Passionate fire

As promised I want to go back to Rolheiser’s comments about the “sacred fire” within us, included in his chapter on the Spirituality of Sexuality.  What he says makes life-sense to me, and particularly religious-life-sense. He describes sexuality as “the most powerful of all fires, the best of all fires, the most dangerous of all fires, and the fire which, ultimately, lies at the base of everything, including the spiritual life.” Further he says “healthy sexuality is the single most powerful vehicle there is to lead us to selflessness and joy…” Rolheiser didn’t address these words to nuns, but I think they describe well the power of consecrated celibacy. For religious this fire is constellated around a loving personal relationship with God, passion for mission, and healthy life-giving friendships. Struggles, challenges, moments of deep joy and and just as profound pain add to the mix, but there is no way that nuns leave their sexuality behind as they join a religious community.  They are taking a step into a particular way of fanning the passionate fire within.  Being a nun definitely does not snuff out the flame.