Bishop Barron on Priestly Celibacy
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- Опубліковано 22 жов 2024
- Everything in this world-including sex, family, and worldly relationships-is good, but not ultimate. This is why, the Church is convinced, God chooses certain people to be celibate: in order to witness to a transcendent form of love.
Bishop Barron is exactly who the Catholic Church needs, especially today. His Excellency readily and comfortably addresses any and all subjects. My faith, by the power of the Holy Spirit is strong, but Bishop Barron always renews it somehow. He's my spiritual cntrl+alt+delete 😊😊. God bless our Bishop and to all of you 💟
"Jews" ? Really Harold? This must be the first of the Bishop's videos you have seen. This man has the foremost ability to understand scripture and articulate in a relevant verbiage today. May I suggest watching more of his videos. God bless you.
Eileen D > Do you know who wrote this? If men used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as they do in discussing problems, there would not be so much evil and scandal in the world, or such laxity in religious organizations.
On the day of judgment, surely, we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done; not how well we have spoken but how well we have lived.
Tell me, where now are all the masters and teachers whom you knew so well in life and who were famous for their learning? Others have already taken their places and I know not whether they ever think of their predecessors.
During life they seemed to be something; now they are seldom remembered. How quickly the glory of the world passes away! If only their lives had kept pace with their learning, then their study and reading would have been worth while.
How many there are who perish because of vain worldly knowledge and too little care for serving God. They became vain in their own conceits because they chose to be great rather than humble.
He is truly great who has great charity. He is truly great who is little in his own eyes and makes nothing of the highest honor. He is truly wise who looks upon all earthly things as folly that he may gain Christ. He who does God’s will and renounces his own is truly very learned.
Peter Carlson. Yes & believe the rcc needs a make over. They're way n the dark ages
@@petercarlson811 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?
1 Corinthians 9:4-5 ESV
bible.com/bible/59/1co.9.4-5.ESV
Defy God's word and creation .
The above words were Saint Paul's and are literal , not the subtle reference of his picked out to justify why the Roman Catholic Church founded by Emperor Constantine to justify basing the priest model on the early Roman / Greeks myth based religious priests .
There was even a female bishop before she was outlawed by the male dominated Constantine Roman priesthood .
Look further at Jude and James as they set out the qualifications for preachers based on their fruitful marriage with solid moral up bringing of their children as proof of fruit on the tree .
Jesus said " I am your only rabbi and teacher " .
Wake up from your slumber ! You see but do not perceive. You listen but do not hear
@@lpsevenenabibas2719 well said .
Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?
1 Corinthians 9:4-5 ESV
bible.com/bible/59/1co.9.4-5.ESV
Defy God's word and creation .
The above words were Saint Paul's and are literal , not the subtle reference of his picked out to justify why the Roman Catholic Church founded by Emperor Constantine to justify basing the priest model on the early Roman / Greeks myth based religious priests .
There was even a female bishop before she was outlawed by the male dominated Constantine Roman priesthood .
Look further at Jude and James as they set out the qualifications for preachers based on their fruitful marriage with solid moral up bringing of their children as proof of fruit on the tree .
Jesus said " I am your only rabbi and teacher " .
Wake up from your slumber ! You see but do not perceive. You listen but do not hear
As a Catholic convert, I like that we have celibate priests very much. What it means to me is that my priest is/was willing to give up this earthly pleasure in order to become spiritual shepherd, and father to us. He is undivided in his love for the people. He has become rather a spiritual father to so many more souls and is dedicated to serve God and us with his whole heart. It is a sacrificial love that takes a lot of sincerity when they take their vows. I am grateful to all good priests, and applaud them and love them.
A priest can still tend to his flock faithfully even while married. If I was a married priest I still wouldn’t abondon my flock for anything
This is selfish romantic and unrealistic. Priests do suffer from Celibacy and sexual abstinence..
the more sexually frustrated the more likely to undertake more unorthodox fetishes such as pedofelia
Read Dilemma by Father Albert Cutie
Paul said that bishop should be married... those who cant keep their homes cant help the curch..
Bishop Barron's reasoning is beyond ridicule. I find him to be both authentic and very human. He gives me a lot of hope in a spiritual vacous world,
God bless you Bishop Barron. You are doing such a great service to the Lord and to us all. Thank you very much.
Great answers. Thank God for Bishop Robert Barron
Thank you for the reflection. This reminds me of 1 Cor. 7, 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. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world-how he can please his wife- 34 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. 35 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.
Moreover in verse 28 But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
Beautifully said Bishop Barron may god bless all the celibate priest in our Catholic Church
Great explanation of the reasons for celibacy. I'm not Catholic but I sure learn a lot from Bishop Barron's presentations.
We're currently accepting applications for membership. :)
That is beautiful, Bishop Barron!!
Thank you Bishop for sharing the deeper truth of celibacy!
Praise God for your great wisdom. May God continue blessing your great work ❤️
Pope Saint John Paul II:
"It is especially important that the priest understand the theological motivation of the Church's law on celibacy. Inasmuch as it is a law, it expresses the Church's will, even before the will of the subject expressed by his readiness. But the will of the Church finds its ultimate motivation in the link between celibacy and sacred ordination, which configures the priest to Jesus Christ the head and spouse of the Church. The Church, as the spouse of Jesus Christ, wishes to be loved by the priest in the total and exclusive manner in which Jesus Christ her head and spouse loved her. Priestly celibacy, then, is the gift of self in and with Christ to his Church and expresses the priest's service to the Church in and with the Lord."
Source:
Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis (March 25, 1992), no. 29.
A husband is exhorted to love his wife just as Christ loved the Church (cf. Ephesians 5:25ff). Christ relates to the Church as a bridegroom relates to his bride. Christ's own celibacy, therefore, is a sign of his spousal fidelity to the Church. As living icons of Christ, priests make present that ecclesiological, nuptial love in all of its totality and exclusivity in their own celibate commitment.
Good day: The Father and the Son are the Parents of the Holy Spirit, if many churches are correct.Stay home to avoid coronavirus and flu. If many churches are correct, The Trinity is a Family-- two Parents and a Progeny, just like a human family.(Humans are created in the "image" and "likeness" of God according to Genesis 1:26) In the book of Job, which is part of the Bible, God is compared to a father and also a mother with a womb "From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?"-Job 38:29. Because God can also be thought of like a mother (Isaiah 42:14, Isaiah 66:13, Matthew 23:37, Catechism of the Catholic Church 2nd edition paragraph 239), all three roles (father,mother,progeny) in a basic human family are filled in the Trinity. Saying the Father and the Son are Parents of the Holy Spirit is simply another way of saying "the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son" which has been official Catholic doctrine for centuries. The Church teaches that the Son is begotten from the Father. If this is correct, the Father is the Father (Parent)of the Son. The Church teaches that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. If this is correct, the Father and the Son are the Parents of the Holy Spirit. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (second edition) paragraph 246, the Holy Spirit's "nature and subsistence" is "at once(simul) from the Father and the Son."If the Church considers Mary as mother(parent) of God even if Mary isn't the first source of Christ's humanity(God is the first source), then the Son can also be rightly called a Parent of God(the Holy Spirit). The scriptures are vague if the Holy Spirit is the 3rd or 2nd Person of the Trinity, whichever of these is true, the 1st and the 2nd may be the Parents of the 3rd. Parent definition from Merriam-Webster dictionary: One that begets or brings forth offspring. Stay home to avoid flu and covid-19
Bishop, you are one intelligent guy. Great video, in my humble view.
He really is. That is what makes him so attractive. Therefore, I wish he wasn't celibate! :)
Ari Girl he is incredibly attractive, mind, body and , soul. Would love to date him .
Brilliantly stated! Thank you Bishop Barron!
The way it is now is not working. Time to re-evaluate. I am married for almost 50 years and I love God with all my heart and try to follow his instructions. I am more successful than a number of celibate people.
Bishop Barren. Thank you so much for your beautiful and pure explanation! I sure can see you have a special place in Jesus Christ our Lord’s Heart. When Jesus chose his disciples , He asked them to follow him and not to go back to their family to say by.
To be a Catholic priest is exact as disciples who chose our Lord Jesus Christ and followed him as their first and the only choice which is very respectful and holy. When a priest gets married, that means he promises that he take care of his wife always in a good and bad time and his priority and obligation will be family’s expenses, kids, in-laws, family and their social life duties, etc…. and will be no other way around and it makes sense; therefore to serve the Lord becomes 2nd and third choice; Therefore the priest will not be able to dedicate his time to God fully. I believe that the Catholic Priests who are the one they will choose to fully serve The Lord our God, Jesus Christ ❤❤❤ is WOW and so powerful decision.
I pray for all our dedicated priests to be under our Lord Jesus Christ’s hands and direction. Amen ❤️🔥🕊✝️🙏
I clicked like button before i heard it cuz i knew i would like it...how can you not its bishop barron!!!
Thank you your eminence you explain things in an easy and understa dable way God bless you ever
Reading City of God right now. Augustine said that lust is a result of Original sin, and not sex is a result. And also there the act within marriage as possibly being a venial sin because lust is possible. But God can conform our wills to be rightly ordered over time to where we can actually love a person with a pure heart. Celibacy and marriage yes are both beautiful. Thanks Bishop.
Beautiful explanation, Bishop Barron. And an inspiration, I think.
I think celibacy is easier than romantic relationships. Much less drama. :)
Imagine the suspense...
It is definitely easier and that's why the Bible recommends it for Christian ministers but the Bible also teaches that one of the requirements for being a church or congregation elder is the ability to successfully run a family for only by becoming a successful family head can one legitimately counsel others on how to apply Bible principles to family life
Word of wisdom...God bless 😊😊😊.
Thank you Father for all you teach !
Bishop Barron...absolutely the best intro music. Besides the awesome content of course lol.
Greater Love than the one you find in marriage? As a former novice in convent I completely agree.
rv
1 Timothy 3:4-5: He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?
Thank you Bishop Barron
May I offer something?
This is a good commentary on celibacy in relation to a relationship with the infinite Eternal fulfillment only God can give. Very good, as a matter of fact.
Firstly, I think I somewhat understand why, instead of leading off with 'family,' you lead with the word, 'sex.'
However, marriage & family --- the closer to receiving fulfillment from which only God can give; by receiving God's Grace, growing in virtue is not limited because chastity in marriage does not have to be celibate. While we do not know, how a husband and wife will be related in Heaven; nor the perfectly analogous type of relationship a celibate priest will have in Heaven (a priest has Spiritual children to one degree or another, for one thing.); the Sacrament of Marriage is not lesser than Holy Orders. I know you didn't really imply that, but think it could have been clearer.
And the transcendence of being fulfilled by God, does reach the husband and wife in this vocation.
~
And may I touch on one more thing. The world's obsession with the disordered idea that to voluntarily be celibate means some kind of psychological syndrome repressing what is natural. Yes, we have a God given natural desire to share this with our spouse; and sometimes this naturally procreates children. Yes, that is a given. And it is a given to be fruitful and multiply with the covenant of family love and sharing this is in right relation with God's Covenant with us. But bachelorship has been around a very long time;
and while this happens apart from Holy Orders in history, this does have a Holy Purpose. I know 'My Fair Lady,' is a play, and not real; but Colonel Pickering played a joyful bachelor. I do know this is rare;
but bachelors and ladies who never married, sometimes make the best Godly Uncles and Aunts. Some people are very joyful in perfect celibacy; and do not sense any 'repression.'
~
The world sells the contrary for various and sundry reasons. And often times it is either
a recognized addiction, similar to the hold heroin addiction has on someone; or an addiction unnoticed by the person, even in 'normal' circumstances. I truly think the discipline of celibacy in The Church, also, gives a good witness to joy comes from God.
Wonderful examples would be, Fr. Richard Ho Lung & the Missionaries of The Poor; and Mother Teresa & The Missionaries of Charity; Franciscan Friars of the Renewal; and Sisters of Life. I don't know the name of any Friar I've met; but I met Sr. Fiat Mary of Sisters of Life at the Prayer Vigil, Rally, & March for Life in 2014. She exhibited super natural joy; that is very difficult to put into words. I have found this same super natural joy among devout joyful laboring celibate Clergy all my life. How can anyone deny, given enough exposure to Fr. Richard Ho Lung or Mother Teresa, even in videos their immense love, willing oil of gladness Covenant relationship with God --- and the same degree of love of neighbor?
Thank you so much Bishop for the enriching sharing.
I totally agree with you Bishop Barron. I too would be loath to see it gone.
I'd be interested in a discussion of the modern trend to identify oneself through sexuality.
chrisklement : if I tell you that Constantinople it is revealed as: " Her light was like a most precious stone, like a Jasper stone, clear as crystal, having the Glory of God".. are you going to believe Me?
Villie Stephanov I'm going to ask you for a citation.
chrisklement : Oh, remember that my life is a breath?
My eye will never again see good. The eye of him who sees me will see me no more, that He would show you the secrets of wisdom. Know therefore that God exacts from you less than your iniquty deserves.
To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend. Therefore I will not restrain my mouth but speak with the anguish of my Spirit and complain in the bitterness of my soul.
Does not the ear test words and the mouth taste its food ?
(( Ask me whenever you want...))
Villie Stephanov Call me a brainlet,but i cannot understand the connection between your poetic description of Constantinople and the Gnostic-like belief of genders.
Autistic Legion :😂 no connection with brainlets.
I think that Roman Catholic priests are great because of celibacy! A good priest is a merciful, kind, and CELIBATE priest!
Peter Carlson No,it's not that. I just think that a priest is special because of celibacy. Every Christian should be merciful and kind, but I think that what sets Catholic priests apart is their celibacy. I'm probably sure that there are good married priests but I think that they are missing something if they are not celibate.
Eastern Catholic priests may marry and have children, as long as that is done prior to becoming a priest. Are Eastern Catholic priests who have families bad at what they do?
So beautiful an explanation!!
If the Catholic Church persists in celibacy it will have to close all its seminaries within 10 years. The recent scandals of paedophilia and sex with young mature males (pederasty) is scaring off most honest candidates, because of popular perception and stigma. A very sad prospect. I am not sure whether priestly celibacy is God's command or not, but I can see where it is going. Maybe it's time that all priests are allowed to be married, with women of course, holy sacrament of matrimony.
You really are ignorant. Celibacy has nothing to do with abuse
@@lois2997 . I agree with you that celibacy has nothing to do with abuse, but the perception amongst most people is unfortunately so. Abuse done by a minority of priests is scandalous and tarnishes the reputation of the Church, while abuse done by anyone else (no matter if lay teachers, married persons, so long as not a member of a religious order) is only a statistical fact. The virtue of celibacy is commendable, but I do not think that it is a dogmatic prerequisite.
That's pretty interesting that Augustine said that sex. I'm a novice Thomas Aquinas fanboy so I at least know that Thomas would have found it very strange if someone claimed that our ability to "multiply" and flourish as is proper to our human nature was to any degree wrong or sinful.
Michael McCarthy maybe St. Augustine got a little over zealous on abstaining from sex. I believe lust was one of his greatest sins before his mother successfully prayed for his conversion.
Peter Carlson "sieve" is a good word
Dan Seas , my point of view on sex is: ( I am a married man with 4 children's) how we deal with our sexual life. I think that if you are married and the main reason of a interaction with your spouse is to procreate , I Don't feel there is no sin into it, despite the fact that your wife get pregnant or not, but if sex it is a selfish reason just to satisfy the pleasure of your own body, that is when become sinful. God creation is good, and we should not abuse it.
Peter Carlson , believe in me, I use to be adopted to porno, Me and my wife use birth control pills for over ten years. Knowing the Lord teach me something call self control and not just about sex, right now I am working on self control on foods and sweet. It's not the Church that makes the rules, but the creator because what I am telling you is not just the Catholic church practice but all Christian faith
Peter Carlson let me apologize to you, I didn't mean to applying that you had a problem with pornografy, I just was talking about my self. I understand what are you saying, and it is for this reason that I tell you that getting to know God more deeply helps. This is just my point of view, the only think man and woman can not live is the Love of God, all the rest is in our heads. Like right now I think I need a stock of pancakes and three omelette, but my body doesn't need that.😊
Semen retention (to put it plainly) is powerful not only for priests but for young men looking to hear Christ’s voice. Our posture (biology) should match our spiritual intention. When we fast and move away from things tied to our human imperfection we can ascend closer to God.
Saint Thoma Aguinas, try a drinking game on all the times Barron qoutes Aquinas. Genius!
God bless you.
It is Ramadan this weeks, lets pray for our muslim friends, that they see the light.
Canon X from the council of Trent "If any one saith, that the marriage state is to be placed above the state of virginity, or of celibacy, and that it is not better and more blessed to remain in virginity, or in celibacy, than to be united in matrimony; let him be anathema."
The priesthood must remain celibate.
Canon X may have said that, but scripture does not. In fact scripture warns against those who forbid marriage.
@@sarahlaslett3279St Paul: "To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am [celibate and single]"
Corinthians 7:8
Former Catholic, Protestant pastor in the room with much respect for Bishop Barron... I believe they should be able to marry. God said, "it is not good for man to be alone."
There will always be Catholics drawn in witness to the celibate life,
but I know many good Catholic married men who would make excellent priests.
In the Eastern Orthodox tradition (who have valid sacraments) a married man
can become a priest as long as he marries first Which is why (I believe) a priest
cannot marry -- he must be married first. -- Thank you, Your Excellency
Please extend the exposition beyond scholastic to also include biblical basis of Priestly Celibacy from the OT & NT. The expositions by Dr. Brant Pitre & in the book by the St. Paul Center 'The OT Origins of Priestly Celibacy' presented biblical grounds. We need this balance of scholastic & biblical for the apologetics.
great argument for dropping the Mandatory rule in favor of a voluntary one.
Awesome! Thanks be to God!
Thank you for your insight. I understood priestly celibacy in a basic level, but not to the level that you explained. I am worried about the future of the priesthood. Not many men are being motivated to enter into the priesthood here in the states. The Orthodox criticize that the Roman rite requires men to be celibate.
Those criticisms are legitimate. The reason it is required originally was because the church didn’t want to deal with families or the ordained.
A lot of people seem to think that the loss of vocations in the Catholic Church is due to the requirement of celibacy. However, denominations in which priests or pastors are allowed to marry face the same crisis (and the same scandals) in much the same proportions - but of course, nobody ever thinks of mentioning that.
So true
Peace be with you, Bishop. I like this argument in favor of celibacy; it’s synergistic with the practical (and historical) argument in the tradition, as I have heard it put to me, by a former seminarian student of yours at Mundelein, who now is a 3 year-old priest and friend of mine in Tucson, who is not i-Gen, but Gen-Y, and he’s much younger than this X-er; that historically, in the tradition, such a lifestyle with spouse, kids, and pets… would be at odds with the oaths that priests’ take when they’re ordained; what happens if a priest, as pastor of his parish, is not able to meet the needs and obligations as a father to his own family? Especially in regards to the priest’s time and resources. Contrast that with fidelity to the Lord, and the promise to “shepherd” and provide and support and protect the Lord’s people, the parishioners of his parish… those people he has sworn to protect, provide for, and support? If a priest doesn’t do this, then he “has denied the faith…and is worse than a non-believer…,” as St. Paul puts it. But, indeed Bishop, all clergy, from Pope to priest, do witness and exemplify this greater love for the Lord that we must all have. My priest friend mentioned the three “C’s” to me, when I put the celibacy question to him.. Celibacy was one, the other two elude me right now. And thank you for this video, Bishop.
Dear Bishop Barron, what do you think about the Litany of Humility????????????? Talk about deep, deep variety in the Catholic tradition... just imagine what a good old conservative Catholic like Archbishop Sheen would say to some of the thoughts here. Its just fascinating for me to see the depth of thought and nuanced existential belief in Catholicism - and indeed, within any major religious tradition and historical heritage and lineage of human schools of thought.
From a practical standpoint marriage for a Priest introduces even more questions and creates a different set of problems for his ministry. What happens if a spouse has fidelity issues, what happens when he has to attend to his family if he has many children? What about fiduciary the responsibility to his family?
More questions are raised than resolved, besides a Deacon can be married before ordained, remain ordained, and still serve in many but not all capacities.
Great explanation!
I've begun a stint of celibacy. While certainly including romantic relationships, it is more the mundane and subtle feelings that I am offering up to be surrendered. Emptying myself and my superficial needs so that lasting joy can be realized. ( John 4:14 'ish )
Barron may not be as eloquent as Fulton Sheen, but he's as close as we can get! He presents a great argument here.
Well marriage is now ruined for me, I guess it's time to pack my bags and move to a monastery.
Marriage is ruined for you? That’s pretty messed up
VERY GOOD JUSTIFICATION FOR CELIBACY, BUT I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING. ACKNOWLEDGING THIS HIGHER LOVE (LOVE OF GOD) WHY REJECT OTHER FORMS OF LOVE? CAN'T THE LOVE OF GOD AND LOVE OF A WOMAN CO-EXIST? WE HAVE ORDINAL NUMBERS THAT EXIST THAT TELLS US HOW SOMETHING IS SUPERIOR THAN THE OTHER RIGHT. THIS ALSO MEANS THAT A MAN IN MARRIAGE CAN ALSO PRACTICE THIS HIGHER LOVE (LOVE OF GOD) OTHERWISE YOU'RE SAYING THAT A NON CELIBATE PERSON COULD NEVER REACH THAT LOVE FOR GOD?! I HOPE I AM MAKING SENSE.
I do see his point that some should be celibate to witness to this ultimate experience of divine love. The problem is that his explanations contradict one another. He rightly said that God created sex,marriage, family and that it is "good", but then he went on to explain how that if a celibate Priest were to marry it would border on "idolatry" - this idea of making the creature into an object of worship. Is he implying (unintentionally) that a married couple are idolaters or almost idolaters?.... Surely being married does not detach the couple from a personal experience of divine love. The married couple both should first have this personal experience with Christ before entering into marriage - this is how one would benefit the other in a variety of ways.
The bottom line is that the Bible does not have this prohibition. Even in the Old testament God did NOT command celibacy for the Levite Priesthood.
I have been a lay celibate due to heartbreak for 24 years. The worst thing is the lack of companionship.
I’m not criticising and genuinely exploring Catholicism. Can someone kindly explain this verse to me.
“Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”
1 Timothy 4:2-5
No one is "forbidden to marry". Those who wish to become priests elect not to marry. If they wish to marry, they may, as most Catholics do. They just can't become priests, in the Latin rite, anyway. In the Eastern and other rites, married men do become priests.
There's no conflict here. St. Paul wrote this epistle, and he also wrote that it is better to stay unmarried. If we believe Paul to be consistent, these two passages are easily reconciled.
Jeez you get it bishop. I respect you greatly
Great video. How would you address 1 Timothy 4:1-5? I ask because a Protestant cited this verse to criticize both celibacy and fasting.
What I hear is, my church told me to be celibate because I am spiritually weak to abstain from sex on my on will and love for God.
Get rid of the dogma and practice it on your own.
From the book " To Save a Thousand of Souls" by Fr Brett Brannen
The purpose of celibacy is to learn to love the way the saints love in heaven. Celibacy is about intimacy with Jesus, the only one who can fill the void that is within us all. This is why prayer is so essential in the life of a priest. Intimacy with Jesus leads to love and intimacy with his people. Therefore priests who pray faithfully generally are not lonely.
# # my life is an eschatological sign to the world that you alone can fill the human heart.And I am glad to ache for you,
There are actually congregation elders in religions that are other than the Catholic who run a business (or more), have a wife and kids and are probably in a better position to stand on a platform and give a speech on how to embody Christian principles in family life. The congregation is more likely to trust one who in addition to being a pastor gets up at 5 am to go to work....
My grandfather was a bishop priest in America so must I live he same Robert to honor him?
Although I am Catholic Christian, I don't necessarily agree with the argument that to witness higher love (to God), priests must obstain from physical love. How do those things cancel each other? Sex is something "good" and Catholic Church made it look dirty. Historically there were a few reasons for celibacy. Originally, celibacy was received by st. Paul as a gift from God, contrary to other Apostles who had wives. Bible says that St. Paul said: "I wish you could be like me", meaning have no desire for women. Another more practical reason for the Church as an institution was to preserve the wealth within the Church during Middle Ages especially. Now, celibacy is seemingly a beautiful concept, similarly to concepts of communism (common wealth, equality, anti-capitalism, no social classes, etc.). However, we have seen in practice how much good and how much bad does it bring. Priests are often living out-of-touch with reality on physical love matters such as family or relationships and ,in more radical cases, there is increased risk of pedophile-like behaviours. I believe sex is a physiological need and is something beautiful that should be cherished, unless you are given celibacy as a gift from God but not from the Church as an institution.
As always nicely explained Bishop Barron but I feel that celibate priesthood has created a long host of issues in the Catholic church that far outweigh any gains.. Let's not forget the basic verse " A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach" 1 Timothy 3..The orthodox priests are able to marry and for the better of everyone.. The orthodox don't have a sex abuse issue because their priests are allowed to marry
So are you saying if guys can't marry and have sex they are likely to resort to pedophilia ?
Mark D I'm sure not everyone but in mandating celibacy, the church is unintentionally recruiting pedophiles
But why would it be any different if they were allowed to be married ?
Mark D when you as a church say I'm only allowing those who are willing not to be married into the priesthood, you are more likely to attract a subset of pedophiles who are not interested in normal relations or marriage.. I am not theorizing from a vacuum here, it's obvious that with the rampid problem of sex abuse in the Catholic church that there's something to be said about it and the absence of such cases in churches where priests can marry is highly suggestive that there is a connection. Yes I am sure there's a majority of wonderful celibate priests but one bad priest can ruin hundreds of lives for decades. I'm grateful for Pope Francis zero tolerance policy now in place
Mark D please read this page www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/13/catholic-sexual-abuse-partly-caused-by-celibacy-and-secrecy-report-finds His and Wilkinson’s findings were made after examining reports from royal commissions, academic studies, police reports and church reports from around the world since 1985. Among the findings was that mandatory celibacy was and remains “the major precipitating risk factor for child sexual abuse” and that popes and bishops created a culture of secrecy, leading to a series of gross failures in transparency, accountability, openness and trust.
This makes some good points about celibacy, but says nothing really about priestly celibacy as such, as it purports to (to say nothing of mandatory priestly celibacy). That is to say, everything said here about celibacy applies whether or not we are talking about priests. It also fails to make any mention of monasticism, which ought to be held in the highest regard in any discussion of celibacy, I think. What is really needed is a revitalization of monasticism more so than a preservation of the custom of mandatory priestly celibacy.
Fr. John R.P. Russell Friend, it’s an eight minute video!
Bishop Robert Barron, And it's a good one. My only criticism, really, is of the title. Too often, in my opinion, discussions of celibacy center on priests, who are not all celibate and have never all been celibate, rather than on monastics, who are all celibate and always have been. I suppose this is probably in part because most people's experience of celibacy is limited to their parish priest. But this is unfortunate. We talk much of the dearth of answered priestly vocations, but very little of the dearth of answered monastic vocations, which is even more pervasive. And we need monks and nuns just as much.
Though I do agree with Bishop Barron’s statements, I can’t help but think that celibacy likely increases the number of sexual abuse cases. I would love to hear more on this topic. Thank you for the video. 🙏🏻
Before I was a Catholic, I reasoned the same too, and it made sense. But to be a 'Good Priest', one must also be equally capable to be a 'Good Husband' and 'Good Dad'. Priests are married to the church, they are called to this vocation just like we are called to marriage. There are some dysfunctional priests, just like there are dysfunctional people amongst us who can damage others. But many more celibate priests, silently throughout the world each day, carry this powerful witness of celibacy to love and bring the most vulnerable people to God.
That's like saying being a human being increases the number of sexual abuse cases. The connection between sexual abuse and the priesthood is a fallacy that is promoted by many non-Catholics and even some Catholics, there is no proof that sexual abuse occurs in a higher percentage in the priesthood compared to general society, in fact the percentage is much higher in society as a whole, and a large majority of those in society are married!!!
Not true at all.
@@lois2997 ok well you have no explanation so you didn’t change my mind.
The annals of history attest to the much evil done by celibacy of priests. Be well read.
Bishop Barron, my question is this, is this not the proper place of the monks, nuns and sisters? When we look at the movement of Catholicism over the period of the past 2000 years. It is clear that we, as a Church, have benefited from the great witness of Celibate men. There is not a but in this argument. I say there are two arguments that can be made against Priestly Celibacy within the diocesan realm. Note here that I am only targeting the issue with Diocesan, not religious priesthood as they still share, to some degree in the monastic activity.
I will start with the Objections first.
Obj 1. Priestly celibacy allows for detachment of the Priest from the things to the world so that he may be a witness to his parishioners of the future life with Christ.
Obj 2. Priestly celibacy shows that the proximate love of a wife and children are not necessary for happiness and that God, as the supreme good, is the only path to that happiness.
On the Contrary, Jesus says, "Not all men can receive this precept, but only those to whom it is given."
I answer that, priestly celibacy has a place within the heirarchical order of the Church. It can never be completely done away with, but should be required at certain levels. These levels would be in the more remote and immediate forms of Church governance and in cities (aka Bishops, Cardinals, Pope and major cities). If the family is meant to be an evangelizing unit (CCC 2205) then it must remain that it must be the proximate cause of expanding the Church and working with the immediate evangelization of the peoples towards a true Christian witness of family life and ministry. A Priest without a family does not provide a strong enough witness of the ability to balance family life. We have replaced this in the Western Church by the role of Deacon. Yet, the Priest, who represents Christ, and the Bishop, also had a family and needed to balance His own family life (speaking here of Christ). It becomes just to say, that the necessity of diocesan priests to be married is clear in that the witness of proximate love and remote love, in the conception of the celibate priest, is not a viable witness in today's modern age. Rather, when families are busy, and make excuses for the reasons they do not participate in the life and activity of the Church, the witness of an unmarried, celibate priest, does not give clear witness. The role of a married priest who deals with and struggles to balance his own family life, work and ministry is able to give true witness of the life with Christ, while maintaining that the remote love, who is the first cause of all creation and the first supreme Good, is possible even with busy families.
The questions to the objections given through the answer above predicates that God is the Supreme Good, but that a family does not hinder this situation, but provides greater witness of the family working together in unison to evangelize and bring others to the light of the Father through Christ Jesus.
How does Aquinas justify priestly celibacy? It seems to cut against the grain of what I understand to be his position vis-a-vis natural law.
Yesterday a coworker told me priests didn’t get married so the Church could keep its riches. I’ve heard that before but it’s irritating
IMHO, the best argument for celibacy is this: Celibacy isn't natural. It's SUPERNATURAL! It forces priests to be very dependent on God's grace, and to ask for more grace everyday, because let's face it men are men and they want what is allowed in marriage which is natural for men. Isn't it better for priests to have more grace than less? 😇
The love that you feel for your wife is just a taste of what love is like in the kingdom of God. Just as when you feed the poor you give them a taste of the kingdom of God. I think we can all agree we should feed the poor.
Having a requirement of priests to be celibate is ridiculous. I agree with being married 1 time (like the Orthodox do).
Biblical evidence against forced celibacy: We know for certain that Peter was married because he had a mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14). The apostle Paul, who was not married, asked the Corinthians whether he also did not have the right to take a believing wife (1 Corinthians 9:5), as did “the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas [Peter].”
Sorry, but no priest no matter how great is going to hold a candle next to Peter. Good enough for him...
Bishop, I greatly respect your work and I appreciate your argument here, but does it lead to the conclusion that all priests should be celibate? What is wrong with how the Orthodox and Eastern Catholics allow some married men to become priests (but not bishops or monastics)?
I'm presenting what the medievals called an argument ex convenientia, which is to say, from suitability or appropriateness. It is not an argument ex necessitate, from necessity. In a word, celibacy is suitable for the priesthood, but not necessary to it.
Thank you Bishop Barron
It's time to go to Monasterys and Convents right now and live with fraternity and true love. Long live to the Chastity! 😇😇😇
Married people are obliged to live chastely too. It’s not just reserved for the clergy
Celibate priesthood is an earthly witness to the realness of the power and love of God. Celibate priesthood enables priests to reach to the lowest people, selflessly and completely, without earthly concerns of time, money and duty of family.
I can respect this way of life. In fact, I wish I could have it here on Earth and be in complete communion with God's love. Problem is, I'm absolutely obsessed with the idea of having a wife. I want both earthly AND heavenly love in this life. I'm really stuck, because I feel like there's this calling to serve God as a priest or pastor, but I won't allow myself God's love until I finally get in a relationship, which has never happened for me in my life. This is why Lutheranism is so attractive to me as it is Reformed Catholicism and where celibacy is not required. But I really believe in Eucharistic Presence. Well, so do the Lutherans, just not as Body and Blood. So maybe I'm best to look into being a Lutheran pastor instead of a Catholic priest? I've always had issues with Catholicism but now really see its beauty. But due to demands I put on myself as well as alternative beliefs, I cannot serve as a priest.
I share the same sentiment
@@adamfalletta I'm sure many do. I'd join the seminary tomorrow if priest became allowed to marry. I've always wanted to give my life to God and bring people to Him but also have the woman of my dreams by my side. I think a holy man who leads a holy and happy family is an amazing tool for evangelization and example simply because it is so natural, combining natural urges with spiritual ones. It would elevate the Sacrament of Matrimony to such higher levels, a balance between the biological and the spiritual! Since I wrote this I became way more Catholic or Orthodox yet don't really partake in Mass due to issues with Confession, another thing Catholicism should reform. Lots of priests are just unmannered and unworldly... you can't confess your sins to these people because they aren't like Christ at all. They may not even know of the Seal of the Confessional, it's a risk. Confession NEVER should have risen to the necessity it has, it should be like Anointing of the Sick where it can be used for extraordinary purposes. This all goes to how patriarchal the Roman Church is - it is the highest sin to play God and keep God's people from Him.
You can still be holy and bring people to God as a married man.
Clerical celibacy is CLEARLY a late accretion. I really advice Catholic priests to marry to avoid temptations. "You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on". (Mark 7:13) (1 Timothy 3:1).
no, it's about mastery over temptation within the context. Just stop.
Did you ever have a girlfriend, been in love and/or seriously considered marrying prior to becoming a priest?
Bishop Robert Barron
"Marriage is an earthly phenomenon". Interesting take when it fits your narrative of witnessing the higher love of God. Why then, may I ask is that never the narrative when the same people deny marriage to some based on its divine principles?
Marriage is by definition between a man and a woman, so I'm not sure what point you're trying to make. Wedding two of the same sex is metaphysically impossible. Civil unions which do this are basically a farce of marriage.
Furthermore, many earthly phenomena are sinful. Therefore, marriage being an earthly phenomenon is not an excuse to create sinful mimicries of it.
While the reasoning is articulate, perhaps it’s a tad bit over complicated. The inspired word of God at 1 Timothy 4:1-3 clearly states its stand on celibacy in the Christian congregation. Of course it’s a personal decision, each one has their own right to choose celibacy or not but should it be a requirement for those “taking the lead” in the church ? The answer from God’s word is clear, no it shouldn’t.
Celibacy is a personal path, not an outward show. If being celibate is more beneficial in serving the Lord?
That's your personal choice. No one shouldn't even know that you've taken any oath of celibacy, there shouldn't be one. That your prerogative.
Don't please man in your actions, don't let them glory in your flesh unless you're a man pleaser.
Well stated, but it still doesn’t account for why the church mandates celibacy. why not make celibacy optional?
But Bishop Barron has it just right.
My disagreement is one can have a ultimate relationship with the trancent dent in marriage, not just in a celebrant relationship
I just wonder if the call to celibacy be for the monastic community only, not priests in general. After all, the Orthodox community, and indeed Eastern Catholics, do have married priests. So the tradition of the Church is clear. Priests can marry. And, over against the Catholic practise of celibacy, the Scriptures imply that priests should be married. The monastic calling is one that only a few are called to take. That witness should not die out, I agree with the Bishop. But to have every parish priest in the West as celibate, this perhaps should be rethought in light of both the Tradition of the Church and the Scriptures.
Priests in the Orthodox Church can't marry but married men can be ordained. I subtle but important detail. It is biblical and traditional and wish it was not overlooked by the good bishop.
Don't pick and choose scripture. While celibate priests have the advantage of not having a family in some instances it still not biblical to say they are the only people called to priestly ministry. "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach...".1 timothy
You may want to consider the eschatological context of this passage. Paul is envisioning an imminent coming of tribulations. He does not want his readers to be burdened during this time.
It's a discipline! It's not doctrine or dogma but a discipline. It's required for spiritual advancement. The way I see it, celibacy forces Roman priests to be more dependent on God's grace because - let's face it - celibacy isn't easy. It's not natural for men to not want to have sex, and not want to have children, not want to love a woman. Rather, it's SUPERNATURAL! Celibate priests need A LOOOOT of grace to stay celibate. And priests filled with a LOOOT of grace is a very good thing. So, in a nutshell: Celibacy is not natural. It's supernatural!
Si Rasputin There is definitely room for both celibate priests and married priests. Celibacy should not be forced upon all who want to be priests. Obviously, those who are discerning a priestly vocation in Roman Catholicism, those men are well aware of the requirements. Nonetheless, celibacy should not be tied to the priesthood. Yes, the case is made for celibacy, but never that it should be tied to the priesthood.
The early church had married priests. Popes used to have families of their own. Marriage is a beautiful thing. Marriage is a sacrament, and the sacraments were made for us. God gave us the sacraments. If someone is willing to give up marriage & all that comes with it, God bless them. But say, a man who is accepting the call to priesthood yet he is also being called to the sacrament of marriage, no one should stand in the way of that.
What about Eastren Catholics? Are they wrong or what?
There are constant problems with this western cerebral perception of Christianity. For one, it philosophically separates ways of life in a manner that disturbs the relationship of man and God. There are countless saints in the Orthodox Christian Tradition who were married with children; these people arrived at deification and reached true union with God. Celibacy is not the prerequisite that the speaker implies and it is not required of priests in the Orthodox Church. Of course, deification is still an eerie subject in western theology where the goal of man is somewhat utilitarian, legalistic, and morally oriented. The fact that monasticism and ascetic life in the west has essentially been abandoned for centuries is also perhaps related to the straw-grasping imposition of horizontal celibacy. The goal and calling of man is to become a God by Grace but the problematic perception of created Grace in the west precludes such a statement and round and round we go. Best regards.
WorldView Well, you’ve pretty much thoroughly misunderstood what I was saying!
Perhaps not that much. This practice was rejected many centuries ago for good reasons.
Creation is an amazing reflection of God, and I'm somehow better off detached from it!?
Would married priests stop the abuse of children in the church?
Curious how you interpret 1 Timothy 3:1-5
I hope he has enough years to be the next pope
I feel like this should be chosen person to person, if that's your calling, you should follow it, but to make a benchmark for all leaders is wrong.
Maybe marrige is the way for god to teach the priest how to guide his flock, and forbidding it ends up not having a reference for the flock to follow.
What about the millions of children priest celibacy has prevented from being born?
Scripture doesn’t call for celibacy, in fact 1 Tim 3, church leaders must be the husband of one wife, vigilant and sober but not celibate. This is the major problem with Catholicism, it’s not in the scripture.
I can see this as a very good argument to encourage celibacy, but it does nothing to justify the church's mandate of it for priest. You have taken an arguably good thing, one that you yourself admit is not for everyone, and made it a requirement for an entire class of people.
The argument is nice, but also wrong. The "highest" form of "spiritual" love outside marriage might be something to expect from monks who lead a contemplative life, at least partially. A priest needs to remain deeply rooted in his community. Marriage can go a long way to facilitate this. Also, the hypothesis that marriage is not an appropriate vehicle for the "highest" form of love for god, that there are "higher" ways is formally wrong, sorry for that, but no: Love can take many forms and can also be experienced in marriage. There are many expressions of agapê. It's all about the ability to experience it, and different people will find different approaches. This is not to say that marriage makes things better by itself, but it must be opened again for priests.
Not to mention that imposing celibacy (since somewhere in the middle ages...) is also having extremely detrimental effects on the Church as an institution (selection bias...).
I'm astonished how the arguments are still shaped by the urge to get a certain outcome. I firmly believe that Christian philosophy is superior in many ways to most things en vogue today, and the Church should be less afraid to be more flexible on historical accidents while staying firm on doctrine and more important traditions.
In fact on the internet the Pope is investigating having married priests because a shortage of priests
Ewald Radavich;
Pope Francis is only concerned about a situation in the Amazon and in Quebec; Canada with a shortage of priests.These are extreme measures.
Pope Francis gave permission for the October 2019 Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region to discuss ordaining married men of proven virtue (viri probati) to the priesthood, after a request by Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes. Bishop emeritus Erwin Kräutler, the secretary for the Commission on the Pan-Amazon Region, last year told Austrian news agency Kathpress that the synod would consider proposals advocating ordaining viri probati to celebrate Mass and other sacraments.
john b. So what's the problem with all married men becoming priests?
Seems like as substantial disparity
Ewald Radavich;
I already posted my answer below; Here it is.
Liberal protestant denominations are making a huge mistake in inviting women to be priests.It's not catholic at all.
Why; because Jesus did not choose any women disciples.
Liberal protestant is creeping into the catholic church now with it's stance on inviting sodomy in the church.
The church now I admit is sending mixed messages about sodomy in the church.Many catholics are getting frustrated.
But church dogma has not changed.
The truth is the more virtuous you are closer to God ;sex becomes a non factor; the less you need sex.Their are some souls that are so pure they lead a consecrated life which was a Jewish custom.They love God so much that they totally block out the world for the love of Christ.
Many women catholics saints have demonstarted this.
I think because you are not catholic you therefore do understand the Virgin Mary and her purity.We believe as catholics the Virgin Mary is the Queen of the Clergy.We already know or at least I know satan despises the one who will crush his head.Genesis 3;15.
But the devil will tempt you and sift you out as Jesus warned.
Mary is both Virgin and Mother, she becomes the Model of
Purity, not only for consecrated virgins but also for those whose
love is sacramentalized in marriage; Now why would I bring up Mary because I believe she was given all authority by Christ to choose her catholic priesthood which of course leads to ordained bishops.
What makes her purity imitable to all, in varying degrees, is the fact that she kept her
purity for God's Will. At first, she thought it would always be
serving God in the temple, but after the visit of the angel, she
learned it would be by bearing the Messias.
So the watchword of
her purity was: "Be it done unto me according to thy Word."
Purity is the guardian of love until God's Will manifests itself; So this purity is what a celibate priest strives for; Mary's
purity to man and maid means that each will keep his or her
mystery sacred, until God's Holy Will determines the one to whom
it is to be revealed.Meaning God's love is hidden in the cross.
Mary pondered everything in her heart.A true devotion.
The preservation of innocence is not due to
prudery, to fear, to love of isolation, but to a passionate desire to
preserve a secret until God gives the one to whom it can be
whispered.
Matthew was sitting in his tax collector's booth when Christ motioned to him. "Follow me." Matthew rose and followed him (Matt. 9:9). From the gospel story, we can't even be sure that Matthew locked up the cash and closed the door behind him. He could hardly behave like that if he intended to lead a normal family life; You seem not to grasp the idea of measured grace.
Three basic considerations which render celibacy logical for priests:
1) Celibacy facilitates devotion to Christ by leaving the heart undivided. 1Corinthians 7:32-33.
32-33 But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God. 33 But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided.
2) Increases availability of the priest for complete service of the Gospel.
3) Enhances the spiritual fruitfulness of the priest's ministry.
If a catholic priest had children in this secular world now some children turn out very rebellious; It can bring even more scandal with unfaithful children to the church.Celibacy is a discipline; As mentioned it's not for everyone.I personally think celibacy can reduce scandal in the church.
Did Christ marry no.
Don't you think Jesus would have had a grand wedding.
Have you ever been to an Italian wedding.
Let alone a Jewish/Italian wedding.I have.They are spectacular.
The bottomline is protestants don't understand celibacy because they continually undermine the Virgin Mary and they don't understand the Jewish custom of a consecrated life to God.Remember Mary was a devoted religiously Jew.She is blessed for generations full of grace; Catholic saints have said in the past;
'Abandoning the mother is but one step from abandoning the Son'.
St.Bonaventure said; 'Whoever neglected Our Lady would perish in his sins and would be damned'.
john b No female priests because Jesus only had male disciples, you say. Great logic there. Now do us all a favor and take yourself out of the genepool. Celibacy is for people like you.
T Njordhof;
OK sounds good now go back to your protestantism liberalism where they have female pastors and bishops.Odd like a three dollar bill.
I was also told fathers couldn't be married because fathers are like the disples of Jesus. However, Peter and a lot of them were married and had children. Just another man, maid rule.
I have Never once regretted having no wife or children, They all will leave. God will never leave. We are far more than flesh.
Amen
The Lord calls SOME to be an eschatological sign, but ALL priests. Is it not possible that some are called to priesthood and called to marriage?
Bishop, doesn't evil also exist? If it exists, and your argument that being and good are interchangeable, would we not be logically required to say that evil is good?
Evil is only a privation of the good. It "exists" but only parasitically, the way a cavity in a tooth "exists."
A good explanation I learned once was about the cold and the dark. Is there such a thing as darkness? No, there is only the absence of light. Is there such a thing as the cold? No, there is only the absence of heat. Same idea with evil. It is the absence of the good. It is certainly real, but only in the sense that something else (the good) is missing.
Doesn't the word "evil" imply "doing"? Doing is not being.
Suzanne Philllips Sure it is! If it’s not a type of being, it wouldn’t exist.
I think I would rather call an evil being satan or devil, or an evil spirit person. (But I see where you are coming from.) And use evil to mean extremely malevolent actions, that is sin in the extreme forms such as murder, abortion on demand, grand theft auto (lol), acts of egregious malice ad infinitum, evil. But the world cannot tolerate thinking there is really a devil. It's probably just a matter of semantics, and trying to be sensitive to our unbelieving world:) Thanks for answering I feel honored.