Celebate Marriages

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Vincent_L

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I am researching what is to me a rather interesting part of history within the Church. The concept of a celebate marriage. I fully understand the point of marriage being procreation etc and am not wanting to get drawn into the relative merits etc. of this. Rather I’m looking for historical examples.

For instance I have found :
  • St. Henry II Holy Roman Emperor 973-1024 reportedly upon marriage took a vow and had no relations.
  • St. Kinga of Poland 1224 - 1292 likewise took a vow upon her marriage and remained childless.
  • The Desert Fathers refer to a circumstance such as this.
  • In the 1500’s we find so called “reformers” openly complaining about the idea of marriage without conjugation as one of the “heresies” with which they attack the church.
  • Naturally the case of St. Joseph and the Blessed and Ever Virgin Mary.
  • If I understand correctly there is also the case of certain married members of the priesthood in ancient times that refrained from relations with their spouse as well. I’m fuzzy on the precise details at the moment.
What I want to know is :
  1. Are there any books / sources that discuss this sort of thing from the perspect of the Church ( i.e. that are pro Church )
  2. Are you aware of any examples beyond the ones i cited above.
Again this is purely a historical research excercise. I’d prefer not to get sidetracked into the relative merits/drawbacks and to what extent this was promoted or discouraged etc.

Thanks for any insight !
 
To the above list I add :
  • St. Edward the Confessor
  • Blessed Luigi & Maria of last century after they had been married a while
  • Parents of St. Therese of Lisieux ( Until advised by confessor )
  • Parents of St. Maximilia Kolbe ( not sure details though )
Naturally some are entire marriage some are after a period of time etc.
 
I believe St. Catherine of Genoa and her husband became celibate later in their marriage.
 
We have a word use issue, which is going to bring tons of confusion. Being celibate means you refrain from marriage. It would be expected that all married couples should become celibate once married (that is, to not marry again…not sure if I made sense here).

I think what your trying to say, is that they are abstaining from sex for long periods? In doing so, I guess they are still chaste(which means to only have the sex your supposed to have, ie with your wedded spouse). Its not really an issue. There are many childless marriages out there.
 
Ongoing sexual relations are considered an ordinary and necessary part of the married state, so long as both are capable of participating (CCC 1643).

It is a permissible and acceptable sacrifice for the couple (with mutual assent) to abstain from sexual relations for a time (similar to a fast). But, like a fast, it must end.

The Church permits complete absolution of this requirement of marriage only in situations where cohabitation has become highly counterproductive and where physical separation has become a necessity (Code of Canon Law, 1151). Thus, those who are divorced (in civil terms) may yet partake fully of the Sacramental life of the Church.

There is no basis in Catholic theology for the concept of a married couple not having any sexual relationship whatsoever, with the obvious exception of Mary and Joesph, who experienced marital circumstances which were absolutely unique in the entire history of human relationships.

Of the examples you cited of marriages without a sexual component (whom were not later corrected by their confessor), only St. Kinga was easily verified.
 
Thanks to all who have posted replies.

While the terms used may not be precise the question be asked is easily understood. I also understand, and appreciate, the comments relating to whether its grounded in theological church teaching or not. I started this thread though for the purpose of examples from history. I’d prefer to leave the matter of whether or not it is acceptable or not etc for another time.

It does happen from time to time and I am curious of other examples that I haven’t found.

Thanks all !

PS. Thanks for the link to Jimmy’s blog…
 
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