What is single life?
In our Catholic Faith, we have 4 types of vocation. Religious Life, Priesthood, Married
Life, and Single Life.
Living a single life means living a saintly life focused on the love for His greater glory.
It is being available to serve the Church. To serve others.
Being single is optional.
Various circumstances contribute to our discernment affecting our vocation.
Not everyone is called to be a priest or religious. If that’s the case, perhaps, married life.
But if still not, it could be single-blessedness life.
If you are a single female who is considering single life, you might want to consider
Consecrated Virginity. For more details, you can check this guide.
How does single-blessedness work for the Church?
Just like being religious or married, being single is also called to holiness.
As single, we must live in chastity.
When we are baptized, the gifts of the Holy Spirit were bestowed upon us and we must
commit to the promises we made which is to serve the Church wholeheartedly.
Being single in the Catholic Church allows us to be more present and active in several
ministries. We can be more available.
And this is a good thing!
To be able to serve the Church more, loving our brothers and sisters freely.
How does single-blessedness work for the Church?
Just like being religious or married, being single is also called to holiness.
As single, we must live in chastity.
When we are baptized, the gifts of the Holy Spirit were bestowed upon us and we must
commit to the promises we made which is to serve the Church wholeheartedly.
Being single in the Catholic Church allows us to be more present and active in several
ministries. We can be more available.
And this is a good thing!
To be able to serve the Church more, loving our brothers and sisters freely.
How to live a single life?
Living this life, as compared to other vocations, does not require ordination (in the case
of priests), profession (in the case of religious brothers or sisters), and Sacrament of
Marriage (in the case of married couples). Nonetheless, it requires commitment.
Commitment to a holy life.
As this is one of my options, I am living my life now as a single guy just like a normal
single individual does.
I am working to meet my needs.
I visit my parents from time to time in our simple abode in a small city.
Going out with my friends.
And, I occasionally travel to different places in my spare time.
With all these, I am committed to following the Church’s teachings. I am living a
celibate life. Attending Mass regularly. Devoting my Wednesday in honor of Our
Mother of Perpetual Help. And trying to be more active in our Parish activities.
I find this life freeing as compared to what others might think, which is boring. I actually
feel I am capable of giving more of myself to the Church and to others.
Although I am still discerning, I currently enjoy this way of life. A life full of love.
Challenges of Single Life Vocation
Just like any other vocation, being single has its own challenges.
One of those is living chastely. As human beings, we are not free from sexual urges,
and at times, we give in to temptation. But, this is something that can be overcome over
time through prayers and self-discipline.
Another one is loneliness. This, I admit, is harder than the first one. If you are single,
you tend to carry the world by yourself. You do not have a family you can call your own
to be with when the time comes. And it is frightening. But, living a single life for more
than 25 years, I realized that although I am alone, I can still face tomorrow confidently
knowing that the family I am building is bigger than normal ones. I am extending it to my
friends and relatives.
What does the Catechism of the Catholic Church say about
single life?
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church,
CCC 1658 “We must also remember the great number of single persons who, because
of the particular circumstances in which they have to live – often not of their choosing –
are especially close to Jesus’ heart and therefore deserve the special affection and
active solicitude of the Church, especially of pastors. Many remain without a human
family often due to conditions of poverty. Some live their situation in the spirit of the
Beatitudes, serving God and neighbor in exemplary fashion. The doors of homes, the
‘domestic churches,’ and of the great family which is the Church must be open to all of
them. ‘No one is without a family in this world: the Church is a home and family for
everyone, especially those who ‘labour and are heavy laden.”
CCC 898 “By reason of their special vocation it belongs to the laity to seek the kingdom
of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God’s will. . . . It
pertains to them in a special way so to illuminate and order all temporal things with
which they are closely associated that these may always be effected and grow
according to Christ and maybe to the glory of the Creator and Redeemer”
Are there saints who lived a single life?
Yes, there are saints who live a single-blessedness life.
St. Pradixes, St. Casimir of Poland, and St. Joseph Moscati are some of the examples
of notable persons who had a single life as their vocation.
If you are discerning this way of life, you can ask their intercession for clarity.
Conclusion
Perhaps, you are probably considering a vocation to a single life right now.
It is difficult to decide yet for we are still being honed by our own experiences leading us
to our vocation. But know that, we are made to be holy. We are created to love.
As we wait for that moment to finally say yes to our calling, we must continue to serve
the Lord through His Church and His people.
Until then, we are living a life in accordance with His will. And that should be our
vocation.
Single Blessedness
A vocation is a personal call from God . It is offered freely by God and must be accepted freely. Appeal to
a certain way of life or to a specific person can be a good sign of being called. Most often a person comes
to recognize and accept a vocation gradually. This process, sometimes called discernment, is an
opportunity for growth. It can be helped by prayer and guidance from friends and family. The vocation to
the Single Life may be lived out either from choice or from circumstance. Some people choose to remain
single because they believe this is how they can best serve God and his people. They do not feel called
to join with a life partner or the priesthood. If you choose to be single there are a number of vocations you
may be called for you may be a lay missionary - teacher or doctor - who can more easily respond to need,
wherever it is perceived, if they are not tied by an intimate relationship or family responsibilities. But
equally they may be a carpenter, office worker, scientist, dentist, train driver, who has a fulfilling personal
relationship with Jesus which they feel able to live out more fully if they are not tied by other relationships
and lifestyle. This image represents that you can life a single life devoted to God and still be happy.
