The greater the meaning and purpose you have for your celibate way of life, the greater the chance you have of remaining celibate. Meaning and purpose, values and beliefs have a great impact on our theology and spirituality of celibacy. Can you take your struggles with celibacy and bring them into your prayer, your support network, and your spiritual director/companion relationship. Are you comfortable disclosing your moments of joy and despair while trying to achieve conscious celibacy? Would your life, ministry and effectiveness as a “Bearer of the Mystery” be any different as a non-celibate? Is celibacy an integral dimension to the spirituality of a Diocesan priest? Assessing our meaning and purpose of celibacy, exploring a spirituality of the diocesan priest and redefining priestly identity as we cope with the paradigm shift will be some of the prayer content of this retreat experience.
This is an intensive review of the psycho-sexual-social development of celibate integration. Exploration of the stages of initiation into celibacy, a review of our personal meaning and purpose of celibacy and the latest research into the biological implications of celibate living are discussed. The opportunity to complete the Conscious Celibacy Assessment Inventory will be made available.
Other areas of exploration may include:
Male and Female Celibates are Like water and oil
The Power of Estrogen and the Volatility of Testosterone
Understanding the Power of Psychosexual Energy – Libido
Unhealthy Compensation and a profile of the unconscious celibate
Detoxing Sexual Symbols and Fantasies so as to achieve balance and Proportion
Healthy Intimacy, Personal and Professional Boundaries
Fatal Attraction Syndrome, Detoxing Infatuations and Repulsions
The Spirituality of Celibacy: Praying the Humanity of Christ
Time for Shared Dialogue where we exchange the collective wisdom of our Blessings and Burdens of Conscious Celibacy.