"The Sixth Commandment: Marital Fidelity" (USCCA, Chapter 30)
OPENING PRAYER
Father, to reveal the plan of your love,
you made the union of husband and wife
an image of the covenant between you and your people.
In the fulfillment of this sacrament,
the marriage between Christian man and woman
is a sign of the marriage between Christ and the Church.
Amen.
—From the Nuptial Blessing
"THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT: MARITAL FIDELITY"
—CCC, Nos. 2331–2400
Are you faithful to your promises?
God created human beings as male and female. Sexuality involves the whole person in the unity of their body and soul. It especially concerns our emotions or feelings, our capacity to love and procreate and, in a more general way, our ability to form bonds of communion with others.
The Sixth Commandment calls spouses to practice permanent and exclusive fidelity to one another. It commands them “You shall not commit adultery.” Our sexual and emotional fidelity are essential to the commitment made in the marriage covenant between spouses. God established marriage as a reflection of God’s fidelity to us. “The vows made by each spouse at their wedding to be faithful to one another forever should witness to the very covenant God has made with us.”
The marriage bond between husband and wife has two aspects: the conjugal mutual love and fidelity that is the unitive aspect of marriage, and the procreative aspect that concerns the conception, birth, and education of children. This bond may not be broken. The Church recognizes that there are a number of behaviors that can threaten this bond and undermine the dignity and purpose of marriage: divorce, cohabitation, cohabitation outside of marriage, polygamy, and same-sex unions.
All people—whether single, married, religious, or ordained—are called to acquire the virtue of chastity. “Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of [a person] in [their] bodily and spiritual being” (CCC, no. 2337). Acquiring chastity “depends on self-discipline that leads to an internal freedom, which enables human beings to temper sexual desires according to God’s plan for the appropriate expression of love in the marital relationship of a man and a woman.”
Chastity is a moral virtue, and a gift of grace from God. Chastity is expressed in our friendship with others that represents a great good for all and leads to spiritual communion. Jesus is our model. There are a number of acts that are sins against
chastity: lust (the “‘disordered desire for or an inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure,’ especially when sought for itself”), fornication (the sexual intercourse between unmarried persons], incest (sexual relationships between close relatives), sexual abuse of any kind, pornography, prostitution, rape, masturbation, and homosexual acts.
It is important to separate the human dignity inherent in all persons from any immoral acts that they commit. Moreover, God never stops loving us, and is merciful and forgiving to a repentant heart.
Please read this week USCCA,Chapter 30, "The Sixth Commandment: Marital Fidelity" (pages 403–416), the CCC, Nos. 2331–2400, (pages 560–576), and the Compendium, Nos. 487–502
VIDEOS
"The Sixth Commandment" (Fr. Dan O'Reilly)
"Sex, Love, and God" (Bishop Robert Barron)
"Sexuality, Sacrifice, and Love" (Bishop Robert Barron)
"Human Dignity and Gay Marriage" (Bishop Robert Barron)
"Interview on Love, Same-Sex Attraction and the Catholic Tradition (Fr. Mike Schmitz)
"Marriage and Relationships" (Bishop Robert Barron)
"The Hookup Culture" (Bishop Robert Barron)
The Sixth Commandment - Integrity and Chastity" – CCC 2331–2350 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)">
"Offenses to Chastity" – CCC 2351–2359 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
"Love of Husband and Wife" – CCC 2360–2372 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
"Children and the Dignity of Marriage" – CCC 2373–2400 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
MUSIC
"I Am the Bread of Life"
"Because He Lives"
"In the Breaking of the Bread"
"The Servant Song"
OTHER RESOURCES
"Catechism Commentary: The Sixth Commandment"
See "Other Resources" for "Chapter 21: Sacrament of Marriage"
See "Other Resources" for "Chapter 21: Sacrament of Marriage"