WhyCelibacy?

WrittenbyRev.H.T.Burke OurLordwasapriest(Heb.4:14);Hewasalsocelibateandcalledotherstodothesame.AndPetersaid, Behold,wehaveleftallandfollowedYou.AndHesaidtothem,AmenIsaytoyou,thereisnoonewhohasleft house,orparents,orbrothers,orwifeorchildren,forthesakeofthekingdomofGod,whoshallnotreceivemuch moreinthepresenttime,andintheagetocomelifeeverlasting.(Lk.18:2830)Abrahamwascalledtosacrifice hissonIsaac(Gen.22);throughcelibacythepriestiscalledtosacrificenotjusthisson,buthiswife.OurLord teachesthatnotallcanbecelibate,butthosewhocanshoulddosoforthesakeofthekingdom:Hisdisciples saidtoHim,ifthecaseofamanwithhiswifeisso,itisnotexpedienttomarry.AndHesaid,Notallcanaccept

thisteaching;butthosetowhomithasbeengiventhereareeunuchswhohavemadethemselvessoforthesake ofthekingdomofheaven.Lethimacceptitwhocan.(Matt.19:1012)
Celibacyisalsoasignoftheresurrection;wewillallbecelibateinthenextworld.Jesussays:Whenpeople risefromthedead,theyneithermarrynoraregiveninmarriagebutlivelikeangelsinheaven.(Matt.22:30)In imitationofChristthepriestiscalledtolivethiswayhereandnowinthisworld.ElijahandJohntheBaptist,the twogreatprophetsoftheOldCovenant,werecelibate.St.Paulevenencouragescelibacyamongthelaity.He writes:Itisgoodforthemannottotouchwoman.Yetforfearoffornication,leteachmanhavehisownwife, andleteachwomanhaveherownhusbandForIwishthatyouallwerelikeme;buteachonehashisowngift fromGod,oneinthisway,andanotherinthatAreyouboundtoawife?Donotseektobefreed.Areyoufreed fromawife?Donotseekawife.Butifyoutakeawife,youhavenotsinned.Hewhoisunmarriedisconcerned

aboutthethingsoftheLord,howhemaypleaseGod.Whereashewhoismarriedisconcernedaboutthethings oftheworld,howhemaypleasehiswife,andheisdivided.(1Cor.7)
Achampionofcelibacyforthepriesthood,VaticanIIsaid:Perfectandperpetualcontinenceforthesakeof thekingdomofheavenwasrecommendedbyChristtheLord.ThisSacredCouncilapprovesandconfirmsthis legislationsofarasitconcernsthosedestinedforthepriesthood,andfeelsconfidentintheSpiritthatthegiftof celibacy,soappropriatetothepriesthoodoftheNewTestament,isliberallygrantedbytheFather.Andthemore

thatperfectcontinenceisconsideredbymanypeopletobeimpossibleintheworldoftoday,somuchthemore humblyandperseveringlyinunionwiththeChurchoughtpriestsdemandthegraceoffidelity,whichisnever deniedtothosewhoask.

Celibacyisnotunnatural,itissupernatural.ItisaspecialgracefromGod.OurLordcreatedmanhood,andas amanheliveditfullyandnaturally,asacelibatemale.Celibacyisasacrificeofthegoodofmarriageforthesake ofthekingdomofGod.Itisnotformenwhohavenoattractionforwomen.Itisformenwhodolikewomen.If theydontthenthereisnosacrificeingivingupmarriage.Celibacyisunpopularwiththeworldtodaybecauseitis asacrifice,andsacrificeforGodisnotwhatahedonisticculturewants.Theopinionsofthisworlddonotworry OurLordwhosaid:Mykingdomisnotofthisworld.(Jn.18:36)