Lesson 39: The Sixth and Ninth Commandments
"But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.  Now God hath both raised up the Lord, and will raise us up also by His power.  Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ?  Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot?  God forbid.  Or know you not, that he who is joined to a harlot, is made one body?  For they shall be, saith he, two in one flesh.  But he who is joined to the Lord, is one spirit.  Fly fornication.  Every sin that a man doth, is without the body; but he that committeth fornication, sinneth against his own body.  Or know you not, that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost, who is in you, whom you have from God; and you are not your own?  For you are bought with a great price.  Glorify and bear God in your body."  (1 Corinthians 6:13-20)

  1. What is the Sixth Commandment?

  2.    Thou shalt not commit adultery.

  3. What is the Ninth Commandment?

  4.    Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.

  5. What do these commandments oblige you to do?

  6.    To practice the virtue of chastity according to your state in life.
    Chastity regulates the use of sex for married people.  Chastity forbids any use of sex, complete or incomplete, to unmarried people.  This also includes those who are engaged.

  7. Who are the only ones who may engage in sex?

  8.    Only husband and wife who are validly married to each other, and only in the natural manner, with their proper marriage partner, and only in a manner that leaves open the conception of a child.

  9. Name some of the sins against the Sixth Commandment.

    1. Adultery
    2. Birth Control
    3. Fornication
    4. Sins against nature
    5. Self-abuse
    6. Immodest dressing
    7. Impure touches, looks, kisses, dancing, reading
    8. Looking at impure pictures, dances, shows, movies
    9. Keeping company with people who are a temptation.

  10. What is adultery?

  11.    Sexual intercourse which a married person has with someone to whom he (or she) is not married.
    "For fornicators and adulterers God will judge."    (Hebrews 13:4)


    "Neither fornicators... nor adulterers... shall possess the kingdom of God."    (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

  12. What is fornication?

  13.    Sexual intercourse between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman.

  14. What is self-abuse?

  15.    Enjoying the sexual pleasure alone; also called masturbation.

  16. What are sins against nature?

  17.    Perversions committed with oneself, with another person or with animals.
    "Do not err:  neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor liars with mankind [i.e., practicing homosexuals] shall possess the kingdom of God."    (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

  18. What is forbidden by the Ninth Commandment?

  19.    Impure thoughts and desires.
    "But I say to you that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart."    (Matthew 5:28)

  20. What kind of sin are sins of sex - that is, all impure acts, thoughts, and desires?

  21.    Every sin of impurity is a mortal sin, unless not fully consented to, as could happen, for example, with impure thoughts.
    A temptation is not a sin.  If you reject a temptation, you do a good act and receive extra grace.

  22. When do you become guilty of impure thoughts?

  23.    When you knowingly and willingly keep such thoughts in your mind, but especially in taking pleasure in them.
    "For from within out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders."    (Mark 7:21)

  24. Is it possible to lead a pure life?

  25.    Yes, with God's help --
    1. If you stay away from all persons, places or things which easily lead into sin.
    2. If you pray often (especially to the Blessed Virgin Mary and especially pray her Holy Rosary) and go to Confession and receive Communion regularly.
    3. If you keep busy.
    4. If you flee from temptations when they first appear (do not "toy" with sexual temptation).
    5. If you practice giving up things you like and doing things you do not like.
    "And every one that striveth for the mastery, refraineth himself from all things:  and they indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible one."    (1 Corinthians 9:25)

PRACTICAL POINTS

  1. A Catholic today must bear in mind that he is living in a mostly pagan world and that many things which the world takes for granted are in fact sins or at least serious temptations that must be avoided.  Television shows, videos, wearing apparel, etc... must be evaluated with a Catholic conscience and not with the eyes of the world.