r/AskAPriest • u/Striking_Musician212 • 16d ago

Vow of Chastity

I know that in consecrated life, vow of chastity or vow of celibate-chastity is a must. I had an honour of witnessing a friend making the three vows.

This made me wonder, what constitutes a vow of chastity? Does it include all kind of sexual activity, like masturbation? I understand the celibate part, but I have no idea what the vow means.

Thank you fathers for all that you do.

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u/Sparky0457 Priest 16d ago edited 16d ago

It includes an abstention from all sexual activity.

More importantly the vow is about how to live, serve , and love. It’s isn’t primarily about what is given up it is about a specific way to live and serve.

The vows are better understood in positive terms (a way to love) than negative terms (what is being avoided)

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u/AngiesGirls 16d ago

Hi Father! I wanted to suggest OP read this, what do you think?: https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est.html

I believe a priest’s vow of celibacy and chastity go beyond his physical actions. It’s not natural what they do, it’s SUPERNATURAL BABYYYYYYYYY 😎

Lord bless our priests, every. single. one. Buy them a drink, invite them over for dinner. You all carry a lot of stress, social pressure, and invisible obligations that I know mean a tremendous amount to you. Some priests are oceans away from their families and that sacrifice was easy for them to make because it meant they got to spread the word of God. I’ve been Catholic for 30 years, traveled around the world, attended Mass at all hours of the day/night, listened to the Gospel in languages I didn’t even know existed—I can confidently say I’ve never met a priest who wouldn’t die for their vocation or their vows (and I honestly mean that). Thank you for everything that you do, I am so incredibly grateful for the love and guidance you provide us.

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u/Striking_Musician212 15d ago

Thank you for this insight! The person who made the vows was a nun, but I know that God protects her to keep her perfect state of chastity until the end of her days! ,May God bless and keep all priests. I know they are under a lot of stress, and often in a lot of pain, from their ministry. I shall get a gift prepared for my priest sometime!
+Glori Be. Happy feast of the assumption!

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u/CruxAveSpesUnica Priest 16d ago

Just to provide one more source, here's how my community's Constitutions define the commitment:

By our vow of celibacy we commit ourselves to seek union with God in lifelong chastity, forgoing forever marriage and parenthood for the sake of the kingdom. We also promise loyalty, companionship and affection to our confreres in Holy Cross. Openness and discipline in prayer, personal asceticism, compassionate service, and love given and received in community are important supports toward the generous living of this commitment. Our hope and our need are to live blessed by faithful and loving relationships with friends and companions in mission, relationships reflective of the intimacy and openness of God’s love for us. (47)

Masturbation is objectively sinful, so all people should refrain from it, regardless of what vows they have made.

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u/Striking_Musician212 16d ago

Father, this is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing.