The Call to Celibacy and Virginity.

God created man …..Male and female he created them. (Gen.1, 27). In this very simple formula God’s plan for human relationship was shown. In it is affirmed the unity, the diversity and the complimentary quality of male and female. From this God’s plan for all men is clear and we can say that man is a social being, and most engage in dialogue.

The union between male and female constitutes the first form of sharing among persons, and in this man expresses his basic calling to be a person. That is to say, through or for others, and with others he becomes “something more”. This vocation is one which he makes real by a free and informed choice and in the way he unfolds his being for and being with others. In addition man as a social being, engaging in dialogue, called to reveal himself to others and to accept and welcome them, manifests his character or nature as God’s image.

In order that men, not only Christians, may be constantly reminded of the clear defined value of others, and that their own final destiny is liberty, the being in communion with, but without having some are called by God to love with a celibate or virginal love. This love is free from nay form of having. This vocation implies loving with a love which tends to confirm another in his otherness, in his being different, in his being an individual. Consequently, it includes the renunciation of all forms of possessing another so as to permit that other to affirm his own liberty. It means giving all that one is so that another may be completely himself.  

Loving with celibate love means to love each one as if he were the only one, as well as all with the same entirety as one would love one alone. Or we can say, to love each in his individuality and all in their unity. Virginal love tends primarily towards universality, because it loves intensively and extensively the greater number of persons possible; it has as its horizon the sum total of humanity. Just as conjugal love embodies the worth of one, virginal love expresses the worth of all. Again, just as marriage primarily means communion or sharing, so celibate or virginal love proclaims in the first place the liberty and individuality of each. On this based the fact that these vocations are complementary to each other.

Celibate love gives testimony to that love which is the basis of existence. Therefore this form of life which tends towards becoming rooted in being for others and so, if lived with intensity it comes very close to the witness shown by the martyrs.