Have you heard of the Seven Deadly Sins? Not the movie, although it was a good depiction of all seven. But the deadly capability of each of the seven deadly sins exists in each of us. And even the movie’s advertising agrees. In listing the seven sins, it pronounces: Seven Ways to Die.
Sometimes called Cardinal Sins, the Seven are: Lust, Gluttony, Avarice, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride. They are the evil in humanity.
Each of us has the capability to commit these sins, but not all of us do. What keeps us from doing so?
Well, there are the Seven Cardinal Virtues. Chastity, Temperance, Charity, Diligence, Patience, Kindness, Humility. And they are the goodness in humanity. So let’s concentrate on the Cardinal Virtues, rather than the Cardinal Sins. The positive, not the negative in our human nature.
And let’s start with Chastity. It’s opposite is Lust.
Just mention the words, human virtues, and see what reaction comes from it. You’ll probably figure out that some people resent the virtues. Instead of using them as inspiration to live a better life, they try to destroy the moral standard of a virtue in the eyes of others.
The Catholic Education Resource Center says that Chastity is probably the most resented virtue. Chastity is no longer seen as something good, something noble, something we should all pursue. Just the opposite: Chastity is now often portrayed as something evil something harmful for human persons! Some argue that chastity is harmful to the psychological well-being of young men and women, because sexual desire is natural, so it’s ‘unnatural’ to restrict it in any way–i.e. No restrictions.
Today, our very culture seems to resent chastity. We see the resentment in many college classrooms, in many “sex ed” programs, and especially in the media. For example, when a Hollywood film or prime time sitcom portrays romantic relationships, how often is chastity held up as a moral ideal? How often is chastity presented as something good, something that makes us happy, something that heroes intentionally make a priority in their lives?– Catholic Education Resource Center
Instead, we get the opposite. How deceiving!
“The greatest deception in modern times has to be the illusion that lust is love, therefore to balance the equation love must be lust. It is becoming clearer day-by-day that, on one hand the world needs an injection of the energy of real love, respect, and understanding, and on the other hand – lust – the kind that not only violates others, but destroys the innocent lives of children and adults, is now prevalent everywhere at every level of society. Lust is the ‘sweet’ deception, that very same tool that is used to sell us everything from clothes, to cars and even lifestyles. When are we going to wake up from this illusion?”–Confluence Media, ‘It’s Time’ by Aruna Ladva, BK Publications London
Translating a World on the Edge 
You picked a good virtue to start with Kaye. I often get into conversations on subjects like contraception and abortion. Others want to tell me that we wouldn’t need abortion if people were more responsible about contraception. They tell me that single mothers should have been smarter about who they chose to sleep with. They tell me that cohabitation is a good thing—after all, you wouldn’t buy a car without test driving it. I tell them that I disagree, and I always point out the one reason people have gotten into the situations they use as examples: the reason is that we, as a society, have told ourselves that we can have sex whenever and with whomever we want without worrying about the consequences, and that is simply not true. Whether we recognize them or not, there are consequences.
I’ll never forget a homily in which the priest told us that Jesus’ yoke is easy. When we choose it, we never have to worry about unintended pregnancies, abortions, or sexually transmitted diseases.
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Yes, maybe it’s just the very simple: “Follow the rules.” Thanks for your comment, Cheryl.
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