Celibacy and marriage

[G00labek]

What does it mean that celibacy is an anticipation of the living in the Kingdom where people “neither marry, nor are given into marriage”?

I am asking about it because of the fact that Church tells that love into marriage can be eternal (see sermons of Pius XII to the widows). Celibates for sure show that in the Kingdom human relations will be spiritual, not carnal*. But on the other hand the celibates renounce close relationship with a woman, while married couple can be united in the Kingdom**.

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• “Wherefore desisting from mourning and lamentation do thou hold on to the same way of life as his, yea even let it be more exact, that having speedily attained an equal standard of virtue with him, you may inhabit the same abode and be united to him again through the everlasting ages, not in this union of marriage but another far better. For this is only a bodily kind of intercourse, but then there will be a union of soul with soul more perfect, and of a far more delightful and far nobler kind” (St. John Chrysostom)
  ** "But if you wish to behold him face to face (for this I know is what you specially long for) keep your bed in his honour sacred from the touch of any other man, and do your best to manifest a life like his, and then assuredly you shall depart one day to join the same company with him, not to dwell with him for five years as you did here, nor for 20, or 100, nor for a thousand or twice that number but for infinite and endless ages" (St. John Chrysostom)

 

[Gorgias]

What does it mean that celibacy is an anticipation of the living in the Kingdom where people “neither marry, nor are given into marriage”?

Love is eternal; marriage is earthly. Celibacy means “refraining from marriage”. Therefore, the only kind of love that a celibate can partake in is one that is not marital (in the human sense); it is the kind of love that will survive in eternity.

Your first quote demonstrates that the kind of relationship is not the “union of marriage” but rather is “another far better”. Your second quote says only that spouses will rejoin their deceased spouse and will dwell with him in heaven; it doesn’t say that they’ll be married in heaven, right?

 

[Dave_Noonan]

What does it mean that celibacy is an anticipation of the living in the Kingdom where people “neither marry, nor are given into marriage”?

I am asking about it because of the fact that Church tells that love into marriage can be eternal (see sermons of Pius XII to the widows). Celibates for sure show that in the Kingdom human relations will be spiritual, not carnal*. But on the other hand the celibates renounce close relationship with a woman, while married couple can be united in the Kingdom**.

---

• “Wherefore desisting from mourning and lamentation do thou hold on to the same way of life as his, yea even let it be more exact, that having speedily attained an equal standard of virtue with him, you may inhabit the same abode and be united to him again through the everlasting ages, not in this union of marriage but another far better. For this is only a bodily kind of intercourse, but then there will be a union of soul with soul more perfect, and of a far more delightful and far nobler kind” (St. John Chrysostom)
  ** "But if you wish to behold him face to face (for this I know is what you specially long for) keep your bed in his honour sacred from the touch of any other man, and do your best to manifest a life like his, and then assuredly you shall depart one day to join the same company with him, not to dwell with him for five years as you did here, nor for 20, or 100, nor for a thousand or twice that number but for infinite and endless ages" (St. John Chrysostom)

This idea comes primarily from the Gospels:

Matt. 22:30 “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.”

Mark 12:25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

Luke 20:34-35: Jesus said to them, “Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.

See also 1Cor 7.

 

[G00labek]

it is the kind of love that will survive in eternity.

In the teaching of Church not only the kind of love practicing in the celibate will survive in eternity. Married couple will love each other in the Kingdom, but not in carnal sense (“another far better”). There comes my question. What does it mean that celibacy is an anticipation of the living in the Kingdom while the celibates renounce close relationship with a woman, and on the other hand married couple can be united in the Kingdom?

Your first quote demonstrates that the kind of relationship is not the “union of marriage” but rather is “another far better”. Your second quote says only that spouses will rejoin their deceased spouse and will dwell with him in heaven; it doesn’t say that they’ll be married in heaven, right?

It does not say that they will be married in heaven only in carnal sense. But it says they will be reunited in love. Another quotation from St. John Chrysostom.

For a young damsel who is discreet and ingenuous, and whose heart is set on piety, is worth the whole world. For these reasons then, I courted thee, and I love thee, and prefer thee to my own soul. For the present life is nothing. And I pray, and beseech, and do all I can, that we may be counted worthy so to live this present life, as that we may be able also there in the world to come to be united to one another in perfect security. For our time here is brief and fleeting. But if we shall be counted worthy by having pleased God to so exchange this life for that one, then shall we ever be both with Christ and with each other, with more abundant pleasure.

The Father of Church said the word to the vowing to each other by newlyweds.