tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post5610982808180758594..comments2024-03-02T13:20:05.410-05:00Comments on The Corner With a View: The More Things Change, the More They Stay the SameAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10845051786114528609noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-16780833892736937922011-04-20T21:20:20.035-04:002011-04-20T21:20:20.035-04:00Great Post! I was just browsing through your blog ...Great Post! I was just browsing through your blog and I'm so glad I stumbled upon this. I went to a talk that Mrs. Smith gave on Pope John II's theology of the body--I'm really excited to read more about it this summer. Thanks for posting GOOD reasons for waiting until marriage--and not skirting the fact that sex is good, and is good not just for babies (though those are wonderful and beautiful and an integral part of a good marriage) but also for bonding!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03925325484743424755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-50557949383955621842011-04-14T07:46:22.005-04:002011-04-14T07:46:22.005-04:00Wonderful post, my dear! I enjoyed it as always. I...Wonderful post, my dear! I enjoyed it as always. I love reading your rational on paper and I love being able to hear your voice through the page! Very well written and enjoyable; I plan to share :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-14796530760761816432011-04-14T00:29:15.133-04:002011-04-14T00:29:15.133-04:00"We choose God's way...People are happies..."We choose God's way...People are happiest when they are inter-relational; living in just community with virtuous people, and can self-preserve these good things through the commitment of marriage, sex and children."<br /><br />Amen! I couldn't agree with you more. As an engaged woman in my final semester of college, I have found so much joy and lasting peace by choosing "God's way" in all things. This includes my fiance and I living chastely and having our physical intimacy reflect the commitment we have made in our relationship. This means that we live chastely out of love and respect for God, for each other, and for ourselves. Sex has strings attached, and in married love, there should be no fears that otherwise might exist were an unmarried couple nervous about getting pregnant or what would happen if the relationshp were to end. <br /><br />Ladies: Let your heart be won over by someone who will respect and protect it.<br /><br />Men: A woman striving for holiness is a good catch; she'll make a beaming bride.<br /><br />Julie, I'd love for you to vist my blog: www.rushhourvirtues.blogspot.com. I'm just getting started, but I really like your writing and ideas. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-78323811342822682752011-04-13T14:01:41.664-04:002011-04-13T14:01:41.664-04:00I really resonated with your story at the very beg...I really resonated with your story at the very beginning.....sort of a "loss of innocence" of sorts. I likewise had friends and family at home that modeled the correct behavior, and although I knew that some people had sex before marriage, I didn't realize that *I* would be the weird one who didn't.<br /><br />Shortly after going to college, I found out one of my close high school friends was pregnant, and that led to the realization that several of my hs friends were no longer virgins....it really came as a hard shock to me. One of my first friends at college revealed to me that her and her bf were having sex, and I accidentally overheard a conversation between the two of them regarding a possible pregnancy (turned out to be false), but they continued to have sex, she just decided it was high time to get the pill.<br /><br />Many friends just didn't understand why I became so sad and upset about all of this...at times it was just me and my best friend that stuck with it. Myself and especially my friend got ignored and not invited to gatherings when we came home from college because, as we later found out, we were "too religious" and apparently ruining their fun. It hurt. :-(<br /><br />While I continue to pray for my high school friends (I just heard one them is trying to convince her parents that she absolutely needs to move in with her bf to save money :-/), I've recently found some great friends that fit in with my values, and I can sometimes see that seed has been planted in the hearts of old friends or people I meet.<br /><br />Great post, as always! :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06478837043080098087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-34669472641104243732011-04-13T11:23:42.875-04:002011-04-13T11:23:42.875-04:00"I am always intrigued when people say that s..."I am always intrigued when people say that sex isn't a big deal. Perhaps not to some, but doesn't an inner crevice of one's soul want it to be?"<br /><br />No matter what people say or want to believe, sex always has some effect. It's bonds you to a person because that's what it's designed to do. While that tie might be pretty weak in the case of hooking up with someone you don't really know, it will eventually take a toll on your emotional makeup in little bits and pieces. <br /><br />If there wasn't this bond, it wouldn't be such a big deal to break up with someone you've had sex with, and it wouldn't have been such a big deal for your friend to admit it. <br /><br />Great post Julie!Marc Cardaronellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10608322942508691673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-76677014908137255802011-04-12T22:46:25.412-04:002011-04-12T22:46:25.412-04:00"Catholics are certainly not Puritans. We lov..."Catholics are certainly not Puritans. We love sex! Which is why we value it so highly and thus, protect it from false forms." YEAH GIRL! Love this entire post!not a minx, a moron, or a parasitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04799393593685552159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-71127200322073489262011-04-12T19:44:36.883-04:002011-04-12T19:44:36.883-04:00After reading my first post, I may have strayed fr...After reading my first post, I may have strayed from point I was trying to make. Allow me to clarify, and I apologize for the "wall-o-text." :)<br /><br />I agree that the he is not praying solely out of fear of death. I wanted to say something about Tobiah's trust in God, but couldn't find the right words to express it. Thanks for the spark! To expand on what you said, I would suggest that because of his trust, he was able to turn to God, instead of turning away. While not totally the same, I imagine his response would have been similar to Mary at the Annunciation, or Jesus in the Garden at Gethsemane. Both Mary and Jesus were deeply troubled at what was about to happen, but because of their trust in the Father, were able to say "let it be done to me according to Your word."<br /><br />Tobiah expresses his fear in 6:14-15. And his prayer follows the command of Raphael in 6:18 "both of you first rise up to pray. Beg the Lord of heaven to show you mercy and grant you deliverance." I can't help but think that even though he trusts in God, in the back of his mind, there is still some hesitation about what is going to happen.<br /><br />The point I was trying to make was when that passage gets read at a wedding, it's easy to miss the full weight of the prayer without the context of Sarah's previous husbands. With that context, I see Tobiah's trust and his prayer take on deeper meaning. <br /><br />When a marriage is centered around God, and both partners trust in Him, the marriage is built on Rock. And I agree, what a beautiful way to start a marriage!<br /><br />And none of that has anything to do with sex before marriage... :)<br /><br />Does that make more sense?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-88130043320080383732011-04-12T18:28:52.533-04:002011-04-12T18:28:52.533-04:00An electric griddle on the desk? Toaster pancakes?...An electric griddle on the desk? Toaster pancakes?<br /><br /><i>"So, of course it is natural to want to have sex! Sex is wonderful and life-giving! Not only potentially to a child, but between the couple. Catholics are certainly not Puritans. We love sex! Which is why we value it so highly and thus, protect it from false forms."</i><br /><br />YAHOO! Too many people don't realize that sexual "liberation" has actually cheapened sex and made it less meaningful. Heck, I've known people for whom sex was less meaningful than a handshake! Thank you, Julie!<br /><br /><b>Leah:</b> I've lived Platonically with a couple women. You're right, it doesn't have to result in sex, although it's nothing I'd recommend (avoid the near occasion and all that). I'm glad you and your boyfriend can respect each other's boundaries.Anthony S. Laynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14807873592896092136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-57915808415028438932011-04-12T17:06:27.164-04:002011-04-12T17:06:27.164-04:00I think you make a good point Leah. When both part...I think you make a good point Leah. When both parties are upfront and make a commitment to chastity, and agree that sex will not happen, it doesn't and won't. I've always been frustrated from the leap of kissing to sex. Hello, there are a lot steps in between! The point they-who-assume miss is that love and romance is about the wooing and a relationship, not sex. I presume they're just being nosy and want to be shocked, so they let their minds unjustly jump.<br /><br />My friend was in college too... I have no clue how her boyfriend made pancakes. We made grilled cheese with an iron once, though! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10845051786114528609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-40904165445639785032011-04-12T16:49:34.388-04:002011-04-12T16:49:34.388-04:00I'm in the awkward position of having people a...I'm in the awkward position of having people assume my boyfriend and I are having sex just because we've been going out for over a year. Whenever it comes up, I have to explain, which feels ridiculous since they all know he's Catholic, but every time their eyes go wide with shock.<br /><br />My boyfriend does sleep over most nights (chastely), which I just want to mention since I hear a lot of people say that this kind of behavior inevitably leads to sex. It hasn't for us, and it's nice to talk at night, cuddle, and wake up together (though since we're college students, there's no kitchen for morning pancakes).<br /><br />I get frustrated by some of the talk that it's too hard not to have sex. We just don't. Doesn't take any special effort to not do something.Leahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16496144988509668275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-83162895424857425612011-04-12T16:33:15.131-04:002011-04-12T16:33:15.131-04:00Another wonderful post Julie! You are so inspirin...Another wonderful post Julie! You are so inspiring!Stacy Trasancoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14638075878905614981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-58567039242451105072011-04-12T15:55:27.608-04:002011-04-12T15:55:27.608-04:00Hi all! Thanks for your comments!
@Bryan, I am aw...Hi all! Thanks for your comments!<br /><br />@Bryan, I am aware of that yes, but I do not think he is praying out of fear of death. He is praying to God and praising God; he trusts him!<br /><br />I think this because of an even earlier passage, from Tobit 6:19: "[The angel] Raphael said to [Tobiah]: "Do you not remember your father's orders? He commanded you to marry a woman from your own family. So now listen to me, brother; do not give another thought to this demon, but marry Sarah. I know that tonight you shall have her for your wife!"<br /><br />Sarah's father might not trust, but Tobiah does, because the angel of God told him not to worry. Therefore, he was praying for a long life with his wife and mercy from God. He has already been blessed! So he gives thanksgiving, and promises to love and cherish his wife in a noble way, not out of necessity or lust. I think that is a beautiful way to start a marriage!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10845051786114528609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-11954001688817966722011-04-12T15:24:08.713-04:002011-04-12T15:24:08.713-04:00Julie, great post! You make some really great poi...Julie, great post! You make some really great points. Something that I'd like to point out because I wasn't aware of it until it was pointed out to me.<br /><br />I think that passage from Tobit is awesome, but what I missed was the situation preceding Tobias's prayer. In Ch 7 Verse 11, Raguel says to Tobias "But let me explain the true situation to you. I have given my daughter to seven men of our kinsmen, and when each came to her he died in the night." <br /><br />No wonder Tobias is on his knees praying! Surely he doesn't want to die like the other seven! I probably would have run the other way... <br /><br />What I find beautiful is that Tobias agrees to marry Sarah anyway. He makes that total gift of self to Sarah despite the fact that he could die. I may be going out on a limb here, but I think this is a foreshadowing of Christ's death for us. While Tobias couldn't die to save Sarah, or even himself, Jesus could and did die to save us. It's His total gift of self, out of love, unto death, that saved all of humanity.<br /><br />Changes how I look at that passage just a little bit.Bryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16978125442515091404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-25769927047277332632011-04-12T14:58:37.067-04:002011-04-12T14:58:37.067-04:00"no one regrets saying no and waiting for sex..."no one regrets saying no and waiting for sex"<br /><br />I, absolutely, and completely regret this.ex-Catholichttp://heh.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-26846768536506908322011-04-12T14:33:28.238-04:002011-04-12T14:33:28.238-04:00I saw Pam Stenzel live as a high school freshmen -...I saw Pam Stenzel live as a high school freshmen - at that age, I think it was good just to have someone say "This is not for you right now. God created boundaries for sex, and if you cross them you will probably get hurt."Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06628206579067878095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-17207446566808508672011-04-12T14:06:44.046-04:002011-04-12T14:06:44.046-04:00The sophomores are watching a Pam Stenzel DVD toda...The sophomores are watching a Pam Stenzel DVD today. It's difficult to reach them via "God says don't, so don't," but I think Stenzel really drove in the importance of abstinence via scientific truths and alarming statistics. Hopefully some of those knuckleheads got the message. Keep your pants on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-15690760853285993882011-04-12T13:23:50.801-04:002011-04-12T13:23:50.801-04:00I like how you tied in some Scripture with your po...I like how you tied in some Scripture with your post!Lieslhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04568652187821916186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617480612533506385.post-8822582358658605382011-04-12T12:57:13.734-04:002011-04-12T12:57:13.734-04:00"Catholic young adults are biologically no di..."Catholic young adults are biologically no different than other young adults, but as Christians, we are called towards a higher purpose in all that we do, and that includes sex. " Very well said. <br /><br />One of the things that strikes me after reading all of the posts today is that fear of pregnancy or desire to please God is not enough to make a woman abstain from sex in the heat of the moment with a man she loves, but it can be enough to help her make decisions that will keep her out of that situation in the first place. <br /><br />The sharp contrast between your various friends is telling. I found such a contrast in my own life to always make me want to run to the middle-ground offered by the theology of the body. It looks like you find it similarly encouraging!Raehttp://nowealthbutlife.comnoreply@blogger.com