It is not good for man to be alone

[thessalonian]

God said that in the garden. However before he said this he created Adam, and Adam was the perfect man. It would seem to me he was the natural man. Yet, I have heard it said that it is not natural for men to not be married. According to our fallen state I do think that it takes the grace of God to be celibate. But it takes it just as much if not more to be married it seems to me. The question is, can it be said that it is not natural for man not to be married? I'm looking for perhaps some comments from theologians if you know some. Aquinas in particular I would have thought would have addressed this. Thanks.

Blessings

Thessings

[Cam42]

[quote name='thessalonian' date='Sep 28 2005, 08:45 AM']God said that in the garden.    However before he said this he created Adam, and Adam was the perfect man.  It would seem to me he was the natural man.  Yet, I have heard it said that it is not natural for men to not be married.  According to our fallen state I do think that it takes the grace of God to be celibate.  But it takes it just as much if not more to be married it seems to me.  The question is, can it be said that it is not natural for man not to be married?  I'm looking for perhaps some comments from theologians if you know some.  Aquinas in particular I would have thought would have addressed this.  Thanks.

Blessings

Thessings
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[/quote]

Traditionally it is taught that celibacy is the renunciation of marriage for a more perfect observance of chastity. This can be done either implicitly or explicitly.

St. Paul speaks to this on several levels.....

[quote name='1 Cor. 7:7-8; 32-35']For I would that all men were even as myself: but every one hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that.  But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.....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.  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.  And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband.  And this I speak for your profit: not to cast a snare upon you; but for that which is decent, and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment.[/quote]

Christ says in Matthew:

[quote name='Matt. 19:12']For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it.[/quote]

Another way of looking at it is this.....there are two stories to the Creation. That person with whom you are having the conversation is focusing on one aspect of the Creation, to the exclusion of the other. For it also says in Holy Scripture:

[quote name='Gn. 1:27-28']And God created man to his own image: to the image of God he created him: male and female he created them.  And God blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth.[/quote]

It is not natural for man to be celibate. The purpose of celibacy, as noted above is to attempt to be more perfect, in chastity. The reason being that it is foregoing marriage for the greater glory of God.

Here is what John Cardinal O'Connor has said:

[quote]They also know that I believe wholeheartedly in the incalculable value of celibacy and in the mystery of grace that makes it not only tolerable, but immensely liberating.[/quote]

Aquinas doesn't say anything directly about this, however, there can be much gleaned from [url="http://www.ccel.org/a/aquinas/summa/FP.html#TOC05"][i]The Treatise on Man[/i][/url].

I hope this helps....it is kinda a big subject to give a short concise answer, however, I tried.