St. Francis’ Counsel on Chastity: Implications for The Franciscan Missionaries of Hope, Nairobi - Kenya
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Date
2019
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
According to Vatican II, “all Christians are called to live the evangelical counsels, according to their state of life, whether in single or married lay life or as priests or religious.” Counsels do not oblige anyone, rather they are only proposals or exhortations. Traditionally the Church honours three evangelical counsels: chastity, poverty and obedience. Their practice helps a person to follow Christ closely.
The vow of chastity for the kingdom of heaven is a counsel in the perfect sense of the word. It is a special gift (1 Cor 7:7) of the Holy Spirit and those who are called to it freely accept it. So, it is a distinctive mark of the religious. Every Christian has the full right to decide for or against celibacy; but the only limit to this freedom is their ability to understand and embrace it.
This paper intends to underline the understanding of the Franciscan Missionaries of Hope with regard to the evangelical counsel of chastity and its implication to their apostolate. This work is divided into six chapters. Chapter one briefly makes remarks on the Franciscan Missionaries of Hope and her members. Chapter two focuses on the evangelical counsels, precisely the counsel of chastity and its theology; and acceptance of human sexuality. Then the third chapter dwells on the message of St. Francis concerning the counsel of chastity; and how Gospel value influenced his view about it. Chapter four explains the understanding of the Franciscan Missionaries of Hope’s notion of the vow, while noting some Franciscan figures and above all, the practice of the vow today. Chapter five reviews some possible factors militating against observance of the counsel of chastity; while chapter six sums it up with some practical ethical codes. Then comes the conclusion of the whole work.
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Counsel on Chastity