aroused sexually if He didn’t want us to be using our sexual organs every time we have a desire to? The answer to those questions is given in the biblical account. Do you remember the first thing that happened to Adam and Eve after their sin? The eyes of them both were opened: and they perceived themselves to be naked (Gen 3:7). In other words, as soon as they sinned and turned away from God, even before any change in the weather which would have forced them to find clothes in order to survive, they lost the mastery God had given them over their passions. The flesh now has its demands that go contrary to reason; other humans, intended by God to be loving companions and helpers to be respected as persons, have become objects of conquest and exploitation. Since that day, men are inclined to take advantage of a woman’s desire for love and acquire pleasure at her expense, for men are attracted by the pleasure they can get from seeing and touching the female body. Women on the other hand, in order to gratify their desire to be loved, can prey upon the male desire for visual stimulation in such a way that attracts them. Sadly, not a few men prey on feminine beauty instead of admiring, respecting and protecting it, and not a few women use the seductive charm of their beauty to get what they want from men instead of properly, gently and chastely holding sway over men’s affections as they were meant to in God’s plan. Henceforward, the original naturally good functions of both men and woman are easily subverted and used in the power of sin. This is why we cannot overly stress the tragic event that took place at the beginning of our history. The knowledge of this simple truth casts an amazing light on the mystery of the battle we must all wage for sexual purity. As G. K. Chesterton wrote, Original Sin is “the only part of Christian theology which can really be proved”, meaning that it is all too evident!10 By concupiscence (or disorderly desire) then, we mean that our senses are inclined to seek pleasure in an inordinate way. Before the Fall, our first parents had no concupiscence. Their bodies were the same as ours, but the lower part of the soul which commands the passions was kept in check by the higher part which was fully submissive to God and His will. When Adam and Eve sinned, they thereby broke their bond of communion with God, and instantaneously the flesh revolted against the spirit; this is the meaning of their eyes were opened and they knew they were naked. Before the Fall they knew they were naked as well, but because of the 31
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