Catholic Religious Vocation

Celibacy and Chastity for the Sake of the Kingdom of God

"All the baptized are called to chastity. The Christian has "put on Christ," the model for all chastity. All Christ's faithful are called to lead a chaste life in keeping with their particular states of life. At the moment of his Baptism, the Christian is pledged to lead his affective life in chastity."

- Catechism of the Catholic Church 2348

"People should cultivate [chastity] in the way that is suited to their state of life. Some profess virginity or consecrated celibacy which enables them to give themselves to God alone with an undivided heart in a remarkable manner. "

- Catechism of the Catholic Church 2349

*Celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom of God is a supernatural gift that is granted to consecrated life as a living testimony to all of the future resurrection.

Marriage at the Resurrection

Matthew 22:23

That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him.

Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh.

Finally, the woman died. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?"

Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 2840

"Now - and this is daunting - this outpouring of mercy cannot penetrate our hearts as long as we have not forgiven those who have trespassed against us. Love, like the Body of Christ, is indivisible; we cannot love the God we cannot see if we do not love the brother or sister we do see. In refusing to forgive our brothers and sisters, our hearts are closed and their hardness makes them impervious to the Father's merciful love; but in confessing our sins, our hearts are opened to his grace."

*...forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us...

Catechism of the Catholic Church 826

"If the Church was a body composed of different members, it couldn't lack the noblest of all; it must have a Heart, and a Heart BURNING WITH LOVE. And I realized that this love alone was the true motive force which enabled the other members of the Church to act; if it ceased to function, the Apostles would forget to preach the gospel, the Martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. LOVE, IN FACT, IS THE VOCATION WHICH INCLUDES ALL OTHERS; IT'S A UNIVERSE OF ITS OWN, COMPRISING ALL TIME AND SPACE - IT'S ETERNAL!"

- St. Thérèse Of Lisieux, Autobiography of a Saint, tr. Ronald Knox (London: Harvill, 1958) 235.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How can I become a priest or nun when I am not perfect?

A. Nobody is. Perfection is a life long journey. God loves you for who you are.

We all have fallen short at one point in our way of life.

Remember that you can always have confidence in God's loving mercy to correct your ways - hence the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession.

Being a religious priest or nun is a gift of oneself to God in both our strengths and weaknesses.

Archbishop Exner once said, "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called."

- Catholic Apologetics Discussion Blog

1 Corinthians 7

²⁸But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this...

32 "I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord.

But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—and his interests are divided.

An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.

I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord."

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What if I want to get married and start my own family?

A. Go ahead. There is nothing wrong with marriage.

There are a lot of good reasons to get married but also be aware of all the wrong reasons why many have made the wrong decision of prematurely marrying someone without proper discernment.

Are you called to get married? Who is the one God wants you to get married to? Is the one you're thinking of marrying going to help you get closer to or away from God? Have you prayed about your future spouse?

Have you reflected and prayed about the purity of your intentions on why you want to get married?

How seriously have you studied the Theology of the Body by Pope John Paul II?

Catholic Religious Vocation

To Be A Priest

Amazing Conversion Story

Dominican Sisters

Fr. Corapi

Franciscan of Renewal

Celibacy and Chastity for the Sake of the Kingdom of God

Peace and Joy that the world cannot give...

Is Consecrated Life a Higher Calling than Marriage?

Discerning in Prayer

Discernment Prayer

Do not be afraid!

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