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"It is he who, after having broken down the ramparts of his passions, ascends with force to the Kingdom of Heaven." St. Gregory the Great

For Reflection: St. Gregory gives us insight into the reward of our efforts to remain chaste. What is it? Can I experience this reward even now? How has this been so in my own life?

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"The devil flatters that he may deceive us; he charms that he may injure us; he allures that he may slay us." St. John Climacus

For Reflection: What three tactics of the evil one does this quote reveal? How have I seen them exhibited in my fight to remain chaste? To what extent does this revelation help me to assess my strategy and remain diligent to the fight?

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"The tempter, ever on the watch, wages war most violently against those whom he sees most careful to avoid sin." Pope Saint Leo the Great

For Reflection: What can I expect to experience as I wage a war against impurity and seek to practice the virtue of chastity? How can this encourage my efforts?

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"It is necessary that temptations should happen; for who shall be crowned but he that shall lawfully have fought, and how shall a man fight if there be none to attack him?" St. Bernard

For Reflection: How does this help me to fight more strongly against the temptations that assail me including those against the virtue of chastity?

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"As a tower defends a camp, so does humility of heart guard the chastity of the body." St. Anthony of Padua

For Reflection: St. Anthony of Padua lived in the 13th century. How did a tower defend a camp in that time? What image does this conjure in my imagination regarding humility and chastity? How am I working to cultivate the virtue of humility?

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"Humility is the safeguard of chastity. In the matter of purity, there is no greater danger than not fearing danger. When a person puts himself in an occasion, saying 'I shall not fall' - it is an almost infallible sign that he will fall, and with great injury to his soul." St. Philip Neri

For Reflection: What do I see as the connection between purity and humility? Do I exhibit pride by placing myself in the near occasion of sin? In what ways? I will confess my pride at the next opportunity.

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"There is no remedy so powerful against the heat of concupiscence as the remembrance of our Savior's Passion. In all my difficulties, I never found anything so efficacious as the wounds of Christ. In them I sleep secure. From them, I derive new life." St. Augustine

For Reflection: Which one wound of Our Lord speaks most to my heart? How can meditation on this wound help me to fight off all of the temptations that assail me?

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"As soon as you are tempted to impurity, endeavor to think of the Passion of the Savior of the world and make the following act: 'My God is nailed to a cross, and shall I consent to these unlawful pleasures?'" St. Bernard

For Reflection: To what extent do I meditate on the passion of Christ? How did His passion obtain for me the grace to resist temptation? Why, then, is meditation on His passion a good safeguard to all temptation including the temptation to impurity? (See tomorrow's Grace Line to see what specific aspect of Christ's passion St. Augustine found effective in his fight against temptations of the flesh.)

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"Vigilance and prayer are the safeguards of chastity. 'Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation (Mark 14:38).' You should pray often and fervently to be preserved from temptations against purity, and for the grace to overcome them." St. John Baptist de la Salle

For Reflection: To prayer and fasting, St. John Baptist de la Salle adds one more safeguard for chastity. What is it? How can I apply it? (Tomorrow's Grace Line adds yet another way to protect our chastity.)

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"Take to hear the warning of our Lord: 'But this kind of sin (impurity) is not overcome but by prayer and fasting.'" St. John Bosco

For Reflection: To prayer, what other suggestion does St. John Bosco recommend? How can I comply with this suggestion?

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