Understanding Purity
What does the word ‘purity’ really mean? For many, the term is a deceptively simple one. In most cases particularly in the scientific realm it is understood as something clean, untarnished and uncontaminated. However, in the Christian dimension, we, the faithful, are challenged to think outside the box regarding its fuller meaning.
Jesus himself said, ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God’ (Matthew 5:8). Throughout the centuries, there have been many interpretations of these words. However, the one that never fails to stand out may be summed up by a few simple characteristics. To have a pure heart means to be unencumbered by idols, anger, and inordinate desires for pleasure, material gain and sensuality. It means to seek God above all else, to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5) and to unite our whole hearts and lives with His everlasting love for us. (Jeremiah 31:3)
From this union, a different way of seeing people should organically arise. With pure hearts, we learn to love people and use things, rather than the other way around; to use people and love things. We begin to see the person from the inside out, not reducing them merely to their body or other physical characteristics, rather loving the whole person; mind, body and soul.
Often, the purest relationships arise from a chaste way of seeing the other. What do we mean a chaste way of seeing the other? Well let’s look at the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the best answer to this important way of not only living but in living we also learn the way to love nobly and wholeheartedly, as God does. Being and living chaste comes from practising the virtue of chastity.
“Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being. Sexuality, in which man’s belonging to the bodily and biological world is expressed, becomes personal and truly human when it is integrated into the relationship of one person to another, in the complete and lifelong mutual gift of a man and a woman.” – CCC 2337
The virtue of chastity therefore involves the integrity of the person and the acceptance and value of the truthfulness of the gift that a person is.
“The chaste person maintains the integrity of the powers of life and love placed in him. This integrity ensures the unity of the person; it is opposed to any behavior that would impair it. It tolerates neither a double life nor duplicity in speech.” – CCC 2338
It is not surprising that through pure, chaste love there have been many cases throughout history where love has unexpectedly arisen between two people, following a friendship. The firm foundation laid down by a strong friendship may cause something more romantic to develop in time, rather than fleeting physical attraction which without depth of relationship quickly falters.
To be pure in heart is to see the whole person, to recognise their dignity, to treat them as a precious child of God, and to love them as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). Purity may be understood as love in its deepest sense, which does not insist on its own way, is not arrogant, boastful, rude nor jealous (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7).
To be pure of heart is to see the person the way God sees them, and to love them the way He does.
