F
futurtheologian
Guest
This was moved from the Vocations sub-forum due to the advice of another member. An answer from an apologist would be appreciated; this has been a lingering question in my mind which I cannot resolve! Also, I have two friends who have similar thoughts/concerns, although they are not considering a vocation as far as I know.
I am a young Catholic in college considering a Vocation (Franciscan/Capuchin), and I have become much more interested/involved with my faith recently.
I guess my question revolves not so much around chastity but around sex in general. Is it normal to simply be repulsed by the concept of sexual relations? First and foremost, I disregard any relations between an unmarried man and woman in this discussion. I am specifically referring to relations between a married man and woman. I understand and accept that Church teaching (US Bishops article) states sex in marriage is primarily for procreation and conjugal love. Yet, I often think about the possibility of marriage, and simply cringe at the thought of having sex. If I were to get married, I would probably want a child and to become a father; yet, actually moving towards the point of sex is simply an odd thought. I do NOT think about sex all the time, since that would be immoral and probably similar to adultery in a Biblical sense. Yet, this is a question many of my friends ask me. I mean I have been asked sometimes “Do you have any interest in sex at any point in your life?” and they are not even referring to sex outside of a marriage. I consider my self straight and I don’t think I am asexual; I am attracted to females (more intellectual then just aesthetic/physical looks). Maybe I am just confused about the concept and purpose of marriage.
Is this normal for someone discerning a Vocation? Again, let me reiterate that if I discern against a vocation, I would seriously consider a family if I were ever blessed enough to find a loving Catholic wife and have children. One additional piece of background information: I do not come from an ultra conservative type household which taught against sex, and I actually was raised in a very morally liberal town/area. So it is not like these were ingrained views or anything of that nature. I did not adopt them after reading anything; actually started to have such thoughts on my own without any external influence, even prior to becoming more interested in Catholicism. Generally speaking, I am a very conservative individual (morally speaking and somewhat politically) and came to such conclusions on my own in my formative years of high school.
Thanks!
I am a young Catholic in college considering a Vocation (Franciscan/Capuchin), and I have become much more interested/involved with my faith recently.
I guess my question revolves not so much around chastity but around sex in general. Is it normal to simply be repulsed by the concept of sexual relations? First and foremost, I disregard any relations between an unmarried man and woman in this discussion. I am specifically referring to relations between a married man and woman. I understand and accept that Church teaching (US Bishops article) states sex in marriage is primarily for procreation and conjugal love. Yet, I often think about the possibility of marriage, and simply cringe at the thought of having sex. If I were to get married, I would probably want a child and to become a father; yet, actually moving towards the point of sex is simply an odd thought. I do NOT think about sex all the time, since that would be immoral and probably similar to adultery in a Biblical sense. Yet, this is a question many of my friends ask me. I mean I have been asked sometimes “Do you have any interest in sex at any point in your life?” and they are not even referring to sex outside of a marriage. I consider my self straight and I don’t think I am asexual; I am attracted to females (more intellectual then just aesthetic/physical looks). Maybe I am just confused about the concept and purpose of marriage.
Is this normal for someone discerning a Vocation? Again, let me reiterate that if I discern against a vocation, I would seriously consider a family if I were ever blessed enough to find a loving Catholic wife and have children. One additional piece of background information: I do not come from an ultra conservative type household which taught against sex, and I actually was raised in a very morally liberal town/area. So it is not like these were ingrained views or anything of that nature. I did not adopt them after reading anything; actually started to have such thoughts on my own without any external influence, even prior to becoming more interested in Catholicism. Generally speaking, I am a very conservative individual (morally speaking and somewhat politically) and came to such conclusions on my own in my formative years of high school.
Thanks!