part of my original question.

Chastity is defined as the virtuous submission to sexual desire for your spouse.

the op
 
Passion?
Love? (Within the context of marriage to seperate love from sexual desire is modern shenanigans)
Ador?
Crave?

Idk…

But within the context of a marriage I would not necessarily count “lust” as having the bad meaning… words… quite subjective.

When in doubt say giggity?
Lust is always a sin, married or not.

Catechism 2351 Lust is disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure.
 
Vico,
A friend told a group of us that he asked a priest on an already married couples weekend, “Is it OK for a husband to lust after his wife?”. He said the answer was yes. But I think the priest meant that it is chaste* for a husband to desire his wife. Perhaps LethalMouse meant the same thing but made an insufficient choice of words.

LethalMouse, could you let us know what you mean.

atassina

eat some cake. it will make you feel better.
 
Vico,
A friend told a group of us that he asked a priest on an already married couples weekend, “Is it OK for a husband to lust after his wife?”. He said the answer was yes. But I think the priest meant that it is chaste* for a husband to desire his wife. Perhaps LethalMouse meant the same thing but made an insufficient choice of words.

LethalMouse, could you let us know what you mean.

atassina

eat some cake. it will make you feel better.
He used to lust (the verb) as a synonym for desire, but we know that is not unbridled. Pope Pius the XII said: “spouses should know how to keep themselves within the limits of just moderation”.

I ate some cake, and wanted more.
 
He used to lust (the verb) as a synonym for desire, but we know that is not unbridled. Pope Pius the XII said: “spouses should know how to keep themselves within the limits of just moderation”.

I ate some cake, and wanted more.
But “just moderation” has unfortunately never been defined by the Church. So should spouses only be intimate once a week? Once a month? Is there a sliding scale by age? I don’t understand how the Church can establish a moral guideline then leave it so vague. Certainly in other areas of sexual morality things like guidelines for Confession are detailed and quite frank, blunt, and clear.
 
But “just moderation” has unfortunately never been defined by the Church. So should spouses only be intimate once a week? Once a month? Is there a sliding scale by age? I don’t understand how the Church can establish a moral guideline then leave it so vague. Certainly in other areas of sexual morality things like guidelines for Confession are detailed and quite frank, blunt, and clear.
Read what Pope Pius XII wrote for how to determine that. As with all applications of principle, there is a judgement to be made, not a fixed rule. We as Christians have rejected the blind following of rules as the Pharisees did. I can supply the link if interested.
 
Read what Pope Pius XII wrote for how to determine that. As with all applications of principle, there is a judgement to be made, not a fixed rule. We as Christians have rejected the blind following of rules as the Pharisees did. I can supply the link if interested.
Yes, I’d like to have that link. Thanks. Similarly I wonder if you can link to a Church document on the liceity of marital relations after child bearing years have passed. I’ve seen a Jesuit moral theologian cited here who taught that older couples should cease relations and “elevate their thoughts” as they prepared for death. I asked my pastor about that, and his response was that it was perfectly fine for older couples to be intimate. But I still wonder about that as a Jesuit moral theologian’s training and credentials must surely be more in depth than a parish priest’s. Maybe intimacy or the possible need to cease intimacy is part of the “just moderation” teaching?
 
Tarpeian, this moral theology text by Germain Grisez addresses a lot of the issues you’ve raised. It’s free online.

twotlj.org/
 
RPRPsch,
You gave us an author but no page(s) reference. How about posting a link to the exact page(s) you are referring to. This is all I could find.

The Way of the Lord Jesus
—a moral theology for today’s Catholics
 
RPRPsch,
You gave us an author but no page(s) reference. How about posting a link to the exact page(s) you are referring to. This is all I could find.

The Way of the Lord Jesus
—a moral theology for today’s Catholics
Sorry. 😊 The book is in four volumes. Click on “Vol. 2” at the top of the page, and scroll down to Chapter 9, “Marriage, Sexual Acts, and Family Life”; there’s quite an in-depth discussion there. 🙂
 
Yes, I’d like to have that link. Thanks. Similarly I wonder if you can link to a Church document on the liceity of marital relations after child bearing years have passed. I’ve seen a Jesuit moral theologian cited here who taught that older couples should cease relations and “elevate their thoughts” as they prepared for death. I asked my pastor about that, and his response was that it was perfectly fine for older couples to be intimate. But I still wonder about that as a Jesuit moral theologian’s training and credentials must surely be more in depth than a parish priest’s. Maybe intimacy or the possible need to cease intimacy is part of the “just moderation” teaching?
I’ll have to post the other part later, but first the Encyclicals of Pope Pius XII are here:

papalencyclicals.net/Pius12/index.htm

Note particularly this one to Midwives:
papalencyclicals.net/Pius12/P12midwives.htm

Excerpt

Human dignity in the conjugal act

This explanation of Ours on the functions of your professional apostolate would be incomplete, if We did not add further a few more words about the defense of human dignity in the use of the procreative faculty.

The same Creator, Who in His bounty and wisdom willed to make use of the work of man and woman, by uniting them in matrimony, for the preservation and propagation of the human race, has also decreed that in this function the parties should experience pleasure and happiness of body and spirit. Husband and wife, therefore, by seeking and enjoying this pleasure do no wrong whatever. They accept what the Creator has destined for them.

Nevertheless, here also, husband and wife must know how to keep themselves within the limits of a just moderation. As with the pleasure of food and drink so with the sexual they must not abandon themselves without restraint to the impulses of the senses. The right rule is this: the use of the natural procreative disposition is morally lawful in matrimony only, in the service of and in accordance with the ends of marriage itself. Hence it follows that only in marriage with the observing of this rule is the desire and fruition of this pleasure and of this satisfaction lawful. For the pleasure is subordinate to the law of the action whence it derives, and not vice versa—the action to the law of pleasure. And this law, so very reasonable, concerns not only the substance but also the circumstances of the action, so that, even when the substance of the act remains morally safe, it is possible to sin in the way it is performed.

The transgression of this law is as old as original sin. But in our times there is the risk that one may lose sight of the fundamental principle itself. At present, in fact, it is usual to support in words and in writing (and this by Catholics in certain circles) the necessary autonomy, the proper end, and the proper value of sexuality and of its realization, independently of the purpose of procreating a new life. There is a tendency to subject to a new examination and to a new norm the very order established by God and not to admit any other restraint to the way of satisfying the instinct than by considering the essence of the instinctive act. In addition there would be substituted a license to serve blindly and without restraint the whims and instincts of nature in the place of the moral obligations to dominate passions; and this sooner or later cannot but turn out to be a danger to morals, conscience and human dignity.

If nature had aimed exclusively, or at least in the first place, at a reciprocal gift and possession of the married couple in joy and delight, and if it had ordered that act only to make happy in the highest possible degree their personal experience, and not to stimulate them to the service of life, then the Creator would have adopted another plan in forming and constituting the natural act. Now, instead, all this is subordinated and ordered to that unique, great law of the “generatio et educatio prolis,” namely the accomplishment of the primary end of matrimony as the origin and source of life.

Unfortunately, unceasing waves of hedonism invade the world and threaten to submerge in the swelling tide of thoughts, desires and acts the whole marital life, not without serious dangers and grave prejudice to the primary duty of husband and wife.
 
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