By Angela E. Pometto
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 2/17/05)

Youths from nine different parishes in the diocese gathered last Friday night, sponsored by youth ministry at Holy Spirit in Annandale, to hear national chastity speaker Jason Evert.

"The peace and joy that comes from chastity is worth more than all the pleasures of the world," Evert said. "As the family goes, so goes the world. As your marriage goes, so goes the family. If young people can learn virtue now, they can save themselves from all kinds of hurt."

Evert’s energetic talk was enjoyable for the teens with lots of jokes and fun stories.

One of the sayings he repeated was that "you should always be thinking about your future spouse."

He told the men to remember one bible verse, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and handed himself over for her" (Eph 5:25). Evert then went into a graphic description of what Jesus would have suffered during the Passion and displayed a life-sized replica of the crown of thorns. Men are called to lay their lives down in this way for the women they love, Evert said.

According to Evert, there is an overall decline in the number of high school students who engage in premarital sex. Even publications such as Newsweek, People and Vogue have reported these statistics. Vogue also has reported that women’s fashions are starting to become less revealing.

"The Catholic Church puts a veil before the Eucharist," Evert said of the tabernacle. "We veil the mysterious." He added that a woman’s body is a "tabernacle of life" and should remain a mystery.

"Love can wait to give, but lust can’t wait to get," he said. To help teens to live a chaste life, Evert suggested three things: going to confession, staying close to the Eucharist and praying the rosary.

"The teens responded well to what he had to say," said Christine Najarian, youth minister at Holy Spirit. "Kids relate to him well." Najarian said that the message of chastity should be brought to as many people as possible.

"It’s the power of the Holy Spirit working through someone with natural talents," said Father Ed Horkan, parochial vicar at Holy Spirit.

Evert has worked with high school students for many years and feels he understands what they’re going through. Being in youth ministry, he said youth ministers "get a sense for how much guidance the young people are looking for." Evert didn’t begin speaking nationally to youths until he was hired as an apologist for Catholic Answers based in San Diego, Calif.

"It’s not about a list of rules," Evert said about a chaste lifestyle. "It’s a life that frees you to fall in love for the right reasons."

Evert speaks to about 100,000 students a year and travels both nationally and internationally with his chastity message. His wife, Crystalina, usually travels with him and also speaks, but she stayed home with their 10-month-old son, John Paul, for this trip.

In his experience of speaking to teens, Evert has found that sometimes they just don’t know any better. Evert hopes to make them aware of the consequences before they make bad decisions.

He wrote, If You Really Loved Me, to answer some of the many questions he’s been asked by teens.

"After chastity talks, kids are excited, but they’re not sure where to go," Evert said, adding that the book is something they can take home.

The questions in the book range from flirting to the difference between natural family planning and contraception. The answers are logical, clearly stated and well-supported with more than 200 footnotes. The question and answer format makes for an easy read that any teen could handle.

Within the book and his talks, Evert falls back on the teachings of Pope John Paul II, especially his Theology of the Body.

"I teach it without teaching it," he said. The pope’s principles are hidden within the content so it doesn’t feel like a theology lecture/book. "The Holy Father’s work is foundational to my work and ministry."

So far the book has been well-received among youths. At the end of each talk, Evert gives a few copies away.

"The teens are hungry for this message," he said, adding that he is working on a sequel to this book with 100 more questions and answers. "The thirst is there."

For more information go to pureloveclub.com. The Web site contains hundreds of resources for teens and youth ministers.

IF YOU REALLY LOVED ME, by Jason Evert. Catholic Answers, Inc. (El Cajon, Calif., 2003). 231 pp.