Sexuality & The Saints

[Monkciate]

Why is there such little discussion on the topic of saints and their sexuality? At least, there’s such little positive discussion about it. It all amounts to the fact that the saints lived chaste lives and this often involved difficult, harsh mortifications. Jumping into briars, rolling in snow, turning the eyes away from one’s own mother or father, ceasing cordial relations, etc. I read about the saints and I come away thinking that sex is an evil, but of course, it doesn’t help that most of our saints were devout religious who vowed celibacy, but even those who weren’t of the garb were still often single. Even then, when sex becomes an issue, our hagiographies typically show the saints radically spurning even cordial intersexual relationships.

I’d like to read about a saint who relished in life and love, who dated and struggled with the temptations involved yet allowed grace to win the day everytime, who found daily interactions with the other sex thrilling and inviting, not repulsive or manipulative. I’m not saying these type of hagiogrpahies don’t exist, and I’m sure you’ll quote me a number of saints who were either married or meet some of the qualifications above. That’s really not the point, though, is it? The point, quite simply, is that our hagiographical history shows a Church fleeing the basic element of life.

 

[puzzleannie]

Why is there such little discussion on the topic of saints and their sexuality? At least, there’s such little positive discussion about it. It all amounts to the fact that the saints lived chaste lives and this often involved difficult, harsh mortifications. Jumping into briars, rolling in snow, turning the eyes away from one’s own mother or father, ceasing cordial relations, etc. I read about the saints and I come away thinking that sex is an evil, but of course, it doesn’t help that most of our saints were devout religious who vowed celibacy, .

since these particular saints shared that their struggles to remain chaste were so severe they felt they required such mortification, and we know from evidence they attained sanctity it is not up to us to criticize. Nor would we normally assume from evidence of their struggles that sex is evil. We would assume that just because we don’t seem to struggle as much and are able to have normal friendships with friends of both genders, nonetheless for others the struggle is or was much harder. We also assume that should be ever fall into a tempation that seems impossible to conquer, we have the example of those heroic saints to turn to for aid.

 

[Bookcat]

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati may be one to look up…while he was not married…he planned to get married…and had lots of girls he was friends with…

 

[Bookcat]

frassatiusa.org/

 

[Bookcat]

frassatiusa.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=361

 

[Bookcat]

a Church fleeing the basic element of life.

this is not correct…the Church holds Marriage to be of very high value and sex as sacred…

see the Catechism etc …

There are many even among the Canonized Saints who were married…

of course those not called to this vocation…those called to celibacy will need to avoid certain things that those who are married do not…

just as a married man may need to avoid dinner with a female co-worker he is attracted to…for he is married.

 

[CatholicLife]

I think Saint Augustine had a concubine he couldn’t marry because she was so young. So he found himself another woman but didn’t continue his relationship. After that he told God
“Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet”

 

[Joannm]

I think Saint Augustine had a concubine he couldn’t marry because she was so young. So he found himself another woman but didn’t continue his relationship. After that he told God
“Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet”

Augustine also had an illegitimate son.

 

[John_Russell_Jr]

Why is there such little discussion on the topic of saints and their sexuality? At least, there’s such little positive discussion about it. It all amounts to the fact that the saints lived chaste lives and this often involved difficult, harsh mortifications. Jumping into briars, rolling in snow, turning the eyes away from one’s own mother or father, ceasing cordial relations, etc. I read about the saints and I come away thinking that sex is an evil, but of course, it doesn’t help that most of our saints were devout religious who vowed celibacy, but even those who weren’t of the garb were still often single. Even then, when sex becomes an issue, our hagiographies typically show the saints radically spurning even cordial intersexual relationships.

I’d like to read about a saint who relished in life and love, who dated and struggled with the temptations involved yet allowed grace to win the day everytime, who found daily interactions with the other sex thrilling and inviting, not repulsive or manipulative. I’m not saying these type of hagiogrpahies don’t exist, and I’m sure you’ll quote me a number of saints who were either married or meet some of the qualifications above. That’s really not the point, though, is it? The point, quite simply, is that our hagiographical history shows a Church fleeing the basic element of life.

My dear friend

Try reading PJPII’s extensive writings about human sexuality under his title theology of the body. think he gave about 120 odd talks on it at the beginning of his papacy.

Sex is not something people often write about. People and Saints consider it private and not something for public discussion. That’s probably why you find little written on it. Apart from that mans sex drive is very powerful and talk on it leads many to temptation and sin. Most of the souls in hell are there for sins against chastity you know. All sins of a sexual nature in thought, word or deed are serious.

You can find out everything you want to know from the theology of the body work by the Pope. Christopher West is renowned for writing and talking on this.

There is nothing wrong with sex between a husband and wife in conformity with the law of God but anything outside of this is playing with fire.

Read theology of the body. Hope this helps.

God bless you and pray for me please:thumbsup:

John