Saturday, February 11, 2012

Celibacy

        In the bible there are few warnings about celibacy. People usually bring this accusation up when debating with the Protestants. In Matthew 19:10-12 we see Christ addressing this topic. He even said that it is hard to accept. Priests don't marry because they serve God alone. They do this for the "sake of the kingdom of Heaven." They have free will to enter the Priesthood. They are not forced to enter the Seminary. Before they enter they know that they have to be celibate. Priests are eunuchs to the one and only king of all, Christ the King. In 1 Corinthians 7:1-9 


we see St. Paul telling us to remain single like him. It is just self-control. If it's hard to take this he advice to marry rather than to fall into sin. Priest are not forced to enter a seminary. They have freewill. They are even allowed to live outside the seminary for 2 years. Before they become priests they are asked and tested if they can handle it. The Catholic Church does not force the laity to take the vow of celibacy. Taking the vow is voluntary. We see saints and martyrs take the vow of celibacy and they did it on their own will. Celibacy is voluntary, not forced on everyone.









What the Catechism says:


"2349 "People should cultivate [chastity] in the way that is suited to their state of life. Some profess virginity or consecrated celibacy which enables them to give themselves to God alone with an undivided heart in a remarkable manner. Others live in the way prescribed for all by the moral law, whether they are married or single."136 Married people are called to live conjugal chastity; others practice chastity in continence:

There are three forms of the virtue of chastity: the first is that of spouses, the second that of widows, and the third that of virgins. We do not praise any one of them to the exclusion of the others. . . . This is what makes for the richness of the discipline of the Church.137
2350 Those who are engaged to marry are called to live chastity in continence. They should see in this time of testing a discovery of mutual respect, an apprenticeship in fidelity, and the hope of receiving one another from God. They should reserve for marriage the expressions of affection that belong to married love. They will help each other grow in chastity." -Catechism of the Catholic Church







What the Bible says:






10 The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”



 11 Jesus replied, Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."- Matthew 19:10-12


 1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
 6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
 8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.-


1 Corinthians 7:1-9

At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.- Matthew 22:30





"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life."-Matthew 19:29


"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel"-Mark 10:29

"Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry."-1 Corinthians 7:1

"These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb."-Revelation 14:4


1 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 2 “You must not marry and have sons or daughters in this place.” 3 For this is what the LORD says about the sons and daughters born in this land and about the women who are their mothers and the men who are their fathers: 4 “They will die of deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried but will be like dung lying on the ground. They will perish by sword and famine, and their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals.”-Jeremiah 16:1-4




"32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
 36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.





 39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. 40 In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God."-1 Corinthians 7:32-40

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