Pure in Heart
Pure in heart began in the 1990s, when a small group of young Irish people began responding to our Lady of Medjugorie’s invitation to prayer. ‘Purity amongst the youth’, a re-occurring prayer intention, caught the attention of their spiritual director, Fr Aiden Carroll.
In the year 2000 the seed was planted, when Pope John Paul II urged young people to open the doors of the Church during World Youth Day, the group then decided that rather than just praying for 'Purity amongst the youth’, they would become proactive!
After thinking and praying, two female members of the group decided to take a year out from their studies to give talks to schools around Ireland. This was the beginning of what became the pure in heart ‘mission team‘, young people who present church teaching on sexuality in a common sense, attractive way to their peers. This gives a particular strength to Pure in Heart as it is young people reaching out to other young people.
There is an awful lot on offer in the world today and it is not always for the betterment of the individual, the culture of today offers so many things, but few of them, if any, lead to real happiness. If you are young and reading this, thinking "ME! you have to be joking" then you need to understand is that it is not about your past. The call to live a life of purity as part of the community of Pure in Heart is not about perfection. If you start living the message, limit the heartbreak as much as possible and try and keep yourself on the right track, that will lead you to the greatest joy.
The idea of chastity before marriage may not sound like a ‘modern notion’ but many wonderful things come under the chastity umbrella; sexual health, respect, confidence, freedom, peace, friendship, lasting relationships, self-worth, the list is endless!
“Chastity is about learning how to love authentically with our bodies. At Pure in heart, we cherish our sexuality as one of God’s most beautiful and exciting gifts! But like everything, it’s been given to us with a purpose. Its inscription into our bodies indicates that sex serves marriage; a long term, monogamous relationship.”
In the year 2008, pure in heart went international with a mission to Boston in the USA. Since that successful trip groups have been set up in Haiti, Kenya, Britain, Liberia and France. The group in Boston has managed to secure UN NGO status.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)
