By Celibacy, you are consecrated to Christ in a new and special way.
If you feel that God is calling you to the priesthood or to the religious life, what will be the reaction of your family? You will soon be asked what you think about not being allowed to marry. When a man comes forward to be ordained deacon, he stands in front of the bishop who says, You shall exercise this ministry in the celibate state, for celibacy is a sign of charity. By living in total dedication, moved by a sincere love for Christ, you are consecrated to him in a new and special way.
From early times men and women have offered themselves completely to God, from a sense of love and dedication to the work. Jesus himself and Paul, the great missionary lived like this. In the Roman Empire, young peoples' chaste lives were a reproach to the hedonism and exploitation of the day. Young women. like Agnes, Cecilia and Lucy faced rape and death for their virginity and consecration to Christ. It is as though they were saying, ''I give you everything Lord, even this most intimate part of myself, for the sake of your kingdom. I will be yours."
What is Celibacy?
It has to be said, first of all, that celibacy can only be considered by a mature and well‑balanced person. Someone who knows themselves well and are achieving some self control. A young man or woman who can say No in the area of food, drink, entertainment, leisure, drugs and sexual involvement. For example, leisure is essential, drink is fine, but in moderation. Some activities are out of order. Are we mature enough to say, this is not for me? Any Christian man or woman, who is genuine, will not be sexually promiscuous. In addition to this, the priest may not even marry, so that he can give himself to God.
Why is Celibacy good for the Church?
In St Matthew's Gospel, 18. 24-3O, the apostles were astonished that Jesus warned about the danger of riches. They thought that wealth was a sure sign of God's favour. Jesus pitched their sights further. "I tell you solemnly that there is no one, who has left house, wife, brothers, parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God who will not be given repayment many times over in this present time, and in the world to come, eternal life. There are three great lusts: for possessions: for sex: for power We read of unhappy people who gain comfort from compulsive shopping. We know there are men and women who are sexually promiscuous over years, but fail to find generous love, because they cannot give it. Later on in life, people lust after the smell of power over others. If it is selfish, it is illusory. Herod the Great left orders to have people crucified on the day he died, so that there would be some tears shed when he was gone. These lusts lead nowhere. They are lies. They muffle the sound of God's voice.
For some people, celibacy is a call from God. It is one of the ways that these great energies can be set to work for the sake of God's reign here on earth. If a person accepts this gift he or she sacrifices himself or puts herself at the service of the church. The gift of celibacy is a powerful builder of love and goodness. In the first place, this is because an individual gives a good example of what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit. They are struggling to be patient and kind, not conceited or selfish. They are not resentful or take pleasure in other peoples' sins, but delight in the truth. They are always ready to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes. (see 1 Corinthians 13. 4-7). Secondly, a person inspired by unselfish love can work hard and taxation demanded by the Lord, but as a gift. This will lead to happiness, because they have followed Christ's call. Their daily opportunity to say Yes to Christ Jesus will lead them to learn faithfulness. Their celibate lives will be full of struggles, failures and successes. It will rarely be certain. Exactly the same thing applies to married life. You can ask the same question as the wedding photos are taken outside the church. "Will they regret it later?" God's grace and power works in each of us in different ways, according to the way we have perceived his call. If we ask for it, he will give us the gifts we need to live out the promises we make in our marriage or in the celibate life.
We will not regret a lifetime of love and service, which we have discerned to be God's call for us. If he has called us to the religious life or priesthood celibacy will mean consecration to God with an undivided heart.
Monsignor Patrick Kilgariff