ALTERNATIVE STATES OF MIND

IN 1954, POPE PIUS WROTE IN AN ENCYCLICAL, "OUR BODILY POWERS AND PASSIONS DARKEN THE MIND AND WEAKEN THE WILL." THIS ENCYCLICAL ON HOLY VIRGINITY MIGHT BE AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT, BUT BECAUSE IT IS NOT 'EX CATHEDRA' I MAY GLADLY AND RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE.

SEXUAL FULFILLMENT BEGINS WITH A STATE OF MIND. IF THE SACRIFICE OF HER VIRGINITY IS CONSECRATED TO GOD, THEN EVERY ACT OF THE WOMAN IS SACRED. IF A WIFE’S COMMITMENT TO HER HUSBAND IS A LIVING SACRIFICE, IS NOT HER EVERY ACT SACRED TOO? PERHAPS THE FORMER HAS AN EVEN MORE CHARMED LIFE THAN THE LATTER. WITH OR WITHOUT HER MAN, A WOMAN IS SOMETIMES LOST, BUT WITH GOD A WOMAN ALWAYS IS WHOLE AND FULFILLED.

CELIBACY AND SEXUAL INTIMACY ARE JUST ALTERNATIVE CHOICES. A NUN SAID THAT SHE "NEVER WANTED WHAT SHE NEVER HAD." THIS ACUTE OBSERVATION CAN BE APPLIED TO MANKIND AS A WHOLE. LIFE, WITHOUT THE TASTE OF KOBE BEEF, OF A CIGARETTE, OF A PLANE RIDE OR OF AN INDOOR TOILET, IS AND HAS BEEN, OVER TIME, STILL WORTH LIVING.

THE POPE GOT IT WRONG. PERHAPS HIS APOSTOLIC AGENDA CLOUDED HIS THINKING. ONE CAN FIND HAPPINESS IN EITHER VIRGINAL CONSECRATION OR MARITAL COMMITMENT, OPPOSING BUT EQUALLY SATISFACTORY, VOLUNTARY STATES OF MIND.