Fr. Jerry Pokorsky: The Virginity and Celibacy of the Holy Family

By Fr. Jerry Pokorsky, Catholic Culture, Dec 29, 2025

Fr. Jerry Pokorsky is a priest of the Diocese of Arlington who has also served as a financial administrator in the Diocese of Lincoln. Trained in business and accounting, he also holds a Master of Divinity and a Master’s in moral theology. Father Pokorsky co-founded both CREDO and Adoremus, two organizations deeply engaged in authentic liturgical renewal. He writes regularly for a number of Catholic websites and magazines.  See full bio.

Catholics are accustomed to viewing the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as the model for every family. Yet because all three were celibate—understood in a broad and proper sense—this connection requires clarification. Mary was perpetually a virgin. Joseph was her “most chaste spouse.” The celibacy of Jesus was integral to His sacred mission.

Far from undermining family life, virginity and celibacy buttress and strengthen every holy family because they signify obedience, unity, and love ordered toward God. The Holy Family reveals that obedience to God, rather than biological generation alone, is the deepest bond of family life. …