Forwarded from 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐮𝐬
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Byzantine Catholic Cathedral in Athens (yes the only thing I do is send some random Byz. Cath stuff)
Forwarded from LightSpeed Katholikos
My brothers in Christ I deeply ask for your prayers for my little brother
Forwarded from Ecce Verbum
Is celibacy “superior” to marriage in some sense?
Firstly, we must follow the vocation that God has for us. St. Paul writes: “let every one lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him, and in which God has called him” (1 Cor 7:17, RSV) and “each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another” (1 Cor 7:7).
That being said, voluntary, self-sacrificing celibacy for the sake of the kingdom, has aspects about it that make it “better” in some sense than marriage, which we also regard as holy and indeed a sacrament (giving grace). In some sense it has the aspect of heroic renunciation of things good in and of themselves for the sake of the Kingdom.
Those who do that are in a higher state, so to speak, than those who don’t. They are going “above and beyond.” St. Paul did this, not only in being single, but voluntary undertaking all of his sufferings. He wrote:
2 Corinthians 11:5, 12, 16, 23-28, 30 I think that I am not in the least inferior to these superlative apostles... [12] And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do...[16]... I too may boast a little... [23] Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one — I am talking like a madman — with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. [24] Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. [25] Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; [26] on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; [27] in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. [28] And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches... [30] If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
1 Corinthians 9:5, 15 Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?... [15] But I have made no use of any of these rights...
Jesus said the same about the lifestyle His disciples willingly chose (including, in several cases celibacy or significant, sacrificial willing separation from an existing wife or other family members:
Luke 18:28-30 And Peter said, “Lo, we have left our homes and followed you.” [29] And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no man who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, [30] who will not receive manifold more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Matthew 19:27-29 Then Peter said in reply, “Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?” [28] Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [29] And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. (cf. 19:12)
Therefore, the Council of Trent in 1563 (24th Session: Canon X on the Sacrament of Matrimony) was merely reiterating Jesus’ and Paul’s teaching above, when it decreed that no one should say “that the marriage state is to be placed above the state of virginity, or of celibacy, and that it is not better and more blessed to remain in virginity, or in celibacy, than to be united in matrimony.” It’s not good to contradict the words of Jesus and Paul in the inspired and inerrant revelation of Holy Scripture.
#celibacy
Firstly, we must follow the vocation that God has for us. St. Paul writes: “let every one lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him, and in which God has called him” (1 Cor 7:17, RSV) and “each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another” (1 Cor 7:7).
That being said, voluntary, self-sacrificing celibacy for the sake of the kingdom, has aspects about it that make it “better” in some sense than marriage, which we also regard as holy and indeed a sacrament (giving grace). In some sense it has the aspect of heroic renunciation of things good in and of themselves for the sake of the Kingdom.
Those who do that are in a higher state, so to speak, than those who don’t. They are going “above and beyond.” St. Paul did this, not only in being single, but voluntary undertaking all of his sufferings. He wrote:
2 Corinthians 11:5, 12, 16, 23-28, 30 I think that I am not in the least inferior to these superlative apostles... [12] And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do...[16]... I too may boast a little... [23] Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one — I am talking like a madman — with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. [24] Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. [25] Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; [26] on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; [27] in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. [28] And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches... [30] If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
1 Corinthians 9:5, 15 Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?... [15] But I have made no use of any of these rights...
Jesus said the same about the lifestyle His disciples willingly chose (including, in several cases celibacy or significant, sacrificial willing separation from an existing wife or other family members:
Luke 18:28-30 And Peter said, “Lo, we have left our homes and followed you.” [29] And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no man who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, [30] who will not receive manifold more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Matthew 19:27-29 Then Peter said in reply, “Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?” [28] Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [29] And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. (cf. 19:12)
Therefore, the Council of Trent in 1563 (24th Session: Canon X on the Sacrament of Matrimony) was merely reiterating Jesus’ and Paul’s teaching above, when it decreed that no one should say “that the marriage state is to be placed above the state of virginity, or of celibacy, and that it is not better and more blessed to remain in virginity, or in celibacy, than to be united in matrimony.” It’s not good to contradict the words of Jesus and Paul in the inspired and inerrant revelation of Holy Scripture.
#celibacy