When God Asks for an Undivided Heart (Apostoli)

Though one of the most beautiful and misunderstood callings in the Christian life, many today struggle to understand celibacy. Some question it. Others fear it. Still others attempt to live it without ever being shown its depth, its purpose, or its power.

In this spiritual classic, Fr. Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R.—priest, spiritual director, seminary professor, and founding member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal —offers a clear, compassionate, and deeply hopeful vision of celibate chastity rooted in Scripture, Tradition, and decades of pastoral experience.

Drawing from forty years of guiding souls, Fr. Apostoli reveals celibacy not as a deprivation, but as what the spiritual masters have always called it: the gift of an undivided heart. Whether you are discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, living consecrated life in community, living chastely in the world, or seeking to better understand the Church’s teaching, this book will challenge, strengthen, and inspire you. Inside, you will discover:

• The biblical and historical foundations of the celibate vocation
• Warnings about false motives for choosing celibacy
• Answers to common misunderstandings about celibacy
• The deep joys and fruitfulness that flow from total self-gift
• Practical guidance for guarding purity in a culture saturated with temptation

Fr. Apostoli does not ignore the struggles. He addresses them directly— including the wounds of impurity and questions surrounding sexuality—always with clarity, fidelity, and pastoral sensitivity.