The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

CELIBACY, ETC. 457This discipline, it is true, was relaxed to Borneextent in favor of a portion of the clergy of theOriental church, who were permitted to live withtheir wives, if they happened to espouse thembefore ordination ; but, like the priests of the Western church, the Eastern clergy were forbidden tocontract marriageafter their ordination. It is important also to observe that the unmarried clergyof the East are held in much higher esteem by thepeople than the married priests.It cannot indeed be denied that at certain epochsof the Church s history, especially in periods of disordered society, there were too many instances of theviolation of clerical celibacy. But the repeated violations of a law are no evidence of its non-existence.And whenever the voice of the Church could beheard, it always spokein vindication of the law ofpriestly chastity.Let me now call your attention to the proprietyand advantages of clerical celibacy.1st. The Priest is the representative of JesusChrist. He continues the work begun by his divineMaster. It is his duty to preach the word, to administer the sacraments, and, above all, to consecrate thebody and blood of Christ, and to distribute the sameto the faithful. Is it not becoming that a chasteLord should be served by chaste ministers?If the Jewish while priests, engaged in their turn,in offering the sacrifice of animals in the Temple,were obliged to keep apart from their wives, should