FR PETER BROCKHILL: CELIBACY THE BISHOP'S INDISSOLUBLE BOND

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"To put it frankly and, without doubt, in a way that would be seen as politically incorrect but which nevertheless does nothing to detract from the truth of it, the priest very much follows a spousal calling which is of a higher order than the spousal calling on the natural level."  

This morning, even before I've had the doubtful pleasure of listening to Joy Cowley's exposition on National Radio yesterday - described by one reader as 'outrageous' - there comes to hand testimony to the nature of priestly celibacy from a priest of 29 years' standing. It reads like a draught of cool water in a desert. 

Here's what Fr Peter Brockhill of St Francis Xavier Parish Marton, has to say:

"In recent times, at least in my diocese, a question has arisen regarding the celibacy of priests; that is, commentators seem to be asking if this is a good thing or not?  These few paragraphs are my own thoughts on the matter, coming from 29 years of thought and prayer on this way of life, along with trying to live it as best I can, with the grace of God. 

The first thing that arises in my mind is that celibacy was followed by Our Lord Himself.  

Opinions have been expressed that celibacy is somehow a repression or a suppression of one's natural human instincts.  This implies a diminishment of one's humanity.  To say this of Our Lord, I fear, is to venture into dangerous territory. To imply that the Lord lived His life in a less than fully human way is, I believe, akin to saying that He Himself wasn't fully human.

St Irenaeus famously wrote that the glory of God is man fully alive.  This is what the Church believes about the Lord, and it is certainly what I believe about Him too.

In the Gospel the Lord clearly identifies Himself as a Bridegroom.  Besides an explicit reference to this by Him to those who were questioning Him about fasting, several parables mention a bridegroom.  These are clearly representations of Christ Himself.  There are also St Paul's words in Ephesians about Christ and His Bride the Church, and St John's apocalyptic depiction of Him as a bridegroom in the very last verses of the Book of Revelation.

Already in the Old Testament various pre-exilic prophets had begun to characterise the relationship between God and Israel as that of a faithful and jealous Husband who endures, again and again, the slights of an unfaithful and uncaring Spouse.  

The Sinai Covenant came to be understood as a marriage covenant.  The journey to Canaan and its conquest and settlement came to be seen as a wedding procession with the Bridegroom escorting His Bride into the dwelling place He had provided for Her.  For the people of Israel, the movement towards putting this faithful and exclusive, one man and one woman, model of marriage into practice in their own cultural and religious lives gained impetus after the return from exile in Babylon.  By the time of Our Lord's coming as man, and His walking this earth, such monogamous marriage was the accepted and approved practice amongst the Jewish people.  

What Our Lord lived was a spousal calling as a heavenly Bridegroom.  Never, at any time, did He disavow the calling with which God endows each and every human person, both physically and mentally.  And it is precisely this calling that the priest of today participates in.  

To put it frankly and, without doubt, in a way that would be seen as politically incorrect but which nevertheless does nothing to detract from the truth of it, the priest very much follows a spousal calling which is of a higher order than the spousal calling on the natural level.  

His spousal calling being of a higher order, is superior to, is better than, and is eminently more fulfilling and satisfying and lifegiving. than the calling present in natural marriage.  

This is because his calling is oriented to Christ the Bridegroom.  There is no question, if the priest has faith, of him feeling deprived, frustrated, or repressed, or diminished.  He is fully alive.

What does this mean then for natural marriage?  Is it worthless, and should everyone then not marry?  Of course, this is not to be thought of.  Heresies and schisms result from such thinking.  Rather, natural marriage is given its true value and character from the witness of following the spousal call on the supernatural level by priests and consecrated Brothers, and also consecrated Women witnessing to the Church as Bride. 

To say a priest’s spousal calling is a higher and more satisfying one than that in natural marriage is objectively true.  This does not take away from the fact that it is not always subjectively felt.  This is true in any area of our life of faith.  But most would agree that consolations and a sense of being blessed is never totally absent either.  

When consolations are not forthcoming, and the objective truth of the priestly calling may not in itself be very strong, I find a quick glance at the crucifix, even in my mind's eye, is enough to restore confidence in its value, beauty and goodness.  

Devotion to, and love for Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, both in Mass and during prayer of Adoration, is very important in this regard.  

In practice, living the spousal call on the higher level isn't a lot different from living the spousal call on the natural level.  Purity in mind and body is necessary for both.  This purity is achieved through the grace of God and through the exercise of mastering one's passions.  

Obviously, a little bit extra is asked of somebody who follows a celibate calling.  However, this is easily attainable.  If chastity becomes part of one's life, especially if it has been part of one's family upbringing, then one can easily pass, almost seamlessly, into making that extra effort without undue stress or bother.  

This is true especially if the exercise of chastity proper to the married state has been combined with an esteem for the priesthood, as it was in my own family.  It doesn't mean that it is always smooth running for someone who follows this vocation; this is true for anyone in any vocation.  But it does mean that God's grace is enough for someone to fulfil this vocation in a way that accords with that intended by God. 

Our Christian understanding is that with His grace, and our own sufficient recourse to that grace, we may follow the path He asks of us and fulfil the task He puts before us in the way that He would want. 

Our recourse to His grace requires an acceptance of weakness, in the “beatitudinal” sense of that word. The words recorded in the second letter to the Corinthians come to mind; "my grace is enough for you: my power is at its best in weakness".  

Needless to say, the grace of God is paramount, as is also the exercise of prayer, especially Eucharistic devotion and a deep and committed love for the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I would finish with some words from Marc Cardinal Ouellette, who has recently released a new book called 'Friends of the Bridegroom'.  In an interview, on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu-AMhdk77Y  he says the following:

The Church never linked priesthood and celibacy on the level of dogma, but She always maintained Her judgment on the pastoral value of the bond between the two, which expresses in the minister, the 'exclusive, definitive, and total choice of the unique and supreme love of Christ'.  

Even if this link is not absolutely a dogma, it is an indissoluble link for the Bishop.  

The Bishop is the fullness of the priesthood.  And for the Bishops, for East and West, and also for the Orthodox and Orientals, there is an indissoluble link between the fullness of the priesthood and celibacy.  

And so, from there we see better that we must not downplay, also for the second level of the priesthood, the importance of celibacy. 

Fr Peter Brockhill, St Francis Xavier Parish, Marton




Anon says:

Thank you Father Brockhill.  We certainly need that explained in these troubled times.  I hope your letter will be published in other Catholic media. God Bless.


Sharon Crooks says:

Fr Peter Brockhill’s response to the erroneous notions currently circulating publicly about celibacy, is greatly appreciated!  Many are being deceived due to their lack of understanding about what occurs on the supernatural level, especially in the Sacrament of Holy Orders.  This lack of understanding is not limited to the laity but has been promulgated by our most recent Bishop too and seems prominent among some priests.  Bishop Charles commented more than once in regard to ‘straying’ priests, ‘we are only human’, thus, denying a fundamental witness to the Holy Spirit in his priests, the priesthood in general, and now ultimately it seems, in his own person.  

Advocating that celibacy be abandoned does not right these wrongs!  Rather, it ultimately increases them by diminishing further, the otherwise beautiful-ness  of religious vocations, which Fr Peter’s letter clearly gives witness and testimony to, as does the lives of many saints and martyrs who have given themselves entirely to Our Lord Jesus Christ, for the salvation of many. 

I say:

Yes! Witness the 17th century lives of Ss John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues and Companions, whom the Church celebrates today, who went "to North America to preach the true faith to the pagans of that land, were killed by the Huron Indians and the Iroquois tribes after terrible tortures" (Divine Office).  
These eight men were members of the Society of Jesus. How far the Jesuits have come!

Shame we didn't celebrate their Mass this morning (BVM on Saturday instead).