Why do Marists remain celibate?
In general, people today have many reservations about celibacy. They often associate being celibate with being lonely and, in turn, with being unhappy. Unlike the diocesan priesthood (for which celibacy is a discipline of the Church), a Marist freely chooses celibacy because it is an intrinsic part of being a religious. In other words, you can’t be married and lead the consecrated life as a religious. The two states in life are mutually exclusive. Being celibate does not mean that you cease to be a loving person. It means that instead of focusing one’s love on one person and dedicating one’s life (time and energy) to one particular relationship, a person is free to love; that is, to offer one’s friendship and help to many people. For a Marist, the community has the first claim on his love. A Marist devotes a generous measure of his time, energy, presence, and support to the community members with whom he lives. The community spends time in prayer, sharing meals, celebrating, laughing—a
