What makes loneliness an anguish is not that I have no one to share my burden, but this: I have only my own burden to bear — Dag Hammarskjöld
We embrace the traditional understanding that God created us male and female, and that His plan for sexual intimacy is only properly fulfilled in the union of husband and wife in marriage. However, this blog was born out of frustration with the prevailing narratives about homosexuality from those who embrace this traditionally Christian sexual ethic: an excessive focus on political issues, and the ubiquity of reparative therapy in one form or another.
We want to see more discussion of celibacy, friendship, the value of the single life, and similar topics.
To learn more, see our introductory posts:
We pray that you will be blessed by our conversations and reflections.
[Cover photo credit Antony McCallum. Used under the Creative Commons licence.]
Spiritual Friendship 
Hi spiritual friendship bloggers. I’ve been reading your blog for sometime, as I’m recently legally divorced (with no children) and seeking God about how to live out our Christian covenant of marriage–or whether I should consider both the contract and the covenant broken. In my unexpected return to singleness, I’ve found that your discussions of friendship are very powerful and meaningful. Thank you.
I also want to let you all know that I just returned from 3 weeks at the Madonna House farm and community in Combermere, ON–it’s 60+-year-old Christian community of about 150-200 celibate men and women ages 20-90, working an organic farm and living life together in rural Canada.
It was such a strange and beautiful place, where gender is acknowledged and celebrated, but somehow sexual idolatry is lanced.
I have never received more healing and joy about what it means to be a sexual being. I’ve never learned more about the degree of healing that is possible when one’s entire life–including one’s sexuality–is submitted in joy and reverence to God.
The Madonna House Combermere farm receives visitors all year round, for any length of time (1 day to 2 years, I think), and you don’t have to pay anything–you just have to be willing to go with the flow of their life of farm work, service to the rural community, poverty, chastity, simplicity, and prayer/worship.
The community is Catholic and the visitors (who come from around the world) are everything–agnostic, seeking, Buddhist, Shinto, Protestant, etc.
I can’t commend it to you highly enough. It was beautiful. I hope that some of you are able to go and visit, and perhaps even consider joining your lives with them.
Madonna House also has prayer/listening houses in about 20 cities around the world.
peace,
L
Madonna House: http://www.madonnahouse.org/
St. Ben’s Farm: http://www.madonnahouse.org/tour/farm.html
Poustinia: http://www.madonnahouse.org/tour/poustinia.html
The Madonna House looks interesting. Although I was disheartened to see that they specifically say visiting working guests are “usually between 19-35” in age. I wonder why the age discrimination–especially when its supposed to be a retreat place for all people.
Hi Karen. As far as I understand, visitors of all ages are welcome. While I was there over Christmas, there were a number of visitors in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. I think Summer Institute working guests are generally ages 19-35.
Peace,
L
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