Is a life of celibacy holy in the eyes of God?

Christ, the incarnate Word of God, offered Himself as a unique example. St. Jerome says, “Christ Himself, though in the flesh was celibate, had in the spirit one wife, the Church.”

Church history offers us a beautiful portrait of people who practiced chastity in their marital lives, by being moderate in their physical intercourse. Some of them even completely abstained from intercourse with consent from both parties. Entire families were inflamed with divine love, that they chose to live a life of virginity and monasticism with true joy, happiness, and harmony, as mentioned by our fathers and teachers, as Tertullian said.¹⁷⁶³

According to St. Jacob of Sarug , celibacy was the state of Adam and Eve before sin. He says:

“Celibacy is elevated above all heights, and all the heights of the world are set under her feet.

It is the first state in which Adam was raised. He boasted about it before he ate from the tree.

In this exalted, glorious state, full of beauty, Eve was also created before the serpent spoke to her.

Celibacy surpassed all heights, soared in the air, and crossed the place with the magnificent chariot of fire...

The wings of celibacy are great and fast, soaring high towards the dwelling of the heavenlies.

Earthy concerns and troubles have been taken away from her, for she does not desire to dwell or stay in the world.

She is not concerned with having boys or girls, for she loves the sweet name and boasts in it.

This world is not the place of celibacy, and she does not want to raise heirs to inherit it.

Her (celibacy) eyes are fixed on the high place, on the house of angels who are exalted above marriage…

This exalted state is what Adam had before he sinned; this celibacy which is mingled with the angels.”¹⁷⁶⁴

St. Jacob of Sarug sees the ultimate beauty of celibacy in St. Mary. He says, “The ultimate beauty of celibacy is Mary, who became a mother to the Creator of infants in the

1763 Tertullian, To My Wife (Ad Uxorem) Book 1 (ANF 4).

1764 St. Jacob of Sarug, Homily 205 on celibacy, adultery and the marriage of righteousness .

wombs. He dwelt in the Virgin and gave (her) the crown of virginity, to show that her path is the most exalted among all paths. There is no other beauty that can attain the supremacy of celibacy, and no other dwelling would have been worthy of Him (Christ) other than hers.”¹⁷⁶⁵

Athenagoras of Athens says, “Nay, you would find many among us, both men and women, growing old unmarried, in hope of living in closer communion with God.”¹⁷⁶⁶

St. Augustine also asked spiritual Christians, if possible, to control themselves with regards to sexual intercourse and to practice it only up to the extent needed for procreation, without impacting their marital love towards each other.¹⁷⁶⁷ Here, we must note that abstaining from sexual intercourse is not an act of holiness in and of itself, but is a type of fasting, just like someone who abstains from certain foods or drinks.

St. Ignatius the Theophoros explains that celibacy should not arise from a contempt for marriage, for the relationship between husbands and wives is like Christ’s relationship with the Church.¹⁷⁶⁸

St. Clement of Alexandria says, “Celibacy and marriage have their distinctive services of the Lord, their different ministries.”¹⁷⁶⁹ Some people have devoted their lives to worship with their free will, for their love of God and their fervent desire to grow in their unity with Him.

Origen views celibacy as a wreath of flowers that adorns the Virgin Church, and those who are celibate are in a rank that directly follows the rank of the martyrs.¹⁷⁷⁰ He says, “Celibacy saves from earthy troubles and is liberated by its chastity as she awaits the blessed Bridegroom.”¹⁷⁷¹