Part III ch. XIII. Rules for the preservation of chastity

BE extremely prompt in turning away from all approaches, and all lures to impurity, for this evil works insensibly, and by small beginnings progresses to great mischief. It is always easier to avoid than to cure this.

Human bodies resemble glasses, which cannot be carried together so as to touch, without the risk of breaking one another;

and when whole good fruits press upon each other, they receive damage. Even water in a vessel, however pure, cannot long preserve its freshness, if it is touched by any animal substance. Never permit any one to trifle with you, either from folly or vanity, for although chastity may be preserved amidst such actions, which are rather light than malicious, still the flower and freshness of chastity suffers some hurt and damage; but all impure contact is the utter ruin of chastity.

Chastity has its origin in the heart, but its substance is in the body; wherefore it is lost by means of the external senses of the body, and by the cogitations and desires of the heart. It is impurity to behold, to hear, to speak of, to breathe, to touch impure things, if the heart takes delight therein. St. Paul says, Let not fornication be so much as named amongst you. The bee not only refuses to touch what is carrion, but hates and avoids all bad odours arising thence; and the bride in the Canticles is described as dropping myrrh from her hands, which is a preservative against corruption. Her lips are bordered with vermilion, indicating the modesty of her words, her eyes are doves' eyes, by reason of their clearness, her ears carry earrings of gold, the emblem of purity, her nose is as the cedars of Libanus—an incorruptible wood; and such should the devout soul be, chaste, pure, and modest in hands, lips, ears, eyes, and the whole heart.

I would instance the saying which the ancient Father John Cassian mentions as coming from St. Basil, who, speaking of himself, said, "I know nothing of women, and yet I am not a virgin." Undoubtedly chastity may be lost in as many different ways as there are different lusts and impurities; according as these are greater or less, they weaken, wound, or entirely destroy her. There are some indiscreet, foolish, and sensual passions which do not violate chastity, but which still weaken her, and make her languid, while they tarnish her beautiful whiteness; others there are not merely indiscreet but vicious; not merely foolish but immodest; not merely sensual but carnal; and by these chastity is at least grievously hurt and wounded. I say at least, because she dies and perishes wholly when follies and lusts give to the flesh the last result of voluptuous pleasure, for then chastity perishes more unworthily, more wickedly and wretchedly than by fornication, adultery, and incest; for these vile deeds are only sins, but the others, as Tertullian says in his "De Pudicitia," are monsters of sin and iniquity.

Cassian did not think, nor I either, that St. Basil alluded to such irregularities when he accused himself of not being a virgin, for I think he only implied those bad and voluptuous thoughts, which although they had not sullied his body, yet had contaminated the heart, concerning the chastity of which generous souls are extremely jealous.

Do not associate with immodest persons, above all if they are impudent, as for the most part is the case; for just as the stag causes the sweet almond-tree to become bitter by licking it, so these infected, stinking souls can scarcely speak to any one, either of one sex or the other, without injuring their purity: venom is in their eyes, and their breath is like that of the casilisk.

On the contrary, associate with chaste and virtuous persons; read and often think on sacred things, for the Word of God is chaste; and renders those who take delight therein chaste also; wherefore David compares it to the topaz, which has the property of deadening the ardour of concupiscence.

Abide ever nigh to Jesus Christ crucified; spiritually in meditation, and actually in the Holy Communion. For as whatever lies upon the herb called Agnus Castus becomes chaste and pure, so if you rest your heart upon our Lord, Who is the true chaste and Immaculate Lamb, you will speedily find that your heart and soul will be purified from all soils and lusts.