Posted on 08/11/2010 7:21:24 PM PDT by marshmallow
Bishop John Jukes of Southwark was one of the leading lights – and best brains – of the Catholic Church when I was still at school. Today, much to my surprise, an email from this remarkable Franciscan appeared in my inbox, asking politely if I’d be interested in his thoughts on 87 years of celibacy. Having reported so negatively on the antics of various Catholic bureaucrats, I’m delighted to reproduce his article, whose defence of this ancient spiritual tradition is in such contrast to the sneers and incomprehension of the Church’s critics.
I have always enjoyed the company of women. Their way of talking, the often – to me – apparently illogical style of reasoning, coupled with their physical appearance, have provided fascinating objects of wonder and interest. So you will understand how great was the step I took when I was 28 to freely take a life-long vow to God that I would never marry. It was a vow that I am still keeping in this year of Pope Benedict’s visit to Britain. I am still keeping this vow that I took under the example and inspiration of St Francis of Assisi because by it I am more closely linked to Jesus Christ, son of Mary of Nazareth and Son of God. Now as I celebrate my 87th birthday I reflect upon celibacy as I have experienced it and how this gift of God has placed me at the service of the Catholic Church and the people of God.
The choice of life-long celibacy is made by many hundreds of thousands of individuals in the life of the Catholic Church. Some do so, men and women, by electing to take a vow of perpetual celibacy as a member of a religious Order or Congregation. Other men seek ordination.........
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.telegraph.co.uk ...
I would love to know the testosterone levels of this self-proclaimed life-long celibate and someone like Hugh Hefner. They’re probably different.
Don't you just love it!
Their souls might be different too.
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Out of the mouth of Babes.
I don’t think that testosterone levels have anything to do with it. You’re comparing a man in his 20s who gave up what we consider a normal life to devote himself to God and the Church. And on the other hand, you have a filthy horndog like Hefner who has no self control. The man must have been born with a perpetual hard-on (sorry for the language; I don’t know how to phrase it otherwise).
One is a man of God, the other, a sexual libertine who has no concept of love, just lust for the flesh.
I don’t think that testosterone levels have anything to do with it. You’re comparing a man in his 20s who gave up what we consider a normal life to devote himself to God and the Church. And on the other hand, you have a filthy horndog like Hefner who has no self control. The man must have been born with a perpetual hard-on (sorry for the language; I don’t know how to phrase it otherwise).
One is a man of God, the other, a sexual libertine who has no concept of love, just lust for the flesh.
Sorry for the double post. The computer’s connection quit, I redialed and it posted it again.
Hugh Hefner is a perv. And the more you follow your perversion of choice, the more it controls you.
Interesting article, thanks for posting.
Yes, I got such a kick out of this bit. I had to read it to my husband; still chuckling.
**The choice of life-long celibacy is made by many hundreds of thousands of individuals in the life of the Catholic Church. **
God bless this priest.
God knows I’m not defending Hugh Hefner and his life. I think that a life long celibate, God love him, might have a lower testosterone level than someone like Hefner or any other over-sexed male.. fill in the blank. It’s much easier to be celibate at 45 than it is to be at 20. (I’m a devout Catholic btw).
87 years of celibacy? Sounds a lot like marriage to me.
Some people are actually asexual.
God Bless the old guy. Guess you can’t miss what you’ve neve had.
I understand what you are saying; I didn’t take it that you were defending Hefner. But I really don’t think that hormones have the most important role here. As we have always been told, the biggest sex organ we have is the brain (and I think that’s true). That’s what guides us in these matters.
It just seems to me that Hefner is what I said he is, and man-to-man he doesn’t compare to the Bishop. He is what he is, and it ain’t pretty.
So, a new monk arrives at the monastery. He is assigned to help the other monks in copying the old texts by hand. He notices, however, that they are copying copies, and not the original books.
The new monk goes to the head monk to ask him about this. He points out that if there was an error in the first copy, that error would be continued in all of the other copies. The head monk says, “We have been copying from the copies for centuries, but you make a good point, my son.”
So, the head monk goes down into the cellar with one of the copies to check it against the original. Hours later, nobody has seen him. So, one of the other monks goes downstairs to look for him. He hears sobbing coming from the back of the cellar and finds the old monk leaning over one of the original books crying. He asks what’s wrong.
“Celebrate ... the word is CELEBRATE!” says the old monk with tears streaming down his face.
Back when this man was in his 20s, we were not a culture that was swamped at every angle with sexual images and porn accessible through your tv screen. TV was not even broadcasting 24 hours a day when this guy was in his 20s.
Most of the guys I knew in college who went on to become priests did so because they were terribly awkward around women. Had long discussions with them about it. They were overall nice guys, but not romeos and none were what would be called a handsome guy.
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