time as those things often do. I think
of David every now and then with
gratitude and affection.
And I think of that time in my
life frequently with even more grati-
tude and affection.
It was then that I really began
learning and living what celibate
love is about. I’ve found that celibate love is a mystery. Next to the
Paschal Mystery, it is perhaps the
mystery of my life, and, I suspect,
of the lives of many other celibate
lovers.
For years I’d heard celibacy
defined as the absence of marriage,
and by extension the absence of sex.
That’s all well and good, but definitions weren’t helpful to me during
the summer of ’ 92. Nor did it help to
consider one of my life’s most meaningful and distinguishing characteristics as an absence of something.
Since then I have recognized
that some of the deepest meaning that my life holds is because of
the presence of celibate love, not
because of the absence of marriage.
Since then I have come to know and
to understand that while celibate
love differs from the love shared by
spouses, it is no less a sexual expression than the genital lovemak-
Some of the deepest
meaning that my life
holds is because of the
presence of celibate
love, not because of the
absence of marriage.
“
Learn more about #508 at VocationNetwork.org
Learn more about #258 at VocationNetwork.org
Deep
Faith.
Courageous
Spirit.
Action
for
Justice.
LEARN MORE. CONTACT:
Candyce Rekart, IHM
crekart@ihmsisters.org
