The Value of Continence
Is Found in Love
General Audience, April 21, 1982
1. Let us continue our reflections
on Christ's words about continence for the sake of the Kingdom of
Heaven. It is impossible to understand fully the significance and
the nature of continence if the last phrase of Christ's statement,
"for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven," is not complete in its
adequate, concrete and objective content. We have previously said
that this phrase expresses the motive, or in a certain sense places
in relief, the subjective purpose of Christ's call to continence.
However, the expression in itself has an objective character. It
indicates an objective reality for which individual persons, men and
women, can "make themselves" eunuchs (as Christ says). The reality
of the Kingdom in Christ's statement according to Matthew (19:11-12)
is defined in a precise, but at the same time general way, so as to
be able to include all the determinations and particular meanings
that are proper to it.
Temporal establishment
2. The Kingdom of Heaven means the Kingdom of God, which Christ
preached in its final, that is, eschatological, completion. Christ
preached this kingdom in its temporal realization or establishment,
and at the same time he foretold it in its eschatological
completion. The temporal establishment of the Kingdom of God is at
the same time its beginning and its preparation for definitive
fulfillment. Christ calls to this kingdom and in a certain sense
invites everyone to it (cf. the parable of the wedding banquet in Mt
22:1-14). If he calls some to continence "for the sake of the
Kingdom of Heaven," it follows from the content of that expression
that he calls them to participate in a singular way in the
establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth, through which the
definitive phase of the Kingdom of Heaven is begun and prepared.
Kingdom for all
3. In this sense we have said that this call bears in itself the
particular sign of the dynamism of the mystery of the redemption of
the body. Therefore, as we have already mentioned, continence for
the sake of the Kingdom of God manifests the renunciation of one's
self, taking up one's cross every day, and following Christ (cf. Lk
9:23). This can reach the point of implying the renunciation of
marriage and a family of one's own. All this arises from the
conviction that in this way it is possible to contribute more
greatly to the realization of the Kingdom of God in its earthly
dimension with the prospect of eschatological completion. In his
statement according to Matthew (19:11-12), Christ said generically
that the voluntary renunciation of marriage has this purpose, but he
did not say so specifically. In his first statement on this subject,
he still did not specify through what concrete obligation this
voluntary continence is necessary and even indispensable for the
realization of the Kingdom of God on earth and for its preparation
for future fulfillment. We will hear something further on this point
from Paul of Tarsus (1 Cor) and the rest will be completed by the
life of the Church in her historical development, borne by the
current of authentic Tradition.
4. In Christ's statement on continence for the sake of the Kingdom
of Heaven, we do not find any more detailed indication about how to
understand that kingdom—with regard to its earthly realization and
its definitive completion—in its specific and exceptional relation
with those who voluntarily "make themselves eunuchs" for it.
Neither is it said through which particular aspect of the reality
that constitutes the Kingdom are those associated to it who freely
are made "eunuchs." In fact, we know that the Kingdom of Heaven is
for everybody. Those who "marry and are given in marriage" also are
in a relation with it on earth (and in heaven). For everybody it is
the Lord's vineyard in which they must work here on earth, and
subsequently it is the Father's house in which they must be in
eternity. Therefore, what is that kingdom for those who choose
voluntary continence in view of it?
Clear expression of Christ's teaching
5. For now, we do not find any answer to this question in Christ's
statement as reported by Matthew (19:11-12). It seems that this is
in keeping with the character of the whole statement. Christ
answered his disciples in such a way as not to keep in line with
their thought and their evaluation, which contained, at least
indirectly, a utilitarian attitude regarding marriage ("If this is
the case...it is better not to marry": Mt 19:10). The Master
explicitly evaded these general lines of the problem. Therefore,
speaking about continence for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, he
did not indicate in this way why the renunciation of marriage is
worthwhile, so that the "it is better" would not be understood by
his disciples in any utilitarian sense. He said only that this
continence is at times required, if not indispensable, for the
Kingdom of God. With this he pointed out that continence, in the
kingdom which Christ preached and to which he calls, constitutes a
particular value in itself. Those who voluntarily choose it must do
so with regard to that value it has, and not as a result of any
other calculation whatever.
6. This essential tone of Christ's answer, which refers directly to
continence itself "for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven," can also
be referred indirectly to the previous problem of marriage (cf. Mt
19:3-9). Therefore, considering his statement as a whole, according
to Christ's basic intention, the answer would be as follows. If
anyone chooses marriage, he must choose it just as it was instituted
by the Creator "from the beginning." He must seek in it those values
that correspond to God's plan. If on the other hand anyone decides
to pursue continence for the Kingdom of Heaven, he must seek in it
the values proper to such a vocation. In other words, one must act
in conformity with his chosen vocation.
Seek values proper to vocation
7. The Kingdom of Heaven is certainly the definitive fulfillment of
the aspirations of all men, to whom Christ addressed his message. It
is the fullness of the good that the human heart desires beyond the
limits of all that can be his lot in this earthly life. It is the
maximum fullness of God's bounty toward man. In his conversation
with the Sadducees (cf. Mt 22:24-30; Mk 12:18-27; Lk 20:27-40),
which we have previously analyzed, we find other details about that
kingdom, or rather about that other world. There are still more in
the whole New Testament. Therefore, it seems that to clarify what
the Kingdom of Heaven is for those who choose voluntary continence
for its sake, the revelation of the nuptial relationship of Christ
with the Church has a particular significance. Among the other
texts, however, a decisive one is that from Ephesians 5:25ff. It
will be especially well to rely on this when we consider the
question of the sacramentality of marriage.
That text is equally valid both for the theology of marriage and for
the theology of continence for the sake of the kingdom, that is, the
theology of virginity or celibacy. It seems that in that text we
find almost concretized what Christ had said to his disciples,
inviting them to voluntary continence for the sake of the Kingdom of
Heaven.
8. In this analysis it has already been sufficiently emphasized that
Christ's words—with all their great conciseness—are fundamental,
full of essential content and also characterized by a certain
severity. There is no doubt that Christ put out his call to
continence in the perspective of the other world. But in this call
he put the emphasis on everything which expresses the temporal
realism of the decision for such continence, a decision bound with
the will to share in the redeeming work of Christ.
So, therefore, in the light of Christ's respective words reported by
Matthew (19:11-12), the depth and the gravity of the decision to
live in continence for the sake of the Kingdom emerge above all, and
the importance of the renunciation that such a decision implies
finds its expression. Undoubtedly, throughout all this, through the
gravity and depth of the decision, through the severity and the
responsibility that it bears with it, love appears and shines
through, love as the readiness to give the exclusive gift of oneself
for the sake of the Kingdom of God. However, in Christ's words this
love seems to be veiled by what is put in the foreground instead.
Christ did not conceal from his disciples the fact that the choice
of continence for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven is—viewed in the
light of temporal categories—a renunciation. That way of speaking to
his disciples, which clearly expresses the truth of his teaching and
of the demands contained in it, is significant through the whole
Gospel. It is precisely this that confers on it, among other things,
so convincing a mark and power.
In the name of love
9. It is natural for the human heart to accept demands, even
difficult ones, in the name of love for an ideal, and above all in
the name of love for a person (love, in fact, is by its very nature
directed toward a person). Therefore, in the call to continence for
the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, first the disciples themselves,
and then the whole living Tradition of the Church, will soon
discover the love that is referred to Christ himself as the Spouse
of the Church, the Spouse of souls, to whom He has given himself to
the very limit, in the Paschal and Eucharistic Mystery.
In this way, continence for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, the
choice of virginity or celibacy for one's whole life, has become, in
the experience of Christ's disciples and followers, the act of a
particular response of love for the divine Spouse, and therefore has
acquired the significance of an act of nuptial love, that is, a
nuptial giving of oneself for the purpose of reciprocating in a
particular way the nuptial love of the Redeemer: a giving of oneself
understood as renunciation, but made above all out of love.
Taken from: L'Osservatore Romano Weekly Edition in English 26 April
1982, page 3
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