Comments on: Intimacy and Loneliness http://www.blessedisthekingdom.com/2010/01/26/intimacy-and-loneliness/ Seeking The Kingdom In All Things Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:30:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Fr. Christian Mathis http://www.blessedisthekingdom.com/2010/01/26/intimacy-and-loneliness/comment-page-1/#comment-2924 Fr. Christian Mathis Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:11:18 +0000 http://www.blessedisthekingdom.com/?p=2358#comment-2924 Kryg, It seems you are applying a very narrow definition of intimacy. There is certainly a unique kind of intimacy that is present in many marriages. There is also often loneliness within a marriage. There are many opportunities for priests and many others who are not married I might add to experience intimacy with others (and by this I do not mean physical intimacy). My own belief is that all people seek intimacy with God, whether married or single, but often we end up trying to fill the need for God with something less than God. As to priests who leave priesthood to marry, I cannot speak as a "church authority". I have a very good friend who did just that and he seems happy with the decision. That being said, I also believe, despite the bias our culture has against it, that the majority of our priests are happy doing what they have chosen. That doesn't mean there are not struggles, but I have yet to meet anyone, priest or not, who does not have times of struggle. Kryg,

It seems you are applying a very narrow definition of intimacy. There is certainly a unique kind of intimacy that is present in many marriages. There is also often loneliness within a marriage.

There are many opportunities for priests and many others who are not married I might add to experience intimacy with others (and by this I do not mean physical intimacy).

My own belief is that all people seek intimacy with God, whether married or single, but often we end up trying to fill the need for God with something less than God.

As to priests who leave priesthood to marry, I cannot speak as a “church authority”. I have a very good friend who did just that and he seems happy with the decision. That being said, I also believe, despite the bias our culture has against it, that the majority of our priests are happy doing what they have chosen. That doesn’t mean there are not struggles, but I have yet to meet anyone, priest or not, who does not have times of struggle.

]]> By: Kryg http://www.blessedisthekingdom.com/2010/01/26/intimacy-and-loneliness/comment-page-1/#comment-2923 Kryg Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:54:55 +0000 http://www.blessedisthekingdom.com/?p=2358#comment-2923 Suppose Christ tells the lonely priest in his quiet prayers to leave the priesthood and get married to find real intimacy. What will the church authorities say? This I believe happens. Suppose Christ tells the lonely priest in his quiet prayers to leave the priesthood and get married to find real intimacy. What will the church authorities say? This I believe happens.

]]> By: Fr. Christian Mathis http://www.blessedisthekingdom.com/2010/01/26/intimacy-and-loneliness/comment-page-1/#comment-2181 Fr. Christian Mathis Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:52:55 +0000 http://www.blessedisthekingdom.com/?p=2358#comment-2181 Glad you all found the material helpful. It wasn't, in my mind, a competely fleshed out post. I would have loved for our speaker to have had more time with us than he did. There were lots of things that we could have delved into more deeply. Glad you all found the material helpful. It wasn’t, in my mind, a competely fleshed out post. I would have loved for our speaker to have had more time with us than he did. There were lots of things that we could have delved into more deeply.

]]> By: anne http://www.blessedisthekingdom.com/2010/01/26/intimacy-and-loneliness/comment-page-1/#comment-2170 anne Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:08:12 +0000 http://www.blessedisthekingdom.com/?p=2358#comment-2170 A timely post for me. I think it is often forgotten that even amid the frantic pace and nearly constant accompaniment of others in family life, it can often be a very lonely place to be as well. Asking Jesus to provide all of the intimacy that we need is a good remedy, but still, one that requires a leap of faith and trust that can be very hard to come by. You've given me much to ponder. Thank you Father! A timely post for me. I think it is often forgotten that even amid the frantic pace and nearly constant accompaniment of others in family life, it can often be a very lonely place to be as well. Asking Jesus to provide all of the intimacy that we need is a good remedy, but still, one that requires a leap of faith and trust that can be very hard to come by.

You’ve given me much to ponder. Thank you Father!

]]> By: Christina Betanzos Pint http://www.blessedisthekingdom.com/2010/01/26/intimacy-and-loneliness/comment-page-1/#comment-2164 Christina Betanzos Pint Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:11:02 +0000 http://www.blessedisthekingdom.com/?p=2358#comment-2164 hmm. Good post to think more about! hmm. Good post to think more about!

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