Consecrated Virginity Question

[child_of_God85]

I actually know my Bishop fairly well, and I told him a while back about my vocation. He seemed thrilled when I told him.

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

I actually know my Bishop fairly well, and I told him a while back about my vocation. He seemed thrilled when I told him.

It seems you have a good chance of doing what you feel God is asking of you! I will be praying for you!

 

[SerraSemper]

Well, lay the question before him. Tell him your situation. Be transparent with him. Tell him about your desire to adopt and how you believe that a single person could do it well. This is one of those things that you need to bring up with him, as this would gravely impact how you lived your vocation, and he has the right to know this desire.

 

[child_of_God85]

Well, lay the question before him. Tell him your situation. Be transparent with him. Tell him about your desire to adopt and how you believe that a single person could do it well. This is one of those things that you need to bring up with him, as this would gravely impact how you lived your vocation, and he has the right to know this desire.

I wouldn’t call it a desire to adopt. I’ve just thought that some years down the road, that maybe in my missionary work I might adopt a child in need. I would like to work with children in a missionary way, so I’ve even thought that instead of adopting a child, working with children might be a better way for me to go.

 

[SerraSemper]

Well, if you have plans on doing it, or have a strong leaning towards something like adoption, my suggestion remains that you speak to your bishop about it if you are seriously pursuing the consecration because the bishop has the care of your vocation, and this would be a serious element in discernment.

I have a seminarian friend who is considering adopting, but his are extraordinary circumstances and he is related to the person he wishes to adopt. He and others under a bishop need to consult because it’s bringing another person’s welfare into one’s way of life. Being a parent is not a thing you take up like having a pet and it profoundly impacts one’ whole life. Incidentally this is one of the elements of Christian marriage (the procreation and education of children). God has given a sacrament for the rearing of children, both for the sake of the parents and the welfare of the children. If you really feel called to adopt, your best bet probably is to get married because of the sacramental graces.

 

[AveSantaMaria]

Curious, please don’t answer if you don’t feel comfortable answering, why do you feel the need to make an ‘official’ promise of Consecrated Virginity?

I think it is important to consider if your parent’s unhealthy marriage may lead you to inappropriately devalue marriage. It might be hard to see marriage in an appropriate healthy and holy light, as a vocation in and of itself, if you haven’t had it appropriately and intimately modeled to you throughout your childhoold, as it sounds as if you have not.

 

[Lilllabettt]

Consecrated Virginity is not about making “official” promises …There is a place in the Rite of Consecration for the woman in question to say “I am [so resolved]” … but this is just her giving her consent to what the Bishop is about to do …

A person making religious vows, whether privately or “officially” and publicly, offers those vows for herself. She offers them and her Superior accepts them.

A Consecrated virgin is not consecrated by her vows or any action of her own. She is consecrated by the prayer of a Bishop. He consecrates, she accepts. In this way the Rite mirrors that for Holy Orders.and can never be “undone.”

Many times people will ask candidates for Consecration: why don’t you just become a nun? why don’t you just take private vows, why do they have to be official … when really those are 3 distinct forms of consecrated life, and a person is called to one of them.

 

[child_of_God85]

Well, if you have plans on doing it, or have a strong leaning towards something like adoption, my suggestion remains that you speak to your bishop about it if you are seriously pursuing the consecration because the bishop has the care of your vocation, and this would be a serious element in discernment.

I have a seminarian friend who is considering adopting, but his are extraordinary circumstances and he is related to the person he wishes to adopt. He and others under a bishop need to consult because it’s bringing another person’s welfare into one’s way of life. Being a parent is not a thing you take up like having a pet and it profoundly impacts one’ whole life. Incidentally this is one of the elements of Christian marriage (the procreation and education of children). God has given a sacrament for the rearing of children, both for the sake of the parents and the welfare of the children. If you really feel called to adopt, your best bet probably is to get married because of the sacramental graces.

I know all that already thank you. And I am not called to get married, so what would be the point? I know what my best bet is, and it’s in being a Consecrated Virgin.

 

[child_of_God85]

Curious, please don’t answer if you don’t feel comfortable answering, why do you feel the need to make an ‘official’ promise of Consecrated Virginity?

I think it is important to consider if your parent’s unhealthy marriage may lead you to inappropriately devalue marriage. It might be hard to see marriage in an appropriate healthy and holy light, as a vocation in and of itself, if you haven’t had it appropriately and intimately modeled to you throughout your childhoold, as it sounds as if you have not.

While I saw what a bad marriage is like through my parents, it has never led me to believe that marriage is a bad thing. I’ve seen many good marriages as well. I’ve had times where I wanted to get married one day and have children, but there was always this nagging feeling that somehoe that wasn’t what I was supposed to do. The first time I felt this calling it actually scared me, because it had never crossed my mind that I wouldn’t get married. Then the more I thought and prayed about it the more comfortable I became with this calling. Now I realize that this is the path God wants me to follow.