Posted on 03/16/2010 9:30:59 AM PDT by Salvation
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The state of being unmarried and, in Church usage, of one who has never been married. Catholicism distinguishes between lay and ecclesiastical celibacy, and in both cases a person freely chooses for religious reasons to remain celibate.
Lay celibacy was practiced already in the early Church. The men were called "the continent" (continentes) and women "virgins" (virgines). They were also known as ascetics who were encouraged to follow this form of life by St. Paul. According to the Apostle, "An unmarried man can devote himself to the Lord's affairs, all he need worry about is pleasing the Lord . . . In the same way an unmarried woman, like a young girl, can devote herself to the Lord's affairs; all she need worry about is being holy in body and spirit" (I Corinthians 7:32, 34). Throughout history the Church has fostered a celibate life in the lay state. Towering among the means of sanctity available to the laity, declared the Second Vatican Council, "is that precious gift of divine grace given to some by the Father to devote themselves to God alone more easily with an undivided heart in virginity or celibacy. This perfect continence for love of the kingdom of heaven has always been held in high esteem by the Church as a sign and stimulus of love, and as a singular source of spiritual fertility in the world" (Constitution on the Church, 42).
Ecclesiastical celibacy was a logical development of Christ's teaching about continence (Matthew 19:10-12). The first beginnings of religious life were seen in the self-imposed practice of celibacy among men and women who wished to devote themselves to a lifetime following Christ in the practice of the evangelical counsels. Celibacy was one of the features of the earliest hermits and a requirement of the first monastic foundations under St. Pachomius (c. 290-346). Over the centuries religious celibacy has been the subject of the Church's frequent legislation. The Second Vatican Council named chastity first among the evangelical counsels to be practiced by religious and said that "It is a special symbol of heavenly benefits, and for religious it is a most effective means of dedicating themselves wholeheartedly to the divine service and the works of the apostolate' (Decree on the Up-to-date Renewal of Religious Life, 12). (Etym. Latin caelibatus, single life, celibacy.)
I’ll post links on this subject later today — probably after our Reconciliation Service tonight.
Catholic Word of the Day – links will be provided later by another FReeper.
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Catholic Word of the Day Ping!
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“An unmarried man can devote himself to the Lord’s affairs, all he need worry about is pleasing the Lord,” and, as the Church began to realize in the Middle Ages, an unmarried priest is without heir, and can be expected to bequeath his often-surprising accumulation of moth-eaten, rusty treasures laid up here on earth to Mother Mary’s maids and minions.
I have no trouble with repecting celibacy—as I’m a “continent” myself. St. Paul did have a point.
However, making it a requirement for the presbytery—which scripture NEVER does—goes beyond biblical commands and is therefore contrary to the holy scriptures.
What would motivate anyone to repeat that old Protestant canard besides fear, ignorance, or hatred?
Fear, ignorance, or hatred?
Nay, I seek truth, by which no man can be harmed. It has been my experience, and I have observed, in my clumsy, amateurish studies of history, that Occam’s razor usually cuts to the chase, and the chase is usually the pursuit of fame and (especially) fortune. One usually follows the money to learn the truth, and what one learns from observing others’ financial folly usually is true.
Then you would be well served by actually seeking and speaking the truth. Take caution of which FReepers you accept as credible because many have unseemly and dishonorable motives.
We can always count on discontents to tell us their greatest fears and identify that which they hate by the volume of their protestations (no pun intended). You and your fellow travelers are speaking pretty clearly. What you are saying illustrates the ignorance.
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