Pope Benedict XVI Counsels Seminarians in Madrid During World Youth Day 2011

"To be modeled on Christ, dear seminarians, is to be identified ever more closely with him who, for our sake, became servant, priest and victim. To be modeled on him is in fact the task upon which the priest spends his entire life. We already know that it is beyond us and we will not fully succeed but, as St Paul says, we run towards the goal, hoping to reach it (cf. Phil 3:12-14).

"That said, Christ the High Priest is also the Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep, even giving his life for them (cf. Jn 10:11). In order to liken yourselves to the Lord in this as well, your heart must mature while in seminary, remaining completely open to the Master. This openness, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit, inspires the decision to live in celibacy for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and, leaving aside the world’s goods, live in austerity of life and sincere obedience, without pretence."

"Under the guidance of your formators, open your hearts to the light of the Lord, to see if this path which demands courage and authenticity is for you. Approach the priesthood only if you are firmly convinced that God is calling you to be his ministers, and if you are completely determined to exercise it in obedience to the Church’s precepts.

"With this confidence, learn from him who described himself as meek and humble of heart, leaving behind all earthly desire for his sake so that, rather than pursuing your own good, you build up your brothers and sisters by the way you live, as did the patron saint of the diocesan clergy of Spain, St John of Avila. Moved by his example, look above all to the Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests. She will know how to mould your hearts according to the model of Christ, her divine Son, and she will teach you how to treasure for ever all that he gained on Calvary for the salvation of the world. Amen."

~ Pope Benedict XVI; excerpts from Eucharist with Seminarians Homily, August 20, 2011 ~ 

 

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.

Archbishop Thomas Rodi, Priests and Seminarians Discuss the Priesthood

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.

Why Celibacy?

Our Lord was a priest (Heb. 4:14); He was also celibate and called others to do the same. "And Peter said, 'Behold, we have left all and followed You.' And He said to them, 'Amen I say to you, there is no one who has left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive much more in the present time, and in the age to come life everlasting."' (Lk. 18:28-30) Abraham was called to sacrifice his son Isaac (Gen. 22); through celibacy the priest is called to sacrifice not just his son, but his wife. Our Lord teaches that not all can be celibate, but those who can should do so for the sake of the kingdom: "His disciples said to Him, 'if the case of a man with his wife is so, it is not expedient to marry.' And He said, "Not all can accept this teaching; but those to whom it has been given -there are eunuchs who have made themselves so for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let him accept it who can." (Matt. 19:10-12)

Celibacy is also a sign of the resurrection; we will all be celibate in the next world. Jesus says: "When people rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but live like angels in heaven." (Matt. 22:30) In imitation of Christ the priest is called to live this way here and now in this world. Elijah and John the Baptist, the two great prophets of the Old Covenant, were celibate. St. Paul even encourages celibacy among the laity. He writes: "It is good for the man not to touch woman. Yet for fear of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband - For I wish that you all were like me; but each one has his own gift from God, one in this way, and another in that - Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Are you freed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if you take a wife, you have not sinned. He who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please God. Whereas he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided." (1Cor. 7)

A champion of celibacy for the priesthood, Vatican II said: "Perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the kingdom of heaven was recommended by Christ the Lord. This Sacred Council approves and confirms this legislation so far as it concerns those destined for the priesthood, and feels confident in the Spirit that the gift of celibacy, so appropriate to the priesthood of the New Testament, is liberally granted by the Father. And the more that perfect continence is considered by many people to be impossible in the world of today, so much the more humbly and perseveringly in union with the Church ought priests demand the grace of fidelity, which is never denied to those who ask."

Celibacy is not unnatural, it is supernatural. It is a special grace from God. Our Lord created manhood, and as a man he lived it fully and naturally, as a celibate male. Celibacy is a sacrifice of the good of marriage for the sake of the kingdom of God. It is not for men who have no attraction for women. It is for men who do like women. If they don't then there is no sacrifice in giving up marriage. Celibacy is unpopular with the world today because it is a sacrifice, and sacrifice for God is not what a hedonistic culture wants. The opinions of this world do not worry Our Lord who said: "My kingdom is not of this world." (Jn. 18:36) (Source)

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 Eucharistic adoration for priests. Amen.

Why Catholic Priests Do Not Marry

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.

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.

Celibacy: Priests Are Called By God To Imitate Jesus

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.