The problem with this is that it elevates lifelong virginity over service to God in all spheres of life, including your sexuality.
That is one of my issues with Catholicism.....compartmentalism of spirituality and the rest of life.
We are to do all things for God’s glory, even scrub the toilets....yes, even sex is for God’s glory within the context of marriage.
Being married for nearly about a year-and-a-half now, I have only recently began to truly understand the wonder of marriage and everything in it, including sex. It is a wonderful thing that points to the glorious unity of Christ and his body, the holy catholic church.
I do NOT diminish the lives of those who chose to dedicate themselves to God by being nuns, virgins etc. I respect that greatly, and this young woman clearly loves the Lord.
But, I think the concept of separating yourself from the “normal” things of life is just not correct. Christ did not avoid life. He lived a perfect life with all the temptations we face and because of his victory, now we are considered acceptable in the sight of a holy God.
Again, I admire this young woman to dedicate herself completely to God. May He guide her and help her to serve him mightily.
"An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband." ~ 1 Corinthians 7:34
Christ did not avoid life. He lived a perfect life with all the temptations we face and because of his victory, now we are considered acceptable in the sight of a holy God.
Christ never married, nor did he lie with women. Sex and marriage are not necessary to live a full human life - some are called to pursue such a life, some are not. It is that simple, and neither is "right."
With all due respect, especially sex within holy matrimony is for God's glory.
Being married for nearly about a year-and-a-half now, I have only recently began to truly understand the wonder of marriage and everything in it, including sex. It is a wonderful thing that points to the glorious unity of Christ and his body, the holy catholic church.
Exactly right, and in fact, it points to the consummation of that unity in heaven.
Which is precisely why the ancient churches have monks, nuns, and celibate clerics. Sex within marriage is important, sacred, beautiful, and holy ... and so celibates offer it, all of it, for their whole lives, directly to God.
After all, if you're going to give God a sacrifice, don't you want to give him the very best thing you have to give him? Or should you give him some junk that you happened to have lying around?
Another way this is explained sometimes is that married sexuality is a sign of heaven, but celibates skip the sign and go directly to the heavenly reality here on earth. Because, after all, in heaven we will remain sexual beings, but sexual acts themselves will not exist. Our pleasure and bliss will come from our perfect intimacy with God, not our imperfect intimacy with our spouses.
Actually, it doesn’t. It is very Catholic to view your life as a vocation to God. For some it is the priesthood, for some it is to live in an unmarried state and concentrate on God and for the some it is to be a spouse with children and to live in the world. All are valid and holy choices.