Chastity and the Soul E-Book

Ronald Rolheiser

• Herausgeber: Paraclete Press
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

"It takes both courage and a very clear head for a Catholic theologian to take on any issue regarding sexuality today. Ron Rolheiser succeeds here in a very positive, honest, and helpful way! His approach is brilliantly not sin-centered but value-centered. Bravo!" —Richard Rohr, O.F.M.  Celibacy isn't for everyone, but Chastity is! With infinite wisdom and compassion, Ron Rolheiser gives us a fresh understanding of chastity, not based on repressions, prudishness, or even just sex, but on reverence, patience, and respect for ourselves and others in every area of life, that leads to true love, joy, community, and union with God These days, it's hard to say the word "chastity" without a cringe. But in this book, beloved teacher Fr. Ronald Rolheiser boldly champions the notion of chastity in its fullest meaning: respect, patience, reverence, and a God-given gift of propriety in every area of life—not just in the area of sex.   In twenty-four power packed chapters, Fr. Ron compassionately and eloquently elaborates on how we can reclaim the lost virtue of chastity. He spells out the reasons for the death of chastity in our culture, the negative consequences of that has had on our souls and in our lives, the need for a healthy chastity in all areas of our lives, what constitutes that healthy chastity, and its positive consequences—so that we can say the word chastity without a cringe.   This is a book not just for those believers seeking to live a holier life, but for all those who seek to live the fullest, most authentic life possible. Chastity and the Soul is the guide we all need to come to the realization that in God's eyes, each one of us is holy ground.

Leseprobe

PRAISE FOR CHASTITY AND THE SOUL

“This book is a welcome addition to the body of work seeking to clarify a stronger and more fruitful connection between our sexuality and our spirituality. I am not sure how chastity got such a bad rap but I am grateful Fr. Ron has initiated the work of reclaiming it as an attitude and a practice that fosters a spirituality wholesome enough to celebrate sexuality as a beautiful gift from God intended to be linked to exuberance, spirituality and delight. What a blessing!”

—RUTH HALEY BARTON, Founder, Transforming Center, and author of Sacred Rhythms

“Fr. Ron Rolheiser, in this daring and holy book, defines sexual longing in the context of love and patient reserve as we seek within ourselves what is truly meant by the chastity of our souls in the presence of those we love. This is a book for young people seeking a way to the marriage bed, and a celebration for those who have already discovered in their relationships the meaning of commitment, compassion, sexual joy, and spiritual ecstasy.”

—CHRISTOPHER DE VINCK, author of Things That Matter Most: Essays on Home, Friendship, and Love

“It takes both courage and a very clear head for a Catholic theologian to take on any issue regarding sexuality today. Ron Rolheiser succeeds here in a very positive, honest, and helpful way! His approach is brilliantly not sin-centered but value-centered. Bravo!”

—RICHARD ROHR, O.F.M.

“Ron Rolheiser has a rare gift of discerning and expressing the deepest movements of our souls. In this courageous and prophetic book he presents chastity – defined as respect, reverence and patience – as the pathway to joy and the fullness of life. In one way or another you’ll hear your own story told as you read this book, and you’ll experience yourself as being wisely and compassionately guided to your heart’s home.”

—MICHELLE JONES, author of The Gospel Mysticism of Ruth Burrows: Going to God with Empty Hands

“Ronald Rolheiser’s new book offers a rich, beautifully written and reflective reinterpretation of the theme of ‘chastity.’ He expresses his spiritual vision through insightful images that present an honest way forward accessible to all of us. He asks us in challenging ways to radically rethink how we conventionally understand the word ‘chastity’ and limit its scope to a narrow view of sexuality. Ronald Rolheiser’s alternative perspective promotes ‘healthy’ chastity in all our lives as a value that focuses on proper reverence and respect for other people. This includes sexuality as a way of affirming other people rather than exploiting them.”

—PHILIP SHELDRAKE, Professor, Senior Fellow, and Research Director, Institute for the Study of Contemporary Spirituality at Oblate School of Theology

Chastity and the Soul

You Are Holy Ground

Ronald Rolheiser

To my mother and father, George and Mathilda Rolheiser, who modeled a healthy chastity.

2024 First Printing

Chastity and the Soul: You Are Holy Ground

Copyright © 2024 by Ronald Rolheiser

ISBN 978-1-64060-947-1

Scripture quotations marked (NRSVCE) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Paraclete Press name and logo (dove on cross) are trademarks of Paraclete Press.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Rolheiser, Ronald, author.

Title: Chastity and the soul : you are holy ground / Ronald Rolheiser.

Description: Brewster, Massachusetts : Paraclete Press, 2024. | Summary: “Rolheiser champions the notion of chastity in its fullest meaning: respect, patience, reverence, and a God-given gift of propriety in every area of life-not just in the area of sex”-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2023045571 (print) | LCCN 2023045572 (ebook) | ISBN 9781640609471 | ISBN 9781640609488 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Chastity. | Christian life. | BISAC: RELIGION / Christian Living / Personal Growth | RELIGION / Christian Living / Social Issues

Classification: LCC BJ1533.C4 .R654 2024 (print) | LCC BJ1533.C4 (ebook) | DDC 241/.664--dc23/eng/20231130

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2023045571

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2023045572

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All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in an electronic retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Published by Paraclete Press

Brewster, Massachusetts

www.paracletepress.com

Digitally Printed

CONTENTS

PREFACE

PART ONE

Chastity as Proper Reverence, Respect, and Patience

1 What is Chastity?

2 Chastity as Purity of Heart

3 Chastity, Love, and Sex

4 Chastity and Innocence

5 Sublimation and the Sublime

6 The Goddess of Chastity

7 Chastity as Blessing Others

PART TWO

Chastity, Sex, and the Soul

8 A Plea for the Soul

9 Our Dark Memory of Our Soul

10 Sex and the Soul

11 Chastity as Soulful and Taking Us Home

12 Santa, the Easter Bunny, Soul, and Chastity

13 Sex, Our Private Lives, and the Evening News

14 The Original Sin as a Failure in Chastity

15 Chastity and Pornography

PART THREE

Carrying and Mourning Our Unfinished Symphony

16 The Torment of the Insufficiency of Everything Attainable

17 Mourning Our Inconsummation

18 Carrying Tension as a Gift to Others

19 An Invitation to Metanoia

PART FOUR

Some Personal Reflections

20 Chastity and Celibacy–A Personal Apologia

21 Sex, Chastity, and My Mother’s Little Pamphlets

22 Celibacy in a Post-Modern World

PART FIVE

Chastity Without a Cringe

23 Wonder Has Left the Building

24 Chastity without a Cringe

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

NOTES