To some modern ears, the word celibacy sounds like a call to not love. Such notions could not be farther from the truth. Celibacy, in its most basic definition, is the call to renounce sexual pleasures. It is little wonder that celibacy is a hard concept for modern people to understand. Perhaps many assume that celibacy is a pointless exercise based on some ancient superstition. There are reasons for why priests are called to live celibate lives and they truly are a call to love. The rationale for celibacy can be separated into three categories: practical, theological, and mystical. 

The most practical reason for celibacy is that it frees a person to focus on a specific job. Raising and educating kids is a holy vocation, but it is also a full-time job. The time spent in formation (both in seminary and ongoing after ordination), preparing for and administering the sacraments, being a spiritual father (giving spiritual direction), and being devoted to prayer, totals a very full-time job for a priest. He must be completely focused on his office of spiritual father if he is to imitate Christ in laying down his life for his sheep. The father of a family owes his priority to his wife and children. Hence, celibacy is a practical for a priest because it enables him to devote all his time and efforts to the priestly ministry. 

Even more important than the practical are the theological and mystical reasons. One theological reason for celibacy is that Christ Himself was celibate, and a priest is called to be like Christ. The mystical realities simply are spiritual realities which are less apparent than their material counterparts. A mystical reason for priestly celibacy is that a priest is married to the church. A man cannot be married to two women at the same time. When a man enters a marriage, he sets himself apart completely for one woman. He must love her with an undivided love until death do them part. It is the same for a priest, he must give himself completely to his bride, the church, with an undivided love. 

Celibacy is truly a call to love. There are various types and expressions of love and no one person is called to all of them, even though they are all good. A priest’s call to love is to be a spiritual father. It is very fitting for a man who is called to such a sacred vocation to consecrate himself completely to God. This means that he is set aside, body and soul, exclusively for the ministry of bringing God’s love to His people. For this reason, a priest is called to forgo the goods of marriage “for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it” (Matthew 9:12).