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Author Topic: What's a reasonable age difference for a relatioship  (Read 8858 times)

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Offline Banezian

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What's a reasonable age difference for a relatioship
« on: May 13, 2018, 10:03:40 PM »
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  • Im a 19 year old Traditional Catholic guy. Very mature for my age ( melancholic scholarly type) I'm thought about the priesthood, but a part of me does think God is calling me to marriage. One big problem is that  the vast majority of Catholic women I know are either Feminists or NeoCons. There are very, very few seriously   Traditional women out there, so a guy can't be too picky.   There are some girls I'm interested in who are a couple years older than I. What's a reasonable age gap?
    "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
    Ephesians 2:8-9


    Offline Matthew

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    Re: What's a reasonable age difference for a relatioship
    « Reply #1 on: May 13, 2018, 10:20:48 PM »
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  • It completely depends on the individual.

    However, women tend to "marry up", so you'd have to be her superior in one or more ways for such a marriage to "work". She needs to be able to look up to you in one (preferably more than one) department. You wouldn't want to feel like she was your superior, assuming you're planning on being the man (that is, the head) of the relationship.

    That goes for maturity, being established, earning power, knowledge of the Faith, and other topics.
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    Offline Nadir

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    Re: What's a reasonable age difference for a relatioship
    « Reply #2 on: May 13, 2018, 10:29:48 PM »
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  • Banezian, you are not alone; this topic has been broached many times here, coming up very regularly.

    This is a dilemma that many young men and young women in tradition must face and you are wise to be thinking along these lines as one must make wise decisions based on eternal as well as worldly issues, such as how to survive as a family in this screwed up society.

    The short answer to your question is that a couple of years is nothing in the scheme of things. What matters is the maturity of the persons in question (both male and female), their moral standing, willingness to do God's Will, and other virtues including willingness to adhere to the proper order in society - I mean the role each person adopts - you have already mentioned feminism, so you are forewarned.

    Take your time and don't be in a hurry, but if you find the right one follow the prompts.
    On the other hand maybe you might give a little thought to that which attracts you to the priesthood. 

    Consult a priest about the latter.
    Help of Christians, guard our land from assault or inward stain,
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    Offline Matthew

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    Re: What's a reasonable age difference for a relatioship
    « Reply #3 on: May 13, 2018, 11:06:51 PM »
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  • Im a 19 year old Traditional Catholic guy. Very mature for my age ( melancholic scholarly type) I'm thought about the priesthood, but a part of me does think God is calling me to marriage. One big problem is that the vast majority of Catholic women I know are either Feminists or NeoCons. There are very, very few seriously   Traditional women out there, so a guy can't be too picky. There are some girls I'm interested in who are a couple years older than I. What's a reasonable age gap?

    Everything Nadir said kind of "goes without saying" when it comes to finding a relationship -- the topic is much broader than just age. But since that was the specific topic of your question, I was strictly addressing the age issue.

    But I forgot to mention something else -- "a part of me does think God is calling me to marriage". Hopefully it's not a part that resides below the waist. I know that's a bit blunt if not crude, but I'm serious. My point is: don't think that priests, or men called to the priesthood, are fαɢɢօts, asɛҳuąƖ (as in: not interested in sex, or no sex drive), defective in testosterone, and/or not attracted to women. Because that is not true! As at least one individual pointed out, if you aren't attracted to women that might be an impediment to the priesthood, and the seminary shouldn't want you, because perhaps there's something wrong with you (such as the emotional/mental/spiritual disorder of ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖity).

    A priest is a man like any other man -- except he makes a noble sacrifice of having a family, and unites his whole life with the sacrificial life of Christ, up to and including His Passion and Death.

    A priest is not a misogynist. He doesn't hate women, he just loves God more and wants to serve Him in a special way to help bring souls to heaven. 

    It's not that a priest isn't attracted to women -- it's that he has built up virtue (both natural and supernatural) and lives a life of self-denial and mortification -- perfect chastity is only one of the ways this is manifest. There are many other virtues as well that he will practice.

    Long story short, every man considers marriage or is attracted to the idea of marriage to some degree, because A) it's natural, B) the institution of Marriage is good and created by God, and C) it's the "default path", or the way of all flesh, as it were. The only way you should reject marriage is for something higher, such as to give yourself to the religious life, the priesthood, or even a special apostolate/calling as a single person (single people have more time than anyone else, and a huge temptation and ability to be completely selfish. So watch out on the "single" vocation...)

    But that is why you try out a vocation to the religious life/priesthood FIRST, before you get married, and see if God wants you. Then, if He doesn't, you can go in peace and go find a wife. But even then, if you don't manage to find someone suitable even after a long period of time, it could be that God is not calling you to marriage. Don't settle or be desperate. God won't call you to marry a non-Catholic, for example.
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    Offline Banezian

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    Re: What's a reasonable age difference for a relatioship
    « Reply #4 on: May 13, 2018, 11:42:20 PM »
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  • Mathew

    When I say a part of me thinks I'm called to marriage, it's more complicated than just desire/lust. I know a number of holy   priests, and certainly don't think priests are fαɢs or unmanly ( St. Augustine is my patron and I have great admiration for St. Thomas, Domingo Banez, Garrigou-Lagrange, etc. Who would be so foolish as to view them as unmanly) I'm primarily a scholar( love studying Latin/Greek and reading theology) and I'm not sure if I'd make a good priest or not. I don't like dealing with people's problems( I'm sure that can be an issue in marriage as well) I'd make a much better Seminary professor than a parish priest.

    Like I said , I tend to be very melancholic/brewdish. The companionship of a good woman could be good for me in that regard.  
    "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
    Ephesians 2:8-9


    Offline Cantarella

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    Re: What's a reasonable age difference for a relatioship
    « Reply #5 on: May 13, 2018, 11:44:31 PM »
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  • I think for Marriage, 10 - 15 years or so difference is ideal, the man being older, considering the biological differences between the sexes. I have met couples where the man is even 20 years older and they work fine.

    I think for women the ideal age for Marriage is 18 - 22 years old.

    If anyone says that true and natural water is not necessary for baptism and thus twists into some metaphor the words of our Lord Jesus Christ" Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit" (Jn 3:5) let him be anathema.

    Offline Banezian

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    Re: What's a reasonable age difference for a relatioship
    « Reply #6 on: May 13, 2018, 11:49:49 PM »
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  • I think for Marriage, 10 years or so difference is ideal, the man being older, considering the biological differences between the sexes.

    I think for women the ideal age for Marriage is 18 - 22.
    I was asking more about ideal  difference in the case of women being older.
    "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
    Ephesians 2:8-9

    Offline Cantarella

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    Re: What's a reasonable age difference for a relatioship
    « Reply #7 on: May 13, 2018, 11:52:38 PM »
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  • I was asking more about ideal  difference in the case of women being older.

    I think that ideally women should not be older.

    Women and men age very differently.

    Women prime years 22 years of age

    Men prime years 35 years of age.

    As I said, 10 - 15 years of difference is good, in ideal circuмstances.
    If anyone says that true and natural water is not necessary for baptism and thus twists into some metaphor the words of our Lord Jesus Christ" Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit" (Jn 3:5) let him be anathema.


    Offline MaterDominici

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    Re: What's a reasonable age difference for a relatioship
    « Reply #8 on: May 13, 2018, 11:57:27 PM »
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  • I think for Marriage, 10 - 15 years or so difference is ideal, the man being older, considering the biological differences between the sexes. I have met couples where the man is even 20 years older and they work just fine.

    I think for women the ideal age for Marriage is 18 - 22.
    That math isn't looking good for him. : )
    Seriously, though, OP, you said you just started college. Unless you're already planning to quit and pursue a different employment path, I think you shouldn't worry about marriage until you're further along.
    "I think that Catholicism, that's as sane as people can get."  - Jordan Peterson

    Offline Banezian

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    Re: What's a reasonable age difference for a relatioship
    « Reply #9 on: May 13, 2018, 11:59:51 PM »
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  • That math isn't looking good for him. : )
    Seriously, though, OP, you said you just started college. Unless you're already planning to quit and pursue a different employment path, I think you shouldn't worry about marriage until you're further along.
    Just finished freshman year. All of this stuff ( marriage/priesthood etc) is just a thought right now. BTW, I go to a tiny Catholic college that is saturated with Novus Ordo  Neoconservatism. Someone  here probably knows which school I'm talking about.
    "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
    Ephesians 2:8-9

    Offline Cantarella

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    Re: What's a reasonable age difference for a relatioship
    « Reply #10 on: May 14, 2018, 12:03:22 AM »
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  • That math isn't looking good for him. : )
    Seriously, though, OP, you said you just started college. Unless you're already planning to quit and pursue a different employment path, I think you shouldn't worry about marriage until you're further along.

    True. He is only 19 :(.

    I think he is better off building some wealth these years and working on how to eventually be able to support a wife and children. Focusing on a trade or a career at this age would be very good for him. Then at 28, he could marry a 18 year old girl and be able to offer her a decent living ;).
    If anyone says that true and natural water is not necessary for baptism and thus twists into some metaphor the words of our Lord Jesus Christ" Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit" (Jn 3:5) let him be anathema.


    Offline Banezian

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    Re: What's a reasonable age difference for a relatioship
    « Reply #11 on: May 14, 2018, 12:05:10 AM »
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  • True. He is only 19 :(.

    I think he is better off building some wealth these years and working on how to eventually be able to support a wife and children. Focusing on a trade or a career at this age would be very good for him. Then at 28, he could marry a 18 year old girl and be able to offer her a decent living ;).
    The issue is that even at 19, most 18 year old girls are far too immature for my liking😀
    "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
    Ephesians 2:8-9

    Offline MaterDominici

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    Re: What's a reasonable age difference for a relatioship
    « Reply #12 on: May 14, 2018, 12:14:36 AM »
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  • Just finished freshman year. All of this stuff ( marriage/priesthood etc) is just a thought right now. BTW, I go to a tiny Catholic college that is saturated with Novus Ordo  Neoconservatism. Someone  here probably knows which school I'm talking about.
    As to your question, then, I think age matters much less than (1) the Faith and (2) your financial ability to feed, clothe, and shelter a family.
    .
    Two years older only seems like much of a difference from a public schooling perspective. In real-world terms, you'd be the "same age" as a 21-year-old. As to whether or not the same age is ideal, I think the man should be older, but as you said, options are often very limited.
    "I think that Catholicism, that's as sane as people can get."  - Jordan Peterson

    Offline Fanny

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    Re: What's a reasonable age difference for a relatioship
    « Reply #13 on: May 14, 2018, 03:55:18 AM »
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  • Coming from a very large family and having a large family myself, i can give you what seemed to work for us...

    If you have an inkling to the priesthood but don't like dealing with people's problems, maybe God is calling you to be a monk.  Every young man should at least try out religious life for two years before considering marriage. 

    Marriage should not be in your vocabulary until you are old enough and have direction in your life to be able to support a family.  

    A man should never marry an older woman.  He will not be looked up to.  And I disagree completely on a huge age gap, too.  Not more than 5 years.  Can you imagine a 30 year old man looking at a 15 year old for marriage?  Sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it.  Bleh...

    It IS difficult for men and women both these days to find a suitable spouse.  But, if He wants you married, He will send you a spouse.

    My suggestion to you is to pray for the grace of many strong virtues to be able to discern His holy will for you.

    Offline Banezian

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    Re: What's a reasonable age difference for a relatioship
    « Reply #14 on: May 14, 2018, 04:06:41 AM »
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  • Coming from a very large family and having a large family myself, i can give you what seemed to work for us...

    If you have an inkling to the priesthood but don't like dealing with people's problems, maybe God is calling you to be a monk.  Every young man should at least try out religious life for two years before considering marriage.

    Marriage should not be in your vocabulary until you are old enough and have direction in your life to be able to support a family.  

    A man should never marry an older woman.  He will not be looked up to.  And I disagree completely on a huge age gap, too.  Not more than 5 years.  Can you imagine a 30 year old man looking at a 15 year old for marriage?  Sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it.  Bleh...

    It IS difficult for men and women both these days to find a suitable spouse.  But, if He wants you married, He will send you a spouse.

    My suggestion to you is to pray for the grace of many strong virtues to be able to discern His holy will for you.
    I actually went to a Benedictine prep school which had a monastery inside it. I got a pretty good idea of the daily lives of the monks. I have no interest in being a monk.
    "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
    Ephesians 2:8-9