From 'continency' to 'abstinence': the English vocabulary of sexual restraint
In short
In traditional Christian usage, chastity means sexual purity suited to one's state of life, inside or outside marriage, while continence means self-restraint, including abstaining from sex. Both entered English in the Middle Ages. The 1662 Prayer Book says marriage helps those without 'the gift of continency', and the Catholic Catechism still treats chastity as a virtue.
What the full article will cover
- What does chastity mean?
- What does continence mean?
- Where do the two words come from?
- What did the Prayer Book mean by 'the gift of continency'?
- How do churches use the words today?
Frequently asked questions
- Does chastity mean celibacy?
- Is continence still used in a moral sense?
- When did 'abstinence' replace 'continence' in everyday speech?
- Does chastity apply to married people?
Sources
- etymonline.com — https://www.etymonline.com/word/chastity
- churchofengland.org — https://www.churchofengland.org/node/391/printable/print
- vatican.va — https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P85.HTM
General information, not legal or religious advice.