Straight people and celibacy

[LDNCatholic]

Are some straight (lay) people called to celibacy? Or is it that straight people who have no impediments to procreation(such as impotence mentioned in another thread) are automatically called to marriage?

Thanks in advance and God bless

Peter

 

[michaeldaniels]

Of course celibacy can be a vocation for people…There are some that consecrate their lives to God and vow to be celibant…you don’t have to be a Priest or Religious to take a vow of celibancy

 

[Angel_Bradford]

SInce all single people are called to live chaste lives, those who are not called to marriage are called to celibacy.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

At 62 years and completely ‘straight’ all my life, I am now well beyond procreation, but at the time of making private vows (under priestly direction) to poverty, chastity and obedience, I was able to bear children. I had impediments to religious life due to illness, and a discernment process led me to making private vows and living a particular lifestyle under those vows. The single celibate chaste state chosen in order to serve The Gospel can be a vocation and particular call from God - one does not have to have impediments to religious life and can still be able to bear children to be called to the single state. Of course, those who wish to marry but are still single are obliged to live a celibate chaste life. No matter our state in life we are called to chastity…not all states in life to celibate chastity i.e. marriage.

Blessings - Barb

 

[Norseman82]

Or is it that straight people who have no impediments to procreation(such as impotence mentioned in another thread) are automatically called to marriage?

According to CCC 1603, “The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator”.

usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt3art7.htm#i

So, in a sense, the call to marriage is indeed our natural call.

That being said, it is easier to see why the celibate vocations have been considered a “higher calling” - since they are not natural, they are supernatural and require supernatural graces.