A Talk on Marriage, Virginity, Monasticism, and the Life of Purity
General Introduction
His Holiness Pope Shenouda speaks about the topics of marriage, virginity (celibacy), monasticism, and the life of purity, clarifying that marriage, virginity, and monasticism are all good things but differ in degree and spiritual role.
Distinction between spiritual states
He explains that Christ and the Holy Scripture show examples for every state (married, virgin, and consecrated), and that all righteous forms are accepted by God. Virginity is not opposed to marriage but is a higher state in terms of dedication to God.
Meaning of true virginity
True virginity means the soul united with Christ — a spiritual marriage that requires complete dedication to God in mind, heart, and body, and is not merely the absence of physical marriage. There are virgins bodily whose souls are not virginal if they are filled with passions.
Widowhood as a middle stage
Widowhood is a middle position between marriage and virginity; it has holy examples in Scripture and the Fathers, and is esteemed as a pure spiritual state if accompanied by dedication to God.
Monasticism and its relation to previous states
Monasticism may come from virginity, marriage, or widowhood; what matters is that the person empties their life for worship and prayer and gives all their time and heart to God alone.
Christian marriage and the life of chastity
Marriage, according to him, is pure and blessed, and Christian marriage must be chaste — a heartily, spiritually, and physically cooperative partnership between spouses with spiritual upbringing at home. Chastity is also necessary within marriage; cultivating spiritual life in the household reduces the tendency toward monasticism if families are spiritual.
Dangers of rushing into marriage to solve sexual problems
He warns that advancing into marriage as a solution to sexual struggles without inner healing is incorrect and may lead to falling. The true protector from sin is the purity of heart by the work of grace.
Role of the Christian home and spiritual upbringing
He stresses the necessity that the Christian home be a place of worship, prayer, reading, and spiritual formation so that young people do not feel that salvation is linked to leaving marriage. Parents’ upbringing and creating a spiritual atmosphere at home prevent many from turning to monasticism because of spiritual hunger.
