Celibacy (celibate life)

Freely choosing to forego earthly marriage

Communion of persons

The "common union" between two or more persons who give themselves to one another in love; they see each other in the image and likeness of God and want the best for the other. (ie. Adam and Eve)

Concupiscence

The "inclination to sin" that is present in all humans bc of Original Sin

Despir

The opposite of hope, the resolve to give up pursuing what was originally pursued

Dignity

The inherent and unchanging value of all persons as a direct result of their being created by God in His image and likeness

Love

A decision to "will the good of another" person

Lust

A disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure"; a sexual desire apart from God's love - a selfish desire that seeks one's own pleasure at the expense of another

Original Sin

The first sin of mankind against God, when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God; this choice effected all of humanity and gave us all a tendency to sin, a desire to break God's law, and a world prone to suffering and struggles

Sacrament

Makes a spiritual reality visible to us; an outward sign "instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church by which divine grace is dispensed to us

Sacramentality of the Body

The inherent ability of the body to act as a visible sign of God's invisible love

Sexual liberation

The common term for escaping the sexual "rules" so as to do whatever one wants with his or her sexuality. An excuse to use sexuality as a form of recreation, often leading to slavery of sexual addiction and a life of emptiness and broken relationships

Theology

faith seeking understanding" (the study of God)

Theology of the Body

A study of God and the purpose of our existence, as discovered and revealed through our bodies

Abstinence

The action of self-control that avoids something; not engaging in sexual intercourse

Agape

The Greek term for divine, unconditional love; the manner in which God loves us

Chastity

The virtue that directs all our sexual desires, emotions, and attractions toward the dignity of the person and the real meaning of love. Falls under the cardinal virtue of temperance. Saying "yes" to the demands of authentic love.

Love as Attraction

Recognizing the good of another person; seeing the inner and outer beauty of another person

Love as Desire

Wanting a good for yourself; desiring goodness and happiness

Love as Goodwill

Willing (desiring) the good of another person

Love and Responsibility

A book by Karol Wajtyla (John Paul II) that explains the importance of living a life that accepts responsibility and therefore, results in loving others in a responsible manner

Personalistic Norm

The principle that recognizes that the only proper attitude towards human persons is love. The opposite of love is to use a person as a means to an end.

Pornography

Pictures or stories create with the direct intention of arousing lust in the viewer or reader

Sexual repression

The unhealthy attempt to ignore sexual desires rather than embracing them and allowing God to reorder what is disordered in them for the good of oneself and otehrs

Temperance

The virtue that enables us to take pleasure in the goods gifts of God in the balanced way that He intends; one of the four cardinal virtues under which all other virtues come forth

Total Self-Donation

The total giving of oneself for the good of another

Utilitarianism

The philosophy of maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain, often at the expense of others. When applied in relationships, one ends up using a person for one's own gain. If one's goal for sex is pleasure, the other person becomes a means to an end.

Virtue

A firm habit in doing what is good. In its fullest sense, it is not only doing, but delighting in and desiring what is true, good, and beautiful.