Virginity: A Positive Approach to Celibacy for the Sake of the Kingdom of Heaven

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Summary: Celibacy isn't just for priests!
Review: Obviously not all people are called to lifetime celibacy. But for those who are, either through their own choosing or by God's grace, this is a wonderful primer. There is much more to celibacy than abstaining from sex. Cantelamessa gives a deeply spiritual and yet completely practical treatment to the subject. Great as a reference for teen youth groups or for adults.

Rating:
Summary: A Brief Introduction to Celibacy.
Review: Raniero Cantalamenssa's short book _Virginity: A Positive Approach to Celibacy for the Kingdom of Heaven_ presents a case for the practice of celibacy in the Roman Catholic Church. Cantalamessa's approach is a self-styled "positive" one and he goes to great lengths to avoid the familiar "women are the devil" arguments found for instance in the _Hammer of Witches_ and the Book of Sirach. He also avoids the "Neo-Platonic" philosophies and speculations of such Christian illuminaries as St. John Chrysostom and instead keeps to simple exhortations based on the example of following Christ. The author notes that beyond the well-known examples of St. Paul and the Virgin Mary in status, Christ himself is the "Arch-Virgin" (in Patristic thought Archiparthenos) and the creation of the world by the Holy Trinity is itself virginal. Virginity and celibacy is also a symbol of the resurrection in which there will be "neither marriage or giving in marriage." Celibacy remains a state blessed by God along of course with married life. Cantalamessa's approach is a bit overly sentimental and it is the old-time Neo-Platonic philosophy that gives the practice of celibacy its greatest exaltation. I recommend it as a basic introduction to the topic but it is not the best source for a broad analysis and historical perspective on celibacy in the Christian tradition.