• Art
  • Book Reviews
  • Catechism
  • Games
  • Music
  • Special Needs
  • Technology
  • Theology

Amazing Catechists

Teaching and learning the faith together

Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • Patron Saint of Amazing Catechists
    • Donations
  • Lisa Mladinich
  • Columnists
    • Browse by Topic
      • #giveaway
      • Art
      • Campus Ministry
      • Catechetics
      • Catechism
      • Catechist Training
      • Catholic Spirituality
      • Church Documents
      • Columnists
      • Culture
      • Elementary School
      • Evangelization
      • Family Life
      • Featured
      • Games
      • General
      • Grief Resources
      • High School
      • Homeschooling
      • Liturgical
      • Mary
      • Middle School
      • Music
      • New Age
      • NFP/Chastity
      • Prayer
      • RCIA & Adult Ed
      • Reader Suggestions
      • Sacraments
      • Scripture
      • Special Needs
      • Spiritual Warfare
      • Technology
      • Theology
      • Therapeutic
      • Video
      • Vocations
    • Browse by Author
      • Alex Basile
      • Alice Gunther
      • Amanda Woodiel
      • Cay Gibson
      • Christian LeBlanc
      • Christopher Smith
      • Deanna Bartalini
      • Dorian Speed
      • Elizabeth Ficocelli
      • Elizabeth Tichvon
      • Ellen Gable Hrkach
      • Faith Writer
      • Father Juan R. Velez
      • Gabe Garnica
      • Jeannie Ewing
      • Jennifer Fitz
      • Justin Combs
      • Karee Santos
      • Lisa Mladinich
      • Marc Cardaronella
      • Maria Rivera
      • Mary Ellen Barrett
      • Mary Lou Rosien
      • Maureen Smith
      • Msgr. Robert Batule
      • Msgr. Charles Pope
      • Pat Gohn
      • Peggy Clores
      • Robyn Lee
      • Rocco Fortunato
      • Sarah Reinhard
      • Steve McVey
      • Tanja Cilia
      • William O’Leary
  • Resources
    • Bible Stories
    • Book Reviews
    • Catholic Cartoons
    • Catholic Links
    • Interviews
  • Speakers
  • Contact us

Sex Lines and Videotape

By Ellen Gable Hrkach

Speaking with your children about sex may not always be a comfortable subject, but it is an essential topic, especially during the preteen and teen years when physical and emotional changes are taking place. An effective catalyst for this kind of discussion is for parents and teens to participate together in activities which will encourage them to ask questions, like watching television and DVDs, listening to CDs and reading books together.

Several years ago, we were watching a video with our older boys, then young teens. During one particular movie, the two main characters enter into a sexual relationship (implied, not shown) so we paused the movie and discussed the issue with them. Our sons were annoyed that we had interrupted the movie, but it was important for us to take the opportunity to talk. Since sex was portrayed as something two friends did without any sort of commitment, this was a chance for us to reinforce the truth that sex is meant to be the renewal of a couple’s marriage vows which unites husband and wife and creates life.

A DVD we highly recommend and which our sons have enjoyed is Jason and Crystalina Evert’s “Romance Without Regret.” The Everts’ humor and candor are especially refreshing. The DVD “Sex Has a Price Tag,” by Pam Stenzel is also excellent, informative and entertaining. These are positive teaching videos which are terrific if you can convince your kids to sit down and watch them, but there are many cool movies with a negative starting point from which to jump into a discussion, as in the example above.

Although reading to your children when they are very young is a wonderful way to bond with them, continuing this activity when they are older and into their teens not only helps to bond parent to child, it also can assist the parent to more fully understand what the Church teaches regarding sexuality while at the same time introducing your teen to these teachings. Some of the books that we’ve read with our teenagers are “Theology of the Body for Beginners,” by Christopher West, “If You Really Loved Me,” by Jason Evert and “Theology of the Body for Teens” by Jason and Crystalina Evert and Brian Butler.

Family prayer/rosary, attending Mass as a family and frequent confession is also recommended, especially in the teen years. Teens who are struggling with new-found sexual feelings and hormones can benefit from the graces of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist and can help them to remain chaste.

Talking with your teens about sex also presupposes that parents already have an adequate understanding of the basics on Church teaching regarding sex. Here are just a few (non-exhaustive) lines which can be memorized for when you’re chatting with your teens:

1. Chastity is a virtue which takes practice.

2. True freedom means being able to do what is right.

3. Premarital sex has consequences.

4. Sex isn’t dirty…it’s holy, and belongs in marriage.

5. Lust gets old but love endures forever.

6. Chastity doesn’t end with marriage.

For more information, refer to the Catechism of the Catholic Church on conjugal love (1643-1654) and on chastity and conjugal fidelity (2337- 2400).

Our teens and young adults deserve to hear the truth about the beauty and sanctity of marital sex. Participating in activities which encourage discussion can help your teens to embrace the idea that sex is a beautiful way for a married couple to achieve sanctity.

Copyright 2010 Ellen Gable Hrkach

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Read all posts by Ellen Gable Hrkach Filed Under: NFP/Chastity Tagged With: Chastity, Ellen Gable Hrkach

About Ellen Gable Hrkach

Ellen and her husband, James, have been certified NFP teachers for the Couple to Couple League since 1984 and have worked since 1983 in marriage preparation and chastity education. Ellen currently works as marketing director for Live the Fast. Ellen’s also an award-winning, bestselling author (her books have recently topped 610,00 downloads on Kindle). Her newest book is A Subtle Grace, which just hit #1 in Christian Historical Fiction and Christian Romance. Her other books can be found at her Amazon Author Page. She writes frequently for CCL’s Family Foundations magazine, a columnist for CatholicMom.com, a reviewer for CatholicFiction.net and she and her husband create the “Family Life” cartoons. She and her husband own a small Catholic publishing company called Full Quiver Publishing. Her blog is at https://ellengable.wordpress.com. She lives in Pakenham, Ontario Canada with her husband and sons. Contact her at: info@fullquiverpublishing.com

Follow Us!

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

What’s New?

microphoneNEED A SPEAKER FOR YOUR NEXT IN-SERVICE?

Amazing Catechists can help!

Visit our Speakers page to access our available speakers and topics. And if you don't see what you are looking for, send a comment through the website, and we will get right back to you!

Catholic CD of the month club

Sign up for our Newsletter!

Columnists

Alice Gunther

Amanda Woodiel

Cay Gibson

Christian LeBlanc

Christopher Smith

Deanna Bartalini

Dorian Speed

Elizabeth Ficocelli

Elizabeth Tichvon

Ellen Gable Hrkach

Faith Writer

Father Juan Velez

Gabriel Garnica

Jeannie Ewing

Jennifer Fitz

Karee Santos

Lisa Mladinich

Marc Cardaronella

Mary Ellen Barrett

Mary Lou Rosien

Maureen Smith

Monsignor Robert Batule

Msgr. Charles Pope

Pat Gohn

Peggy Clores

Robyn Lee

Rocco Fortunato

Sarah Reinhard

Sherine Green

Sr. Teresa Joseph fma

Steve McVey

Tanja Cilia

William O’Leary

Archives

Share Amazing Catechists at your website!

Amazing Catechists

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2022 Amazing Catechists. · Log in