Friday, August 18 : Venerable Madeleine Delbrêl

The celibate are a tiny sliver of humanity, who for all of humanity renounce that which is the mos intimate aspect of oneself, to let themselves be seized and consumed by God. Paul says, if you are married you are divided. If this sliver of humanity takes this path to God, it is to love only the Love that loves humanity.. If this is just for yourself it remains a very small thing, celibacy is a fonction of love lived for the entire world. This leads the one who has accepted a life of celibacy to accept also the solitude that God chose for them. Celibacy without a certain solitude would be simply seeking a substitute. This solitude accepted before God is a ransom, which measures our true availability to Love. Marriage is the sum of two vocations in the same houseold. These two souls influence, help, and condition one another. In celibacy one is alone, face to face with God, and Christ becomes the direct spousal companion. His kingdom becomes the household, all of humanity their children. This choice expresses both an uprooting from this world and rooting oneself in Christ. They live in a simple and direct way the Lord’s command to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and strength. (Mt 22:37)

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team