"Celibacy is imposed on no one," he told me. "There's a vast difference between a vocation and a career." Father Dubay provided five theses for priestly celibacy.
"First, celibacy in Scripture is a privileged sphere of the sacred," said Father Dubay. "They are set apart for the Lord."
"Second, celibacy is a radical readiness in pursuit of the Kingdom. Third, celibacy is an immediate ecclesial bridal union. The priest has a marital relationship with the Church. Fourth, it's a fulfillment vocation. A priest gives up the good for something greater. Finally, it is an excluding fullness. It orients one directly to God so that the person cannot give one's heart to another in a marital way. It's a psychological sundering. The virginal charism is a gift for the Church."
- Fr Thomas Dubay, SM
"First, celibacy in Scripture is a privileged sphere of the sacred," said Father Dubay. "They are set apart for the Lord."
"Second, celibacy is a radical readiness in pursuit of the Kingdom. Third, celibacy is an immediate ecclesial bridal union. The priest has a marital relationship with the Church. Fourth, it's a fulfillment vocation. A priest gives up the good for something greater. Finally, it is an excluding fullness. It orients one directly to God so that the person cannot give one's heart to another in a marital way. It's a psychological sundering. The virginal charism is a gift for the Church."
- Fr Thomas Dubay, SM
