“You do not know what you are asking” (Mk 10,38). It is with these words that Mgr. Charles Scicluna started his homily last Sunday in a Mass he celebrated with our community, family members and some thirty Minor Seminary students and their parents, during which six seminarians that will be ordained deacons on 30 October made their promise of celibacy. To bring out the profound meaning of celibacy the Archbishop borrows the words from the Sunday Gospel that spoke about John’s and James’ request to sit one at his right and the other at his left. The Archbishop explained that when one promises to live celibately, one is not fully aware of what he is asking because of all its difficulties and challenges. Celibacy makes him a sharer in Jesus’ cup and baptism on the cross. Yet it is the necessary sacrifice to truly bear fruit as ministers of Christ, affording a complete gift of life to God and to his people. Fidelity to this gift is only possible by God’s mercy who preserves us to the end; we need only acknowledge our complete dependence on God.