Does God intend or call some people to live alone forever in their life?
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Does God intend or call some people to live alone forever in their life?
The short answer is that it is very possible.
There are four basic states of life within the Catholic Church: marriage, consecrated life, priesthood and the single state as an unmarried lay person.
Trying to find one’s true vocation in life is for some individuals a task that will engulf their entire life.
Only at the end of earthly journey in this world, will some truly know if God really intended some to live single their whole life long. It may be thus true or it may not. When we see Our Lord on the day of our own particular judgement, it will all be revealed. For some, the answer will be yes. For others it will be no, for God will show to us where we may have gone astray in our true vocation.
Pope John Paul II, who wanted to be known as ‘the Pope of the family’, wrote in his familial document “Familiaris Consortio” that those without a family must be able to find their family within the Church. In fact, the entire final section of this document is dedicated to single people.
This is a subject with which John Paul II would have been intimately familiar – by the age of 20, all of his immediate family on earth had passed away, and he surrounded himself with good friends that essentially became his family.
In the document, he wrote: “For those who have no natural family the doors of the great family which is the Church - the Church which finds concrete expression in the diocesan and the parish family, in ecclesial basic communities and in movements of the apostolate - must be opened even wider. No one is without a family in this world: the Church is a home and family for everyone, especially those who 'labor and are heavy laden.'”
The Catechism of the Catholic also recognizes “the great number of single persons who, because of the particular circumstances in which they have to live – often not of their choosing – are especially close to Jesus' heart and therefore deserve the special affection and active solicitude of the Church, especially of pastors.” (CCC 1658). -Is the single life a vocation? Maybe we're asking the wrong question.
I would like simply mention here two things. It would be good to talk to a priest or pastor about this subject matter. They may have some valuable insights in helping one discerning things in life. Secondly, vocations are a challenge. Even Pope St. John Paul II, at one time, considered getting married before entering the seminary. He was young, healthy and handsome. He spoke to his spiritual director and followed the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
The states of life are never easy.
Once again the answer to your question is possibly!
Let us here simply recall the words of Jesus to his Apostles:
10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. - Matthew 19: 10-12
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Virginity and celibacy are superior states of life than that of marriage; and, though one is not obliged to choose the greater good, all are obliged to strive toward perfection (Mt. 5:48: "Be you therefore perfect").
Those who try to find a wife but are unable are the second of the three types of eunuchs (unmarried people) that Christ enumerates in Mt. 10:24:
For […] there are eunuchs, who were made so by men […].
The last sentence of this verse,
He that can take [celibacy], let him take it.
doesn't command being unmarried, but recommends/counsels it.
We know that God intends some people to marry (else He wouldn't have created Eve) and some people to remain celibate:
For I would that all men were even as myself [celibate]. But every one hath his proper gift from God: one after this manner, and another after that.
But ultimately marriage passes away, and everyone will be celibate in heaven:
For in the resurrection they shall neither marry nor be married; but shall be as the angels of God in heaven.
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