The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode Summary: Day 305 – The Call to Chastity (2025)
Date: November 1, 2025
Reading: Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraphs 2337–2345
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz

Episode Overview

On Day 305, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the Catholic understanding of chastity as presented in the Catechism. Building upon the previous episode’s introduction to the Sixth Commandment ("You shall not commit adultery"), this episode unpacks the deeper meaning and vocation of chastity. The focus is on the “integration of sexuality within the person,” dispelling common misconceptions and offering encouragement for those struggling to live chastely. Fr. Mike provides practical wisdom, acknowledges the difficulty and growth involved, and roots the call to chastity in hope, grace, and transformation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Definition and Misconceptions of Chastity

• Chastity vs. Celibacy
  • Chastity: The successful integration of sexuality within the person, leading to inner unity of the bodily and spiritual being.
  • Celibacy: A promise or vow to abstain from sexual activity, often for priests or religious, but differs from chastity, which is a universal call.
  • Quote:
    • “Chastity is given a definition right away. In paragraph 2337, it says this: ‘Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being.’” [03:32]

2. Chastity as Integration and Integrity

• Key Idea: Chastity is harmony and order; not repression or avoidance, but orientation of passions toward the good.
• Seeing Others Rightly:
  • People are never objects to be used, but persons to be loved.
  • Quote:
    • “People are not objects. They're not things to be used. They are persons to be loved.” [05:20]
• Integration vs. Disintegration:
  • Living with integrity means no “double life” or duplicity—our actions and words align with our deeper mission and purpose.

3. Chastity Requires Apprenticeship and Self Mastery

• A Lifelong Process:
  • An “apprenticeship in self-mastery” means constant learning and growth—no one arrives instantly at perfect chastity.
  • Quote:
    • “Self-mastery is a long and exacting work. One can never consider it acquired once and for all. It presupposes renewed efforts at all stages of life.” [22:30]

4. Freedom, Happiness, and Dignity

• Freedom vs. Slavery:

  • Either govern your passions and find peace, or be dominated by them and become unhappy (referencing St. Augustine).
  • Quote:
    • “Either man governs his passions and finds peace, or he lets himself be dominated by them and becomes unhappy.” [12:15]
  • St. Augustine’s Insight:
    • “Lust indulged became a habit, and habit unresisted became necessity.” [15:05]

• Choice and Internal Motivation:

  • Real transformation requires an inward motivation, not merely external constraint.
  • Reference to John Paul II’s concept of “ethos”—the inner world, shaping desires so that the good is attractive.

5. Concrete Strategies for Growth in Chastity

• Means for Living Chastity (Catechism 2340):
  • Self-knowledge (awareness of triggers, strengths, and weaknesses)
  • Asceticism (tailored practices that limit unhealthy behaviors, like making phones grayscale to reduce temptations)
  • Obedience to commandments
  • Practice of moral virtues (justice, prudence, temperance)
  • Fidelity to prayer
  • Quote:
    • “Serious sin and serious prayer cannot coexist. One will kill the other.” [19:38]

6. Chastity’s Universality and Societal Dimension

• For Everyone:
  • No matter one’s vocation—single, married, religious, or ordained—chastity applies.
• Cultural Effort:
  • Personal betterment and improvement of society are interdependent; the struggle and growth of one person toward chastity contributes to the health of the community.

7. Growth, Imperfection, and Grace

• Laws of Growth:
  • Chastity develops through “stages marked by imperfection and too often by sin.”
  • Failure is not a sign to give up but a natural (and acknowledged) part of the journey.
  • Quote:
    • “If you find yourself saying, ‘Man, but in this whole process, I keep falling, in this process, I keep failing,’ well, yeah, here’s the Church saying, ‘Okay, well, here’s the deal. Chastity growing in this integrity has laws of growth which progress how? Through stages marked by imperfection and too often by sin.’” [23:42]
• Chastity as Grace:
  • Not only a virtue but a gift from God and fruit of the Holy Spirit, possible through God’s grace.

Memorable Quotes & Key Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the integration of sexuality:

  • “Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being.” — Fr. Mike citing Catechism [03:32]

• On treating people with dignity:

  • “People are not objects. They're not things to be used. They are persons to be loved.” — Fr. Mike [05:20]

• On living with integrity:

  • “It tolerates neither a double life nor duplicity in speech.” — Fr. Mike quoting Catechism [10:37]

• On legitimate sources of romance in marriage:

  • “Your spouse is the only legitimate source of romance in your life.” — Fr. Mike [11:30]

• On freedom and passions:

  • “Either man governs his passions and finds peace, or he lets himself be dominated by them and becomes unhappy.” — Fr. Mike [12:15]

• On self-mastery and growth:

  • “Self-mastery is a long and exacting work. One can never consider it acquired once and for all. It presupposes renewed efforts at all stages of life.” — Catechism cited by Fr. Mike [22:30]

• On growth through imperfection:

  • “Chastity has laws of growth which progress through stages marked by imperfection and too often by sin.” — Fr. Mike quoting Catechism [23:42]

Important Segments & Timestamps

• 00:06 – Introduction, gratitude, framing of Sixth Commandment (sex as a vocation)
• 03:20 – Distinguishing between chastity and celibacy; definition of chastity
• 05:20 – Chastity as integration; dignity of seeing others as persons
• 10:37 – Integrity, “double life,” vocation and “shadow mission”
• 11:30 – Romance and marital exclusivity
• 12:15 – Self-mastery, human freedom, passions, and happiness
• 15:05 – Quoting St. Augustine: how indulgence turns to slavery
• 19:00 – Strategies for living chastely; importance of prayer and practical asceticism
• 22:30 – Laws of growth, ongoing nature of the struggle
• 23:42 – Embracing imperfection on the journey

Key Takeaways

• Chastity is not limited to celibacy and is not mere repression, but a positive, integrative virtue for everyone.
• It is about becoming whole, living with integrity, and seeing oneself and others as persons to be loved.
• The path to chastity is lifelong, marked by failures and growth, and requires both personal effort and God’s grace.
• Spiritual practices, self-knowledge, supportive constraints, and honest prayer are crucial.
• The Church affirms that failure and struggle are normal on this path and invites listeners into a hopeful, grace-filled journey.

Final Encouragement (Fr. Mike’s Tone)

Fr. Mike closes the episode with practical hope, reminding listeners the journey is difficult but not solitary—God’s grace, the community, and prayer are present along the way:
“It’s going to involve discipline. It’s going to involve stages of growth. It’s going to involve failure. But it also will involve God’s grace and God’s help. So we pray. I am praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike, I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.” [End]