Chastity

Chastity and celibacy are often confused. Celibacy is the state of not being married. So a vow of celibacy is a promise not to enter into marriage but instead to consecrate one’s life to service.

Chastity is a virtue expected of all Christians and is the state of sexual purity; for a vowed celibate or for the single person, chastity would mean the avoidance of sex. For the married person, chastity would mean the practice of sex only with the spouse. In fact, married chastity carries the expectation of intercourse with the spouse.

See Religious aspects of marriage