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To: LadyDoc
Celibacy in those who seek holiness is not limited to Catholics.

So I suppose we married schmucks are just out of luck when it comes to holiness?

Monks used to flagellate themselves too, in the name of holiness.

John Paul II has done more to counter the continuing influence of gnosticism in the Church than any Pope in history.

55 posted on 04/18/2002 4:00:26 PM PDT by sinkspur
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To: sinkspur
Holiness in married couples is different.

Married couples seek the holiness of daily life (doing small things for love of God, for example, a married lady who cooks and uses that action as a prayer. See "the little way" of St Theresa).

however, some are called to a different holiness, that of seeking God alone. This is why many religions have hermits, or holy men in forests, or groups of holy men who learn to seek God via prayer and silence.

The Biblical verse for this is where Martha is doing all the work and Mary is sitting just listening to Jesus. Martha complained, but was told that Mary sought the better thing and it would not be taken from her. Cathoics interpret this as those who sacrifice family life in order to seek God have a special calling and should not be criticized by more practical people.

61 posted on 04/18/2002 4:25:01 PM PDT by LadyDoc
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