19 - Father Paul Scalia Speaks to the Diocesan Retreat Day for Married Couples about Chastity in Marriage

During a marriage retreat, Father Paul Scalia speaks of chastity as the fulfillment of human sexuality. Hear why he says that, although chastity may seem out of place in the world, the chaste love of husband and wife is a sign of eternal hope for all of us.

On Saturday, July 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Holy Trinity parish, in Gainesville, Fr. Paul Scalia, Episcopal Vicar for Clergy, hosted a Retreat Day for Married Couples.

220 couples attended the enriching and reflective day, which included talks, Adoration, confession, spiritual time spent with the spouse, and concluded with Mass.

Fr. Scalia gave talks on poverty, chastity and obedience (the three evangelical counsels of the consecrated life), and how they exist analogously in marriage. These vows are, of course, typically made by religious in community, though they are present in an analogous way in marriage.

Chastity: For a religious brother or sister, chastity means total abstinence. For the married couple, chastity means a purity of heart and action: married love is total and free, which means that it must be exclusive. Even within this relationship, the deep union between husband and wife must be generous and never self-seeking.