The Irish standard., 1902-04-26

us to practice it. 1t is little delicate
but I know the expressions made use
Of by those who consider themselves
intelligent and refined ladies and gen
tlemen, priests and Sisters cannot live
thus. They only impose on the peo'
ple." Let us take this subject up and
examine it. What does celibacy mean:
1t means that we abstain and keep
free from those things forbidden by
the law of God. These are covered by
two commandments: '"rhou shalt not
commit adultery" and "Thou shalt not
covet thy neighbours wife" Not only
the celibate, but the married state is
required by these commandments to
be chaste in thought, word and deed.
Who is so bold as to say these COM
mandments cannot be kept? You have
seen thousands who have observed
these commandments. but those who
pretend to be celibates are hypocrites." :"
Was John the Baptist 'hypocrite?
Was Christ a hypocrite? Was Paul a
hypocrite?
There is temporary celibacy as
well as perpetual celibacy. Every
unmarried person is bound by tenn
poral celibacy. Perpetual celibacy is
that which 1 have assumed, which is
assumed by every regilieuse. Those not
in the married state are commanded
by the Interchangeable laws of God to
be as claste as 1 am. If it is impOs-
sible for the priest, then it is impos-
sible for every unmarried man and
woman. 1t is impossible for your wild
owed mother. 1t is impossible for
her whom you love and in whose eyes
you see purity and truth. Nero, the
profigate, was the first to raise this
standard and proclaim publicly that
man could not resist the sexual instinct
any more than he could abstain from
eating and drinking. This principle
has been taken up by latter day So
called Christians. If they were mere
animals they might subscribe to such
a doctrine. If they believe in the
Bible and in Christ they must deny it.
Would God have encouraged chas-
tity if it was impossible? Yet He COM
manded the prophet Jeremiah never to
marry. Would He have done so if it
were not possible? Have you not
found, as l have found among nom
Catholics as well as Catholics, many
of your acquaintanccs as pure as the
dewdrops, chaste and moral? Would
l appear here before you if l found it
impossible to lead this life and look
into your faces, many of you unmar-
pure, degraded creatures such doc
trine makes you? l see in your own
countenances that it is not so, and l
am glad l have uttered this vindica-
ton of your own purity. If you ever
hear it said again, stamp it, as it
should he stamped, the confession Of
the speakers own depravity. Remem-
ber that those who give out this doc
trine are simply speaking the expert
ence they have had and are publishing
their shame to the world. They are
mere animals.
Sometimes we are told that the Bible
is against this rule Of celibacy. 'In-
crease and multiply" ut is not good
for man to be alone" There is no law
binding any one to enter the married
state. If so, Our Savior would have
complied with it, If so, it was dis
obeyed by the Apostles and thousands,
aye, millions, of good religious people
There is no natural law obliging every
one to get married.
Is it difficult to lead such life? The
young man seeking admission to the
priesthood must feel called to 1t. If
God gives him the call, will He not
give him the grace? The Church does
not admit to the priesthood every
yOuuS Iluil WIN ttppliCS. liz AhuSt
have been born of good and, virtuous
parents and in lawful wedlock. No
illegitimate child can become priest.
His parents must not have been STAIN
ed by any serious vice. He is not even
then admitted Immediately. Perhaps
at IA or 1G years he tells his confessor
that he feels that he is called to the
priesthood. The confessor studies the
boys character and his moral life
and watches him closely for nine
months or a year. If he then feels
satisfied he sends him to the seminary,
where he is examined by careful men.
From eight to ten years he prosecutes
studies which are Of a serious nature.
He is not permitted to mix freely with
the world, to go to all kinds of amuse-
ments, to read what lle pleases, to as
sociate with women. He not only
studies seriously, but certain parts of
each day are devoted to religious ex-
ercises. If after ten years spent in
this manner his superiors feel that he
is of character to do honor to the
priesthood, then he is permitted to en-
ter the sanctuary. Often when just
about to be ordained young men are
sent away. Sometimes an unworthy
man, a ihypocrite, succeeds in entering
the priesthood, but the Church Is