Everyone is Called to Marriage

We are all called to marriage. Wait a minute, you might say, priests and nuns don’t get married, and some laypeople choose to remain single. But the fact of the matter is, every one of us is called to marriage.

Before you become indignant, let me explain. No, not every one of us will enter into a sacramental union as husband and wife. But even those who never celebrate Holy Matrimony are called to unite their lives to someone.

“Some people are called to marriage, which is the sign on earth of the heavenly marriage of Christ and his Church in eternity. But some are called to skip the sign, if you will, of earthly marriage and start living the lifestyle that we’re all going to be living in heaven, right now,” explained Cale Clarke on The Faith Explained.

Our culture is largely misguided when it comes to understanding the purpose and beauty of human sexuality, and some believe that celibacy is ludicrous. As Cale has said, celibacy is not natural—it’s supernatural. Men and women who embrace the call to celibacy can do so only by the grace of God and closeness to the Lord.

While husbands and wives experience intimacy with their spouses in the covenant of marriage, celibate men and women are not void of intimacy. Instead, their intimacy takes a different form.

Perhaps you’ve heard it said that a priest is married to his spouse, the Church. Or a religious sister is a bride of Christ? Those in consecrated life live out human sexuality in a way that points to the reality of heaven that we will one-day experience in eternity.

“They’re not ‘having sex’, they’re not married, but they’re living out the deepest meaning of sexuality, what it points to—the heavenly marriage of God and his people by the resurrection and power of Christ,” said Cale.

Every man—whether married or not—is called to be some form of a husband and father. Every woman—whether married or not—is called to be some form of a wife and a mother.

“That’s because when we love in God’s image, one of the things that he expects from us is fruitfulness—spiritual children if not physical children,” said Cale.

Consider today how you might reach out with spiritual motherhood or fatherhood to a person in need of love, support, and guidance. If you are married, ponder how you might better love your spouse as Christ loved the Church. If you are not married, think about how you might unite yourself more fully to Christ right here, right now.

“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” – St. Augustine


Tune in to The Faith Explained with Cale Clarke weekdays at 12:30-1pm CT only on Relevant Radio®.

Lindsey is a wife, mother, and contributing author at Relevant Radio. She holds a degree in Journalism and Advertising from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Lindsey enjoys writing, baking, and liturgical living with her young family.