Nicely written, Jocelyn. I live in an intentional spiritual community that's composed of both householders renunciates (couples with or without children) and formal renunciates (some of whom may be couples who took vows together and do practice complete abstinence). Everything you said describes the purpose/function of the single renunciates who take conditional vows (renewed annually). Some go on to take life vows and thus never enter into a close relationship, but others, after that period of preparation, enter into marriage. Both paths are beautiful to behold alongside also those of the renunciate householders, for what's true in all cases is an intention to offer oneself more and more completely into God regardless of the outer forms.
https://open.substack.com/pub/billionairbear/p/dating-the-yesmaybeno-grid?r=1g5bw0&utm_medium=ios
Nicely written, Jocelyn. I live in an intentional spiritual community that's composed of both householders renunciates (couples with or without children) and formal renunciates (some of whom may be couples who took vows together and do practice complete abstinence). Everything you said describes the purpose/function of the single renunciates who take conditional vows (renewed annually). Some go on to take life vows and thus never enter into a close relationship, but others, after that period of preparation, enter into marriage. Both paths are beautiful to behold alongside also those of the renunciate householders, for what's true in all cases is an intention to offer oneself more and more completely into God regardless of the outer forms.