YET ANOTHER VIRGIN SAINT - BELINA OF TROYES

SAINT BELINA OF TROYES, FRANCE

died 1135

"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, 

that you should abstain from fornication."

~ 1 Thessalonians 4:3 ~

I had some free time today, as I had put aside the day for relaxation, and I was unable to find anything of appropriate diversion on any of the venues in my computer. More and more, it hardly seems worth even attempting to find any entertainment because it seems that nearly everything I try has the most rank pornography in it! Just as I begin to become interested in a plot, whether it is a mystery or an historical treatment or some such other drama, all of a sudden, everyone's clothes drop away and my eyes are assaulted with genitalia, acres of naked skin (usually the women, but sometimes also men), and the most unfortunate sounds assail my ears.

I am not a prude. I just find the sudden introduction of naked, heaving bodies incredibly boring, after the initial shock. Honestly, who does not know how sex works? We are familiar with what people do in bed, and it rarely advances the plot of the dramatic production one iota to include a scene of people having sex! Seriously, I can't see the purpose of it, but, apparently, modern culture is firmly established in the idea that pornography is a type of entertainment and "everyone" wants to see naked people in every dramatic production on television.

"Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting

and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness,

not in strife and envying."

~ Romans 13:13 ~

If the rest of the production has captivated my attention, I might occasionally walk away and grab a snack. By the time I return, the sex scene is typically over. Sometimes, if I don't feel like rousing myself to go to the kitchen,  I will skip to the next scene in which people have retained their clothing. Usually, however, I move on to a different movie or episodic series because I know that, where there is one sex scene there will be more!

"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or

covetousness, let it not be once named among

you, as becomes saints."

~ Ephesians 5:3 ~

Neither am I interested in seeing that people are punished for having sex or that production companies be fined for showing a field of flesh. Again, it is a question of avoiding focus on the sex lives of other persons, which is not where the mind of the spiritual aspirant should reside! Clearly, though, it should be obvious that obeying religious prescriptions about sexual matters is an act of the heart and the will, and no one should be forced, especially since monitoring the sex lives of others would put the purity of one's own mind at risk.

 "I made a covenant with my eyes; why then

should I think on a maid?"

~ Job 31:1

Chastity is recommended throughout the Bible, it is recognized in all the major religious traditions as a necessary practice for those wanting to become close to God, and all of this is well known, especially among my Christian, Catholic, Hindu, Vedanta and Buddhist friends. The Hindus teach that chastity ("Brahmacharya") is essential to the physical processes that contribute to the "realization" of God, which adds an extra layer of spiritual practice.

"Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have 

his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband."

~ 1 Corinthians 7:2 ~

There is one female saint for whom today is the feast day, and that is Saint Belina of Troyes, a young French girl who just happens to be known for her devotion to chastity. She rejected a suitor who was powerful and well placed, in order to retain her virginity, and she was killed for her impulse toward chastity.

If only there had been as much attention placed on chastity for men as for women in human history, we might not now be finding ourselves in this situation where sex shows have become general entertainment for the masses. I use the word "entertainment" with some skepticism, since I doubt that it is entertaining, so much as it is intended to be titillating. Yesterday, I was told by a friend who works in the motion picture industry that it is generally accepted that a good number of people want that sort of thing in their movies and television shows, and this is why naked bodies and sexual situations are featured in most of the modern motion picture fare that is offered to adults.

"Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is

my meditation."

~ Psalm 119:97 ~

I feel the need to stress here that, in order to practice chastity, it isn't required that one be a virgin, or innocent or spotless or "pure" as far as one's history is concerned. That's the marvelous thing about Christ. He is the God of second chances and, as such, he is the most intelligent counselor that ever lived. I think many people who have fallen by the wayside when it comes to the practice of chastity have a hard time getting back "on track," as it were. One needn't punish oneself with excess scruples in this regard. Repent of past indiscretions and gently shepherd yourself back to the pure life expected of a spiritual aspirant.

We are not required to have been saints our entire lives in order to aspire to becoming saints in future. Think on the people, such as Saint Augustine, who led completely dissolute lives, became converted, and were saints by the time of their demise.

Reading my own words, above, I can almost hear some of the modern Christians deriding me for "antiquated" ideas, but these "antiquated" ideas are an essential part of spiritual life, not just with the Christians. There are many reasons why chastity is crucial, but I can't reinvent the wheel here. There are entire books written on the topic, and you need to go read those if you are one of the people who has decided to twist religion into something of your own invention that incorporates sexual license.

I will just say that in the 17 years since I took actual vows of celibacy, I have not regretted it. In fact, I grow to love this practice more and more. It has much to offer and I highly recommend it to the serious spiritual person.

God bless us all.

Silver Rose
aka Sannyasini Kaliprana

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Silver S. Parnell