And yet a single person has all the responsibilities to bear themselves. They have to do everything involved with running a household on their own.
With two people, they can share that burden.
In the end, I don’t see that a single person actually has more free time than a married person. They just have to manage their time better because they have to consider someone besides themselves in their plans.
It forces a more selfless existence.
metmom,In union with God all things are possible.
Time is not the only factor. One must also consider a person’s emotional strength and stamina.
As for household chores, well, that’s an unintended blessing that accrues from living in a community, such as a rectory or a monastery.
And I certainly think a priest knows he has to “consider someone besides themselves in their plans.”
All other things being equal, the celibate priest simply has more of himself available to his parishoners than the married pastor, by virtue of the fact that the pastor gives of himself to his own family.