The sacerdotal privilege of offering the sacrifice of the Mass and presiding over the transubstantiation of the Eucharist surely runs a poor second to the physical affection, intimacy of heart and mind that comes from absolute commitment to and union with a mere mortal as opposed to Christ?
I don't see how it gets more physical than the Eucharist, Sinkspur. I don't see how it gets more intimate than a single-minded devotion to Christ wherein ones life in Christ cannot help but spill over and often profoundly affect all with whom one comes in contact.
Your marriage has the substantively life-changing effect on others that the Eucharist or charism of a Holy Order does?
Ask the nearly 100 converts from Anglicanism to Catholicism who are both priests AND married.
Celibacy is not a theological requirement for the Catholic priesthood, and none of your usual contortions you try to wrap around it will make it so.
The Church is bending its celibacy requirement, and will bend it more in the future.
Your marriage has the substantively life-changing effect on others that the Eucharist or charism of a Holy Order does?
I don't know. Ask my two grown boys.