Celibacy and Marriage in Trent

[Aureole]

Recently I listened to a wonderful lecture called Myths and Misconceptions Concerning Vocations by Fr. Thomas Nelson, O. Praem. One thing in particular caught my attention since I had read the opposite: that celibacy is “objectively speaking a higher good than marriage”. After hearing that I decided I must go through the documents he referenced. One of them, Sacra Virginitas, was very easy to find. He also referenced the Council of Trent and, unfortunately for me, I’m unfamiliar with the decrees of Trent. I was hoping that someone more familiar with this holy Council could direct me toward the right documents.

 

[RyanL]

You might start with the 24th session of the council: link.

God Bless,
RyanL

 

[Christianis_Sum]

I just quoted Canon 10 so I will just cut and paste what I found here:

If anyone says that the married state is to be preferred to that of virginity or celibacy, and that it is no better or more blessed to persevere in virginity or celibacy than to be joined in marriage: let him be anathema. [My bold font]

Si quis dixerit, statum coniugalem anteponendum esse statui virginitatis vel coelibatus, et non esse melius ac beatius, manere in virginitate aut coelibatu, quam iungi matrimonio: a. s.

Council of Trent, Session 24, Canones de sacramento matrimonii,10 (11 November 1563), in Decreesof the Ecumenical Councils,vol. 2, Trent toVatican II, ed. and trans. Norman P. Tanner (Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press,1990), 753.

 

[Contarini]

Recently I listened to a wonderful lecture called Myths and Misconceptions Concerning Vocations by Fr. Thomas Nelson, O. Praem. One thing in particular caught my attention since I had read the opposite: that celibacy is “objectively speaking a higher good than marriage”. After hearing that I decided I must go through the documents he referenced. One of them, Sacra Virginitas, was very easy to find. He also referenced the Council of Trent and, unfortunately for me, I’m unfamiliar with the decrees of Trent. I was hoping that someone more familiar with this holy Council could direct me toward the right documents.

You could also look at 1 Corinthians 7!

Edwin