Book Description

Living Celibacy presents five pathways toward promoting the psychosexual health of Catholic priests: (1) Live close to God and one's deepest desires; (2) Develop broad and deep interpersonal relationships and communities of support; (3) Ask for love, nurture others, and negotiate separation; (4) Cope with stress and recognize destructive patterns of behavior; (5) Celebrate the holy. The pathways are not a theology of celibacy, nor do they explain why one chooses a celibate lifestyle. Rather they describe how chastity is experienced and enacted, what some of the opportunities and struggles might be, and how the experience of celibacy can enrich priestly life and ministry. Sensible, thoughtful, sane, informed by real-life examples, and well-grounded in both Catholic spirituality and contemporary psychology, Living Celibacy will prove a valuable resource to all priests who seek to be loving, celibate men. Too often books on this important aspect of priestly life neglect the psychological dimensions of the celibacy, view it only from a "sacrificial" point of view, or rely on an overly abstract theology. But as a longtime priest and professional psychologist, Sonny Manuel brings a perspective on the celibate life that offers insights both spiritual and practical. This is an ideal book for anyone frorn-4 first-year seminarian to an experienced priest. Book jacket.