Consecrated Celibacy

A fresh look at an Ancient Calling

Christine Barnabas

This book was published in 2022 and is an ideal and compact resource for anyone who is discerning a call to the Single Consecrated Life or has already made the vow as it specifically explores consecrated celibacy outside the context of traditional Religious Orders.

Christine is a vowed, consecrated celibate and lives out this vocation as a Companion of the Northumbria Community. She vulnerably shares from her own journey in the right places which aptly complements what she has to say. The book manages to pull together the strands of theology, tradition, formation, making of vows, and the central question of sexuality in just 130 pages, without compromising on depth. It is written in a lively style and accessible language and provides practical tools that can be used for the discernment, formation and making of a commitment to consecrated celibacy, both within and outside the context of church. Christine explores what scripture has to say about singleness and consecrated celibacy and illuminates the rich tradition of people who have made a commitment to stay single for God. She also speaks about the original meaning of ‘celibacy’ which is helpful as in the English-speaking world the word has been reduced to only mean sexual abstinence.

The longest chapter in the book is dedicated to sexuality, around which Christine deliberately “draws a wide circle”. It is a refreshing and beautiful exploration of some of the countless connections between our sexuality and spirituality; vulnerability and shame; our bodies and pleasure; how we engage with our senses and the sensual and the importance of doing our own inner work. It does not shy away from addressing the real questions, e.g. around masturbation. The book is worth buying for this chapter alone and speaks to both single and married people.

Sexuality and spirituality are two facets of the jewel of our unique, human expression of the Divine. We are this jewel. To make sense of ourselves, we have to explore both our spirituality and our sexuality.

Even if we do not agree with everything Christine suggests, she invites and challenges us to regard our sexuality, which means to look, and look again.

A liturgy for a commitment to consecrated celibacy, previously published in the Celtic Daily Prayer Book 2 of the Northumbria Community, rounds up the book, next to many helpful questions which aid the discernment process.

It is an honest and inspiring book that invites us to ask the right questions and certainly can go a long way in helping us on the journey towards and sustaining a call to consecrated celibacy.