Purity

Two or three nights ago I had a dream. Would you like to hear it? You are very dear to me, and so you are always in my dreams. I seemed to be in the playground with you swarming around me. Each one held a rose, a lily, a violet, or both a rose and a lily or some other flower. Suddenly a huge ugly cat, black as coal, appeared. It had horns, eyes as red as live coals, long sharp claws, and a disgustingly swollen belly. This ugly beast edged stealthily close to you, and in a trice clawed your flowers to the ground. When I first spotted this hideous creature, I was terrified, but to my astonishment you seemed totally unconcerned. Seeing it creep toward me to knock my flowers down. I immediately turned to dash off, but someone stopped me.

"Don't run away," he said. "Just tell your boys to raise their arms up high beyond the beast's reach."

I did as he told me. The monster tried hard to jump up, but its weight made it fall back clumsily to the ground.

The lily, my dear sons, symbolizes the beautiful virtue of purity, against which the devil wages endless war. Woe to those who keep their flower low! The devil will snatch it from them. Such are those who pamper the flesh by overeating or eating between meals, who shirk work and idle away their time, who are fond of certain conversations or books, and who shun self-denial. For goodness' sake, my children, fight this enemy or it will enslave you.

These victories are hard to win, but Holy Scripture tells us the means to use. "This kind of devil can be cast out only by prayer and fasting." [Matt. 17, 20] Raise your arm, and your flower will be safe. Purity is a heavenly virtue. Whoever wishes to safeguard it must raise himself heavenward. Prayer is your salvation. By prayer I mean your morning and night prayers devoutly said, meditation and Holy Mass, frequent confession and Communion, sermons and exhortations, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, the rosary, and your school duties. By prayer you will rise heavenward. Thus you will safeguard the most beautiful of virtues. Try as much as he wants, the devil will not be able to snatch it from you. BM Vol. 8, ch. 3, p.20

Keep in mind that Don Bosco has always kept his baptismal innocence. He was a shining example of purity to the people he met. He has given us very practical advice on how to keep and preserve this beautiful virtue. Be an example of purity as well.

Article 84: Attitudes and means for growing in chastity ...For this reason, the Salesian, faithful to the Constitutions, lives a life of work and temperance, practices mortification and the custody of the senses, makes the discreet and prudent use of the means of Social Communication and does not neglect the natural means which contribute to physical and mental health...