This article argues that authentic happiness and self-actualization are realized through intimate human relationships and that in vowed religious life, celibacy calls for an integration of sexuality and intimacy that safeguards chastity while fostering well-being. It contends that affective maturity and the capacity for healthy relatedness are foundational to sustaining celibate intimacy and human flourishing. While many consecrated persons struggle with loneliness and unmet relational needs, the study situates affective maturity as a decisive pathway to joy, integrity, and effective service. It concludes that integrating psychological well-being with spiritual formation enables consecrated persons to flourish in their vowed life.
Mukti Clarence (2026) studied this question.