The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"4o4THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.superior merits of voluntary continency, particularlyfor those who consecrate their lives to the sacredministry. There are eunuchs who have made themselves such for the kingdom of heaven s sake. He1who can take it, let him take it." Our Lord evidently recommends here the state of celibacy to suchas feel themselves called to embrace it, in order toattain greater perfection.St. Paul gives the reason why our Saviour declarescontinency to be a more suitable state for His ministers than that of "matrimony He who : is unmarried,careth for the things of the Lord, how he may pleaseGod. But he who is married, is solicitous about thethings of the world, how he may please his wife, andhe is divided." 2Jesus Christ manifestly showed His predilectionfor virginity, not only by always remaining a Virgin,but also by selecting a Virgin-Mother, and a Virginprecursorin the person of St. John the Baptist, andby exhibiting a special affection for John the Evangelist, because, as St. Augustine testifies, that Apostlewas chosen a Virgin, and such he always remained.Not only did our Lord thus manifest, while onearth, a marked predilection for virgins, but He exhibits the same preference for them in heaven ; for,the hundred and forty-four thousand, who are chosento sing the New Canticle, and who follow the Lambas St. Johnwhithersoever He goeth, are all Virgins,testifies.(Apoc. xiv.)*Matt. xix. 12. I. Cor. vii. 32, 33.