One of the pillars of protection is living virtuously, where strive to hold true to our cardinal virtues, the three theological virtues, and the eight Beatitudes.

Justin M. Pelletier has a PhD and is a Professor of Practice and Director of the Cyber Range and Training Center at ESL Global Cybersecurity Institute and Rochester Institute of Technology. He was inspired by Peter Kreeft's book, Back To Virtue, to write this paragraph on holding onto our virtues. Which will save us from sin, and strengthen our ties with God.

Every human being is created in the image and likeness of God. However, sexual sin over-emphasizes our animal nature, weakens our participation in God’s divine nature, and threatens the dignity of both the one who lusts and the one who is lusted upon. To combat this, the Catholic Church exhorts us to seek virtue as a shield against our moral failings. As we make a good confession and resolve to turn away from the world, the flesh, and the devil, we should ask the Holy Spirit to shield with virtue the voids in our souls where sin once seethed.

In particular, chastity plays a pivotal role in fostering a life of purity and holiness. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines chastity as "the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being" (CCC 2337). It allows us to exercise self-mastery over our sexual desires and impulses, enabling us to use our sexuality in a manner that is in line with God's plan for us. Chastity is not merely the absence of sexual activity outside of the marital covenant, but a positive and holistic approach to human sexuality that promotes authentic love and respect for ourselves and others. Though we may struggle with sexual sin, we should remember that chastity is the foundation of authentic love (aka. charity, the highest of all virtues - 1 Cor 13).

Living a chaste life requires us to cultivate virtues that strengthen the soul and shield us from the allure of sexual sin. It is worth noting, too, that shields are not only defensive in nature but, wielding them well, makes them weapons that can bash and stun an enemy.

Take, for example, the cardinal virtue of fortitude. Fortitude gives us the courage and strength to face the challenges, temptations, and pressures of a hyper-sexualized culture. It empowers us to stand firm in our convictions, even when it may be difficult or unpopular to do so. In the face of sexual temptations, fortitude enables us to say no to sinful pleasures and remain steadfast in our commitment to live according to God's plan for human sexuality. Fortitude is a requirement for chastity, but chastity can also enable fortitude to become more pervasive in other areas of our lives.

In our spiritual combat, many of us have fallen again and again to sexual sin. Venerable Louis of Grenada writes: “If you are sometimes wounded, beware of throwing away your arms and surrendering in dismay. Rather imitate those brave warriors whom the shame of defeat spurs to more heroic resistance and greater deeds of valor. Thus you will rise from a fall with new strength. You will see the enemy to whom you were formerly submitted now flying before you. And if, as may happen in battle, you are repeatedly wounded, do not lose heart, but remember that the valor of a soldier does not consist in escaping wounds, but in never surrendering. We do not call a combatant defeated when he is covered with wounds, but when he loses courage and abandons the field” (The Sinner’s Guide, p. 347). Especially after we have been bent and feel broken by lust, initial victories in chastity can help us comprehend what mighty power the Lord wields through the virtues acting in us. Over time, seeing lust’s power over us weaken and fail should inspire in us the fortitude to fight other deadly sins as well.

Though I find this to be a great encouragement, the assaults of the enemy are relentless. I must often recall the battle cry of the Prince of the Heavenly Host, Saint Michael the Archangel: “Who is like God?”. Remembering that the virtues growing in us are not our own, but come from the Almighty, is the essence of humility. Humility helps us recognize our limitations and weaknesses, reminding us that we are not invincible and can fall into sin. It fosters a sense of modesty and self-awareness, preventing us from becoming overly confident or complacent in our ability to resist temptations. Humility also encourages us to seek forgiveness and reconciliation when we fall, allowing us to grow in virtue and deepen our relationship with God. Put simply, humility is the mother of all virtues. It is the seedbed of a soft heart that “produces fruit with endurance” (Luke 8:15).

To further illustrate how these concepts fit together, we can look to the patron saint of chastity. Thomas Aquinas was born into nobility but sought the life of a beggar in the Dominican Order. His family was against it, had him kidnapped, and imprisoned him for more than a year. Seeking to change his mind about becoming a monk, his brothers sent a prostitute to his cell. Though he was undoubtedly desperate for human contact after such a long isolation, he took up a red-hot brand from the fireplace and chased her away. After burning a cross in the door behind her, he fell to his knees in tearful thanksgiving and prayed for perseverance in chastity. He then fell into a mystical sleep in which two angels girded him with a cord of chastity as a heavenly consolation and aid in his heroic virtue. Following this incident, his family relented.

Saint Thomas Aquinas, now known as the Angelic Doctor, went on to teach that the human soul has three distinct powers: intellect, will, and passions. The intellect is responsible for perceiving, apprehending, and cognizing reality. The will is the power that directs our motives, appetites, and desires toward what is perceived as good. The passions are the sensitive and emotive aspects of the soul that respond to stimuli and influence our actions and choices. Aquinas showed that these three powers are interconnected and play a crucial role in shaping our moral actions, including our approach to human sexuality. He argued that the intellect must guide the will and passions, ensuring that they are aligned with reason and virtue, particularly in the pursuit of chastity. By harnessing the powers of intellect, will, and passions in harmony, Aquinas teaches that one can cultivate a virtuous character and live a life in accordance with God's plan for human sexuality. Once our intellect recognizes true goodness and beauty, our will desires it, and our passions cultivate a habit of virtuous action. The process that Aquinas illustrates will help us bear fruitful witness to the Lord’s power if our hearts are humble enough to receive the seeds of virtue.

What begins with chastity can lead to a more bountiful life, but we must first perceive that God’s plan for human sexuality is truly good and beautiful.

Reference : Kreeft, Peter. Back To Virtue (pp. 189-195). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition.