Celibat a doskonałość życia kapłańskiego

Abstract

The author is conscious of the great discussion about the priests’ celibacy which took place in recent years, but he undertakes the task of scrutinizing the ecclesial documents, beginning with the Second Vatican Council, on the celibacy in the aspect of the connection between the celibacy and the perfection of priestly life. The first part of the paper discusses the priest's spiritual life as the condition of a creative experience of priestly celibacy. Without the human, Christian and priestly maturity as well as without appealing to the adequate norms of ascetical life, the priestly celibacy would turn out to be impossible. In the second part the author examines the problem of influence of the properly experienced celibacy on the development of perfection and holiness of priestly life. Pointing to the connection between the celibacy and Christian faith, hope, and especially love, as well as the supernatural character of the priestly celibacy, the author reveals that celibacy has the role of a stimulator and specific fuel for development of perfection and holiness of priestly life.