Treatise IV: On the Chastity of Others

The usefulness, common to the whole treatise, is not only the distinct knowledge of sins, but especially a good demonstration of the solutions which, in this matter, are received in the Catholic Church. When that demonstration is lacking, the convictions themselves waver: which, in a rough matter, is very harmful; or even exceptions are conceded, in singular cases, by which the integrity of the inviolate order of nature perishes.

— The excellence of honest celibacy above the conjugal state, which, after the Apostle, Catholic tradition teaches us, is confirmed by the very opinion of a false etymology. For already Quintilian had to disapprove the error of those thinking that the word caelebs was derived from caelum, because celibates would lead as it were a heavenly life¹.

This excellence proceeds chiefly from the additional pursuit of virginity. Concerning this pursuit a few things are had above, and we have spoken more fully in the work De Castitate. But, such a noble purpose being set aside, honest celibacy nevertheless merits for itself the praise of a more perfect command over vehement concupiscence, since outside matrimony every voluntary use of the generative faculty is prohibited, so that now we must treat only of lust or of sins.

This argument begets, in all who devote themselves to the amendment of morals, too great a solicitude for its usefulness to have to be demonstrated.

¹ Thus Forcellini, Lexicon, v. caelebs. Yet the writer corrected by Quintilian derived the word caelebs from caelum rather on account of the felicity of exemption from a burden than on account of heavenly pursuits. Behold the words of Quintilian: "Gavius seemed clever to himself in saying caelibes, as if caelites, because they are free from a most grave burden, and this by a Greek argument; for he affirms that ἠϊθέους is said for the same cause." De institutione oratoria, I, 6, 36. Today the more accepted etymology, from κοίτη, bed, and λείπειν, to lack, explains coelebs as one deprived of the marriage-bed. But the matter remains uncertain.