 | What is celibacy?
A simple definition of celibacy is: the state of not being married.
Men who are about to be ordained to the transitional diaconate promise celibacy during the ordination ceremony, prior to their ordination. The candidates promise to remain celibate throughout their lives. Consequently, when transitional deacons are ordained to the priesthood, they are living in the celibate state and will continue to do so throughout their lives.
The key to celibacy is the virtue of chastity, which can be defined as the correct ordering of a person's sexual life. Although all persons are called to chastity, not all are called to celibacy. A chaste, celibate priest lives his life in perfect continence, abstaining from all sexual relations. A celibate priest practices the chastity to which God calls all persons who are single. |