44: The Vow of Chastity
Chapter 44 distinguishes the vow of chastity taken by religious from mere celibacy, defining it as perfect virginity that excludes all carnal thoughts, desires, and deeds, even those lawful in marriage. This vow, requiring immense fortitude and divine grace, is presented as a superior spiritual state exemplified by Christ and many saints. Addressing the objection that it hinders population growth, the author argues that the law to "increase and multiply" applies collectively to humanity, not individually. He contends that many religious men would not have married anyway, and religious women, often the "fairest and best endowed," charitably leave more eligible partners for their less fortunate sisters. Ultimately, the chapter asserts that impurity, not chastity, is the true enemy of the race's vitality, and it's disingenuous to blame religious vows for declining birth rates in regions where other societal factors are at play.
For the full audiobook can be obtained here. The contents of this volume appeared originally in The Catholic Transcript, of Hartford, Connecticut, in weekly installments, from February, 1901, to February, 1903.
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