The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-10-09
WHY PRIESTS DON'T MARRY
This Subject Discussed at Catholic Mis-
sion.

Father Rankin Wednesday night at
mission for non-C Catholics answered the
question: "Why don't priests and nuns
marry"
The first reason, said the speaker, is
that they don't want to marry. There
are many people living in the world
among nom Catholics, who prefer to re-
main unmarried, nor does anyone seem
10 be surprised at such preference.
1t is only in regard to priests and sisters
that any comment is made or wonder
expressed.
The celibacy of the clery is a mere
matter of discipline in the Roman
church. 1t does not belong to the de.
post of faith or that body OF revealed
doctrine which the church teaches. IL
is one of those rules or regulations es-
tablished by the church in furtherance
of her aims and purposes and to en-
able her more easily to accomplish that
object for which she was Instituted ny
Jesus Christ.
The priests and sisters have for the
love of God made a vow to preserve
their chastity and they are bound IN
conscience TO keep their vow, which IS
incompatible with the married state.
The church is wise in selecting her
clergy only from among those who as
nire 10 a more perfect and holy life to
which celibacy is so conducive. our
Lord himself shows particular love ior
chastity and virginity. He was a virgin
born of virgin mother. HIS precursor
St. John the Baptist, as well as his De-
loved disciple, were virgins.
We priests share in his priesthood ana
try TO follow him as our model. lie
chose for his apostles either single men
or those gave up "all thing" to follow
him and he promises a hundredfold IN
this world and everlasting life in the
next to those who for his sake leave
father or mother or lands or wife or
children TO become his followers.
All people cannot live in the single
state so as to please God and 1t was
never intended that all should embrace
celibacy. The Lord speaking oil cell
bacy SAYS: "All do not take this word,
but those to whom it is given; let him
that can take it, take 1t.
The priesthood is like an army. The
soldier who is married is embarrassed
in his movements by wife, family.
He is not as free 20 volunteer for for
eign service or undertake dangerous
expeditions. Marriage is hindrance
also to the work of the priesthood. 1t
would necessarily divert the attention
of the priest from the duties of his
high calling and tend to make him a
mere man Of affairs. "A man who is
without wife, says st. Paul, lis So
licitous for the things OF God, how he
NAV please the Lord, but he that has
wife is solicitous for the things OF the
world, how he may please his wife, and
he is divided"
The Catholic priest is not hampered
by family ties and obligations, and hnds
il much easier to go where he IS sent
and to remain at his post OF duty I'll
recalled or mustered out by death.
When he is called TO minister TO the
sick and dying, he is bound at the RISK
of his own life TO attend 10 them
whether they have small pox. yellow
fever or any other loathsome and con-
tagious disease. This sacred duty
clearly stated in the fifth chapter OF
St James Epistle could not be freely
performed by a married man, who
ought not TO expose his wife and children
to the danger Of fatal disease; The
priest is the confessor of his flock, anc
If he were married they would not sc
readily tell him their sins, and look W
to him as Gods agent and representa-
tive appointed to reconcile them u
God. Priests and sisters in the per
Torrance of their religious duties are
removed from many occasions of sin e
which people are ordinarily exposed
To remain pure is easy for them will
Gods help and gives them a taste OF
heavens sweetness.