Celibacy

Not everyone gets it. Society certainly doesn't. Heck, it doesn't even understand abstinence. And chastity? Fuggedaboutit. Priestly celibacy is closely related to marriage, actually. Just as I have forsaken all other women for the sake of my wife, so the priest forsakes all for the Church.

Celibacy is commonly understood as a grace of the Holy Spirit, but sometimes it's provided by other sources...

While attending a Marriage Weekend, Fred and his wife, Diane, listened to the instructor declare "It is essential that husbands and wives know the things that important to each other..."

He then addressed the men, "Can you name and describe your wife's favorite flower?"

Fred leaned over and touched Diane's arm gently, and whispered, "Gold Medal All-Purpose, isn't it?"

And thus began Fred's life of celibacy...

(Yeah, it's an oldie, but what the heck. A friend emailed it to me.)