Above left is St. Mary of Egypt and above right is St. Benedict Labre.  Both were single celibates wandering around without community who later became canonized.  It is not the ideal to go through life without a family or convent, but it is possible to become a saint in such unusual circumstances.  This article is a follow up to Single-Celibacy and Consecrated-Virginity Part 1 from earlier this week.  Let's now look at what the Holy Spirit said through the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:25-35.  As always, words of Scripture will be in italics.  My less-important commentary will be in orange bold. Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. I think that in view of the present distress it is good for [...]

Most Catholics are called to be married folks or priests or nuns/sisters.  But there are some other unusual vocations in the Church that good Catholics are talking about more and more.  An infrequent but valid vocation is a single-celibate or consecrated-virgin living in the world.  It is most certainly a real vocation if one takes private promises (or vows) through a permanent (or temporary) spiritual director (or mentor.) Sometimes these lay brothers or consecrated virgins living in the world refrain from wearing religious habits, but live in community.  Sometimes, they refrain from both religious habits and communities.  These people choose to live alone, or perhaps have no option based on past wounds.  Again, this is a very pleasing vocation to God, provided that the single-celibate make private promises to God through a priest or mentor.  As we will see later, [...]