Marriage vs celibacy, are they equal?

[JamalChristophr]

One of our CAF’ers linked a cool little site of daily quotes, and this one came up today which seemed relevant:

’In the choice of a state of life, if we wish to secure our eternal salvation, we must embrace that state to which God calls us, in which only God prepares for us the efficacious means necessary to salvation.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

saintsquotes.net/

 

[Bookcat]

I would love to hear a rationale for why celibacy would be a higher vocation… or see any evidence that we will be virgins in Heaven. I find such claims to be utterly baseless and without merit.

I agree with Jamal…we are each called to respond to our calling as best we can… there is no (or better said should be no) hierarchy associate with vocations.

I meant *not married *in heaven (not virgins) (see the words of Jesus in the Gospels-- there we will be “like the angels” …).

As to the other part yes as I noted there one looks to ones* “personal vocation”* but as to importance of the vocation of Celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom - one can start with the words of Jesus in Matthew 19:10-12 and the various words of St. Paul.

But again* all are called to holiness* - both the married and the celibate. And a particular married person might be more holy by grace than a particular Monk.

And yes all the various vocations in the Church compliment each other. It is not so much about one being “higher” than the other…

I do not have more time right now to say more. I have to run.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

Would you call celibacy for someone with homosexual inclination a “calling” or a “resignation”?

I say neither; instead, sublimation.

crisismagazine.com/2009/romoeroticism

catholicculture.org/commentary/articles.cfm?id=637

 

[Bookcat]

Would you call celibacy for someone with homosexual inclination a “calling” or a “resignation”?

It may or may not be a calling in the way someone is “called to celibacy for the sake of the kingdom” - I think that would depend again on personal vocation.

But yes they are as are all - called to chastity and holiness.

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a6.htm#III

 

[Bookcat]

“As a way of showing forth the Church’s holiness, it is to be recognized that the consecrated life, which mirrors Christ’s own way of life, has an objective superiority.”

~ Pope St. John Paul II Vita Consecrata

w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_25031996_vita-consecrata.html

“This doctrine of the excellence of virginity and of celibacy and of their superiority over the married state was, as We have already said, revealed by our Divine Redeemer and by the Apostle of the Gentiles; so too, it was solemnly defined as a dogma of divine faith by the holy council of Trent,[57] and explained in the same way by all the holy Fathers and Doctors of the Church…”

~ Pope Pius XII SACRA VIRGINITAS w2.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_25031954_sacra-virginitas.html

Again that does not mean that Marriage is not a vocation or that those who are married are not holy and called to greater holiness…

But again all are called to holiness - both the married and the celibate. And a particular married person might be more holy by grace than a particular Monk.

And yes all the various vocations in the Church compliment each other. It is not so much about one being “higher” than the other…

St. Paul spoke highly of celibacy but also said that each person has his gift - See 1 Cor. 7:7

Catechism

1619 Virginity for the sake of the kingdom of heaven is an unfolding of baptismal grace, a powerful sign of the supremacy of the bond with Christ and of the ardent expectation of his return, a sign which also recalls that marriage is a reality of this present age which is passing away.

1620 Both the sacrament of Matrimony and virginity for the Kingdom of God come from the Lord himself. It is he who gives them meaning and grants them the grace which is indispensable for living them out in conformity with his will. Esteem of virginity for the sake of the kingdom and the Christian understanding of marriage are inseparable, and they reinforce each other:

Whoever denigrates marriage also diminishes the glory of virginity. Whoever praises it makes virginity more admirable and resplendent. What appears good only in comparison with evil would not be truly good. The most excellent good is something even better than what is admitted to be good.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c3a7.htm#1620

 

[Bookcat]

I find

Such is the Teaching of the Church…

“As a way of showing forth the Church’s holiness, it is to be recognized that the consecrated life, which mirrors Christ’s own way of life, has an objective superiority.”

~ Pope St. John Paul II Vita Consecrata

w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_25031996_vita-consecrata.html

“This doctrine of the excellence of virginity and of celibacy and of their superiority over the married state was, as We have already said, revealed by our Divine Redeemer and by the Apostle of the Gentiles; so too, it was solemnly defined as a dogma of divine faith by the holy council of Trent,[57] and explained in the same way by all the holy Fathers and Doctors of the Church…”

~ Pope Pius XII SACRA VIRGINITAS w2.vatican.va/content/vatican/it.html

Again that does not mean that Marriage is not a vocation or that those who are married are not holy and called to holiness…

All are called to holiness - both the married and the celibate. And a particular married person might be more holy by grace than a particular Monk.

And yes all the various vocations in the Church compliment each other. It is not so much about one being “higher” than the other…

St. Paul spoke highly of celibacy but also said that each person has his gift - See 1 Cor. 7:7

Lay Vocation: w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_30121988_christifideles-laici.html

Catechism

1619 Virginity for the sake of the kingdom of heaven is an unfolding of baptismal grace, a powerful sign of the supremacy of the bond with Christ and of the ardent expectation of his return, a sign which also recalls that marriage is a reality of this present age which is passing away.

1620 Both the sacrament of Matrimony and virginity for the Kingdom of God come from the Lord himself. It is he who gives them meaning and grants them the grace which is indispensable for living them out in conformity with his will. Esteem of virginity for the sake of the kingdom and the Christian understanding of marriage are inseparable, and they reinforce each other:

Whoever denigrates marriage also diminishes the glory of virginity. Whoever praises it makes virginity more admirable and resplendent. What appears good only in comparison with evil would not be truly good. The most excellent good is something even better than what is admitted to be good.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c3a7.htm#1620