of the Kingdom of Heaven so that they may be more inflamed with love for God and men, and may readily devote themselves to the service of God and the works of the apostolate. Mt 19:12; CIC, can. 599; PC 12; CM 214 Value of Chastity 41Chastity consecrated to God shall be held in the highest esteem in the entire Congregation and guarded as a precious and ever-honorable gift of divine grace in the Church. The confreres, united more closely by chastity with Christ and His Virgin Mother, become a living sign of the future world, already present through faith and charity, in which the children of the resurrection neither marry nor are given in marriage. Lk 20:35-36; PO 16 Necessary Condition 42The confreres will be able to persevere and grow in chastity only insofar as they follow Christ as the one and only needed one and foster in themselves love for God by uniting contemplation with apostolic zeal. (D 9) Lk 10:42, PC 5 Formation and Testing 43Since the observance of perfect continence intimately touches the deeper inclinations of human nature, Superiors and educators should be vigilant that candidates neither approach the profession of chastity nor be admitted to it, except after a really adequate probation and unless they have attained due psychological and affective maturity. During the period of formation, students ought to be clearly and positively instructed in the teachings of the Church regarding both the excellence of evangelical chastity and the dignity of matrimony, considering them in their theological, psychological, social, and pastoral aspects so that they may accept celibacy consecrated to God as a good, serving both the integral development of their own person, and their apostolic action. (D 10-13) PC 12 Constitutions—Part II 98
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