On Priestly Celibacy
The other night, I was talking to a guy who seems to be at odds with the Church, and this most likely results from a lack of proper catechesis as a youth. We ended up discussing priestly celibacy, and so certain sections of the Pope's catechesis on the issue in the Theology of the Body naturally came to mind. But, the his catechesis was so skewed that it would take quite a while to bring him up to par on JPII's teachings.
It was funny however that he managed to present every argument against celibacy that he could think of. And yet, those arguments are all the same ones that Pope Pius VI wrote about in his encyclical Sacerdotalis Caelibatus - "On Priestly Celibacy", sections 5-12.
But right after listing these objections, the Pope goes on to talk about the answers to these objections starting with this line:
"The sum of these objections would appear to drown out the solemn and age-old voice of the pastors of the Church and of the masters of the spiritual life, and to nullify the living testimony of the countless ranks of saints and faithful ministers of God, for whom celibacy has been the object of the total and generous gift of themselves to the mystery of Christ, as well as its outward sign." (13)
Reading this made me immediately think of JPII's idea of celibacy being a gift to the Church, and how the celibate is living the eschatalogical on earth (cf. audiences of March 10, 1982-July 21, 1982). The "outward sign" is that very gift of self, that "generous gift of themselves to the mystery of Christ." What an amazing way to look at celibacy, and still furthermore, this is years before JPII even began to give his audiences on the TOB.
When we think of celibacy, we should remember that it is "for the sake of the kingdom." Those who are living the celibate life are living in anticipation of that total union with God that will exist in the eschaton, while they are still on Earth (cf. audience of March 10, 1982). And, they are doing it for the Kingdom of God. Through their gift of self, the Kingdom can spread, and the true understanding of the nuptial meaning of the body can be seen by the total gift of the self of the body of the celibate. This act of celibacy, in and of itself, is the living out of the nuptial meaning of the body. For the true celibate, this gift of self, will be a total one in which the celibate is living a life of martyrdom, a martrydom from their own desires for the sake of the other. What beauty is there in celibacy! Why should people even begin to raise questions about ending celibacy for whatever reason? I can't think of any.
Total gift of self, martyrdom, living the eschatological life while on earth...what more could you ask for?
Let me just close with another quote by Pope Paul VI in his encyclical that really sums things up:
"Nor can we overlook the immense ranks of men and women in religious life, of laity and of young people too, united in the faithful observance of perfect chastity. They live in chastity, not out of disdain for the gift of life, but because of a greater love for that new life which springs from the Paschal mystery. They live this life of courageous self-denial and spiritual joyfulness with exemplary fidelity and also with relative facility." (13)
It was funny however that he managed to present every argument against celibacy that he could think of. And yet, those arguments are all the same ones that Pope Pius VI wrote about in his encyclical Sacerdotalis Caelibatus - "On Priestly Celibacy", sections 5-12.
But right after listing these objections, the Pope goes on to talk about the answers to these objections starting with this line:
"The sum of these objections would appear to drown out the solemn and age-old voice of the pastors of the Church and of the masters of the spiritual life, and to nullify the living testimony of the countless ranks of saints and faithful ministers of God, for whom celibacy has been the object of the total and generous gift of themselves to the mystery of Christ, as well as its outward sign." (13)
Reading this made me immediately think of JPII's idea of celibacy being a gift to the Church, and how the celibate is living the eschatalogical on earth (cf. audiences of March 10, 1982-July 21, 1982). The "outward sign" is that very gift of self, that "generous gift of themselves to the mystery of Christ." What an amazing way to look at celibacy, and still furthermore, this is years before JPII even began to give his audiences on the TOB.
When we think of celibacy, we should remember that it is "for the sake of the kingdom." Those who are living the celibate life are living in anticipation of that total union with God that will exist in the eschaton, while they are still on Earth (cf. audience of March 10, 1982). And, they are doing it for the Kingdom of God. Through their gift of self, the Kingdom can spread, and the true understanding of the nuptial meaning of the body can be seen by the total gift of the self of the body of the celibate. This act of celibacy, in and of itself, is the living out of the nuptial meaning of the body. For the true celibate, this gift of self, will be a total one in which the celibate is living a life of martyrdom, a martrydom from their own desires for the sake of the other. What beauty is there in celibacy! Why should people even begin to raise questions about ending celibacy for whatever reason? I can't think of any.
Total gift of self, martyrdom, living the eschatological life while on earth...what more could you ask for?
Let me just close with another quote by Pope Paul VI in his encyclical that really sums things up:
"Nor can we overlook the immense ranks of men and women in religious life, of laity and of young people too, united in the faithful observance of perfect chastity. They live in chastity, not out of disdain for the gift of life, but because of a greater love for that new life which springs from the Paschal mystery. They live this life of courageous self-denial and spiritual joyfulness with exemplary fidelity and also with relative facility." (13)
Labels: General TOB
posted by Matthaeus Evangelista at 8:05 PM
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