A personal vow of chastity

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elohimrules

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How does one commit themselves fully to God. I would like to make a vow of chastity to Him and view the Lord as my Spouse for the rest of my life! Could a priest help me to do this?!
 
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(Long story that leads up to the following) - I made a personal vow to the evangelical counsels (poverty, chastity and obedience) quite privately in Church before The Blessed Eucharist on my own. At the time, I was visiting The Church when I was fairly confident I would be alone and I was. At that time I was making my vows renewable each year which I continued to do for quite some years before approaching a priest who knew me well about making the vows for life. He affirmed that I could if I desired to do so. He underscored that such a vow would be indeed for life.

Then in 2014 I had a religious priest as a spiritual director and confessor. I spoke to him about renewing my life vows at a Home Mass (I had read about this on the net). He asked our Archbishop who gave his consent commenting “This is a good way to do it”. Prior to that, my director asked me to write a rule of life for myself, which I did. He read it and made some amendments which I adopted into the rule. He also took a copy of the rule.

I would advise you very strongly to have a spiritual director and preferably a priest. If you cannot find a priest director, then speak to a priest who knows you well. Making private vows is a very serious matter and the vows must be fulfilled under the virtue of religion. It is very important that you understand fully what you are doing before making a private vow or vows. Private Vows are covered in Canon Law in the section under Vows.
I think that a priest who knows you well should always be involved at the beginning and as you journey. Some think that private vows are an easy road - they are not short of a miracle of God’s Grace. There probably will be many difficulties and challenges along the way.

Of course, one can be dispensed from private vows at any point; however, at the time of making the vow or vows for life, one’s firm intention must be to actually carry the vows out for life. Under the section on Vows in Canon Law, one can read about dispensation.
 
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I think there used a special service to consecrate virgins, but I think it is not really practiced. A religious vocation is probably a good way to secure it. A spiritual director will help you make the vow. Saint Alphonsus Liguori wrote a book called The True Spouse of Jesus Christ.
 
the vows of chastity can be done in private, it is valid. the entry into religion and the public and solemn vows, only make the wishes we have made firmer, but the private vows have the same value as the public and solemn vows.
in short, if one can enter religion it is the ideal, otherwise one can very well make his vows privately and that will have the same value as if one made it publicly and solemnly

The vow of poverty can require a thorough discernment to know the goods that we must effectively deprive ourselves, because our life or the lives of our loved ones may be in danger if we deprive ourselves of certain goods.
The vow of obedience requires entry into religion or at least, to find a “superior” to whom we will submit totally. Discernment is about finding a “good” superior.

On the other hand, the vow of chastity is practically the only one that depends only on the will of the one who does it, because one can very well live perpetually in continence for God with almost no risk of committing an injustice. as it is the case. for the vow of poverty or the vow for obedience
 
I have a priest as a spiritual director. I wall talk to him about this.
Also i think making the vow for one year at a time is a smart idea. I have
purchased a ring as i desire to view God as my spouse. I would love to have
the vow in our aforation chapel with my spiritual director officiating 😉
pray for my guidance in this decision
 
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why do not you make this vow in the secret of God? why want to display external signs of your vows? (have a ring, do it in a celebration officiated by your director etc etc).
And why make a vow just for a year? what are your deep motivations? these questions you have to ask them yourself
 
A personal vow of chastity Is a great and weighty thing to do but must be considered fully and carefully beforehand.
If you do go ahead with this vow maybe you could also offer it in solidarity with those who are called to and live a chaste life simply because they wish to be obedient to Church teaching (e.g. people with same sex attraction, those who are divorced but not granted annulments).
 
Consecrated Virgins make a public vow of virginity under Canon 604 I think it is. She belongs to The Order of Virgins in The Church.
A private vow of chastity or even virginity is a personal dedication to God in chastity or virginity. It is not a Canonical Public Vow.
 
It may not be a Canonical vow but it is no less significant. Believe me if I were a virgin I would join the Consecrated Virgins. I will discuss this further with my spiritual adviser. Pray for me.
 
I kind of wish this was a more well-known form of consecrated life. I’ve been wondering if I might be called to consecrated virginity, but it’s virtually unheard of here. The only options I’ve been presented with are religious life as a sister or a member of a third order, and neither of those seem to fit well with what I feel called to do.
 
You are spot on. A private vow to God is a very serious matter and must be fulfilled under the virtue of religion. Good move to discuss it with your SD. Will keep you in prayer…Barb
 
Have you thought about discussing it with the vocations director in your diocese.
Other than that, I would suggest you talk with a spiritual director or a priest, although sometimes priests are not conversant with female opportunities for a religious type of vocation.
Because consecrated virginity is “virtually unheard of” in your diocese, does not necessarily mean that it does not exist. Some bishops are prepared to consecrate a virgin, others are reluctant. Discerning a call to consecrated virginity is a very long official diocesan process I have heard.
Your best bet, I think, might be the vocations director in your diocese.
 
BarbTh said:
Have you thought about discussing it with the vocations director in your diocese.

Other than that, I would suggest you talk with a spiritual director or a priest, although sometimes priests are not conversant with female opportunities for a religious type of vocation.

Because consecrated virginity is “virtually unheard of” in your diocese, does not necessarily mean that it does not exist. Some bishops are prepared to consecrate a virgin, others are reluctant. Discerning a call to consecrated virginity is a very long official diocesan process I have heard.

Your best bet, I think, might be the vocations director in your diocese.
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Herein may lie the predominant issue - there is no “vocations director” for my diocese, at least not for women who are discerning. There is a contact for men who think they might want to be a priest, but nothing for women. There are a few religious orders who are happy to talk to young women, but for obvious reasons, their focus is on discerning a call to religious life.

I had also heard that the process is very long, and that ordinarily consecrated virgins are a little older. Neither of those would dissuade me (I’m already 30+ and I think that discernment to something this serious should take time), but I think at this point I’ll have to wait until there is a shift in the current diocesan management.
 
Very sad indeed that there is no diocesan vocations director for females in your diocese.
I don’t know if you have one already, but keeping an eye out for a spiritual director would be a good move. It is ok to be discerning to ensure that he or she would be helpful to you.
If you are unable prayerfully to find a director, be very confident that The Lord will not allow things to go amiss - although sometimes it might seem so. 🙂 It is a matter of trustful confidence in all weather.
I do hope there will be a change in diocesan management for you. I will keep you in prayer and please keep me in yours…Barb
 
Most spiritual directors today would be most reluctant to accept a private vow of obedience with them as your ‘superior’, although many years ago it was common. Religious superiors in religious orders do receive a special Grace for their position of leadership and guidance of their community.

My private vow of obedience is to my personal rule of life.
 
It is unfortunate. We can expect a change of bishop in the next 2-3 years, and many of the senior officials are expected to retire in the same time frame, so hopefully things will change at that time.

I have been keeping an eye out for a spiritual director, and in the meantime, I work on my prayer life through my own efforts. My journey to the Catholic faith was very much one where God clearly had a strongly guiding hand, and I trust that He will continue to guide me where He needs me to be and will surround me with the people needed to let me carry out His will.
 
casslean said:
I trust that He will continue to guide me where He needs me to be and will surround me with the people needed to let me carry out His will.
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Be assured confidently that He will provide all you need to carry out His Will. There might be times when one is tempted to doubt - temptation is all it is. The journey can be smooth, but it can be quite rough too. Some might have it easy, others have it rough…some a mixture of both. May all journeys be prayerful journeys.

At all times, The Good Lord knows what He is about. I am hoping you are familiar with the Doctrine of Divine Providence and the Direct and Permissive Will of God :


Catholic Catechism Catechism of the Catholic Church - PART 1 SECTION 2 CHAPTER 1 ARTICLE 1 PARAGRAPH 4 (Scroll down to “God Carries Out His Plan - Divine Providence”)
 
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There is indeed still today a special service to consecrate a virgin. It is officiated at by a bishop. It is a very beautiful service :

Rite of Consecrated Virginity:
 
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I don’t think I chose the best of videos for the rite of Consecrated Virginity. If you enter “consecrated virginity” on You Tube and browse around, there are better quality videos.
 
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