Thread by @Hasan22821492

Marriage is a remedy for weakness towards concupiscence. Remedies heal, they're not a way to live permanently in weakness. Perfection is still possible for the married - see Abraham, who had marital continence in act, but continence of celibacy in habit. aquinas.cc/la/en/~DePerfe…

"If anyone should object to us the example of Abraham and of other just men of old who were perfect without refraining from matrimony, we will answer them in the words of St. Augustine in the book de Bono coniugali:

the continence that is a virtue is that of the mind, not of the body. And virtue is sometimes revealed in deeds, and sometimes lies disguised as a habit. The patience of John who did not suffer martyrdom was equal in merit to that of Peter who was slain;

and Abraham who fathered sons was equal in continence to the virgin John. The marriage of the one and the celibacy of the other fought, each in their season, for Christ. Therefore, any one of the faithful who observes continence may say: I am certainly no better than Abraham;

but the chastity of celibacy is superior to the chastity of married life. Abraham practised the one actually, the other habitually. For he lived chastely as a husband, and could have lived continently had he been unmarried. The latter state, however,

did not befit the time at which he lived. It is easier for me not to marry at all, although Abraham married, than to live such a married life as he lived. Therefore, I am better than they who could not by continence of heart do what I do;

but I am not better than they who, on account of the different time at which they lived, did not what I do. Had it been fitting, they in their time would have accomplished far better than I that which I now do; but I, even were it now required, could not do what they achieved."

St Thomas: "This conclusion of St. Augustine agrees with what has already been said about poverty. For Abraham had arrived at such perfection that his heart never wavered in love to God on account either of temporal possessions or of wedded life.

But if another man who has not reached this height of virtue strives to attain perfection while retaining riches and engaging in matrimony, he will soon be made aware of his error in presuming to treat our Lord’s words as of small account."

This is exactly what St Paul is talking about here. See emphasis.
1 Cor 7:
26 I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short.

*From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none,* 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods,

31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.

33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit.

But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.