Priests are celibate mainly to be fully dedicated and available for their ministry and service to the Church and its people. Celibacy frees priests from the obligations of marriage and family life, allowing them to devote their entire selves to spiritual fatherhood and the care of their parishioners. This state of celibacy is seen as a way for priests to more perfectly mirror the fatherhood of God, to be free from worldly concerns, and to serve with an undivided heart, resembling Christ who was celibate and fully committed to his mission. Additionally, celibacy is a sign of the kingdom of God and points toward the eschatological and spiritual realities of eternal life, beyond earthly marriage and procreation. It also enables priests to be more flexible, available, and trustworthy to those they serve, living a life of prayer, contemplation, and charity.