Fr. Samuel Medley: I AM Celibate

"Some have chosen continence for the sake of Kingdom of Heaven"

(Matthew 19:12)

"Today, it is clear that the vocation to celibacy is misunderstood, maligned, and even hated in a world that mistakenly proclaims that sexual gratification is the only path to fulfillment and happiness. The media in particular has a tendency to portray celibacy as second rate, inept, and insufficient for living a satisfying and full life."

"Therefore, what is needed are witnesses who are not ashamed, afraid, apologetic about being celibate – men and women who do not feel the slightest bit sorry for themselves, or doubtful of the charism of offering their manhood and masculinity, or womanhood and femininity directly to Jesus Christ in virginal love. There must come forward witnesses who shine the full light of joy of belonging totally to Jesus. It is now necessary for celibates to reveal the theology of the body of Pope John Paul the Great alive in their own bodies, who can say proudly, loudly and clearly, “I AM Celibate.”

"We must understand first that our bodies are hard-wired for this kind of celibate gift of self. This is called the “spousal meaning of the body,” which Pope John Paul defines as, “the power to express love: precisely that love in which the human person becomes a gift and – through this gift – fulfills the very meaning of his being and existence” (TOB 15:1), yet there is another meaning of the body. Our bodies were created to be offered totally to Jesus Christ – and only for him. This is what the Holy Father calls the “virginal meaning of the body” (TOB 67:4).

"Married people can live the virginal meaning of the body when they realize that their bodies are gifted totally to Jesus through the mediation of their spouse here on earth. A married woman gifts her womanhood, femininity, fertility totally to Jesus through her husband, and she is able to love her husband only through Jesus, that is, by the power of his love. An unmarried woman, who makes herself “a eunuch for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 19:12), and thus gifts her womanhood, femininity, fertility totally and directly to Jesus with no mediation – she has become a real and true spouse of Christ.

"With no mediation, the point of contact with God that takes place in our bodies is quite potent and powerful, and so is the joy and the freedom experienced in men and women who give their whole beings over to divine love. Since we are hard-wired for this spousal and virginal meaning of our bodies in our very beings, the effect is that there is a real and palpable freedom, emotional maturity, fulfillment, peace, deep satisfaction, and an authentic happiness that is undeniable. Such is the experience by a majority of virgins and celibates."

~ Fr. Samuel Medley: excerpts from I AM Celibate ~

Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests. Amen.