Dr. Janet Smith Becomes a Consecrated Virgin

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On Saturday January 21, the feast day of St. Agnes, Dr. Janet Smith, internationally renowned professor of moral theology and speaker on Catholic sexual ethics became a consecrated virgin.

Dr. Smith’s vows were received by Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing at St. John the Baptist Church in Ypsilanti Michigan, where she was presented with the veil and ring, symbols of her perpetual state, and the Liturgy of the Hours which she will pray daily for the whole world. The Mass was concelebrated by Archbishop Allen Vigneron and Auxilary Bishop Byrnes of Detroit, and well as priest faculty and clergy of Sacred Heart Major Seminary. In addition to Dr. Smith’s family and friends, the Consecration Mass was attended by faculty, students, and seminarians of Sacred Heart.

In a brief address at the end of the Mass, Dr. Smith noted the inspiration from teaching at the Detroit seminary, noting that she felt called to give nothing less than her full self to Christ when she saw the example of men and women in formation for the priesthood, diaconate, and religious orders there, as well as the many lay students. She also noted how fitting it was that her consecration should take place on the feast of St. Agnes, the 86th birthday of her mother, Agnes, who had been a great inspiration and source of formation in her life.

Dr. Smith encouraged all people to take seriously the question of what God is calling them to as their vocation, and to be open to anything he may wish them to consider.

Dr. Janet Smith continues to teach moral theology and Catholic bioethics and sexual ethics at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and is consultor to the Pontifical Council on the Family. She speaks regularly around the world on sexual ethics, and nearly two million copies of her talk, “Contraception: Why Not” have been distributed.

**I realize that I’m not a “reputable news agency,” but I was present at her consecration. Hopefully, that’s enough. Considering no news agencies have reported on this wonderful event, and Dr. Smith’s reputation, I thought that the world could use a bit of celebration.
 
Wow! Great news for the good doctor! It’s good to have such a model 🙂
 
This is SUCH good news! Thanks for sharing that with us. Praise the Lord…:whackadoo:
 
Please watch this wonderful youtube video by Janet Smith:
:confused:

The video concerns contraception. While Dr. Smith is an expert on the Church’s teaching in this matter, I don’t understand why you mentioned it in this discussion. Okay, I can be pretty dumb at times…what am I missing?

I am glad that Janet Smith has become a consecrated virgin. She can do much good as a CV and she can do much good for the status of consecrated virgins. So few Catholics, let alone the general public, are aware of the vocation. Her prominence will surely help.

However, this may mean that her personal life will be given more scrutiny than it has received in the past. Perhaps it would be good to remember her in prayers, that she might cope and that others might benefit from her example.
 
Great news, but in this forum, isn’t a link to a news story required :confused:
 
Great news, but in this forum, isn’t a link to a news story required :confused:
Yes, it is. Unfortunately, this is the sort of story which won’t get media coverage unless Dr. Smith chooses to seek it out.

Do you think the parish bulletin of the church where the consecration took place will suffice?
On Saturday, January 21st,2012, at 10:00am, The Most Reverend Earl Boyea will be at St. John the Baptist to celebrate a Mass with the Rite of Consecration to a Life of Virginity for Dr. Janet Smith. Dr. Smith holds the Father Michael J. McGivney Chair of Life Ethics at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. She is an internationally known author, speaker and is a consultor to the Pontifical Council on the Family and serves the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian unity as a member of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission, III. Furthermore, Dr. Smith is a member of our community and parish and serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Catholic Urban Project. As a consecrated virgin, she becomes “…a particularly striking sign of the love of the Church, the Bride, for Christ, her Bridegroom…a faithful reminder
of the life which is to be ours in the Kingdom of Heaven, life belonging completely to
Christ.” (The United States Association of Consecrated Virgins)
The parishioners of St. John the Baptist are cordially invited to join Bishop Earl Boyea,
Archbishop Allen Vigneron, and several other members of the clergy, as they celebrate this happy occasion with Dr. Smith, as she demonstrates a “life belonging completely to
Christ.”
content.seekandfind.com/bulletins/15/0035/20120115B.pdf
 
:confused:

The video concerns contraception. While Dr. Smith is an expert on the Church’s teaching in this matter, I don’t understand why you mentioned it in this discussion. Okay, I can be pretty dumb at times…what am I missing?

I am glad that Janet Smith has become a consecrated virgin. She can do much good as a CV and she can do much good for the status of consecrated virgins. So few Catholics, let alone the general public, are aware of the vocation. Her prominence will surely help.

However, this may mean that her personal life will be given more scrutiny than it has received in the past. Perhaps it would be good to remember her in prayers, that she might cope and that others might benefit from her example.
I figured that most people didn’t know who Dr. Janet Smith was. She is famous for debating dissidents (particularly within the Church) who challenge the Church’s teaching on contraception. She has been very successful and effective in these debates. The problem is that polls show that the percentage of Catholics contracepting is almost equal to non-Catholics. This is a very hot and challenged topic in the Catholic Church, particularly in Detroit where the Archdiocese has been publicly attacking Anti-Contraceptive 7 Pro-Life groups.

For example: The Archdiocese of Detroit formally requested Detroit resident and major Anti-Contraceptive & Pro-Life champion Michael Voris (employed by Real Catholic TV based in South Bend, Indiana, the Diocese of Bishop Kevin Rhoades) to desist from using the word “Catholic” in his employer’s organization name. Detroit Archdiocesan Director of Communications and Canon Lawyer Ned McGrath stated that there were no complaints regarding RealCatholicTV, and that in his 20 years with the Archdiocese of Detroit there was never a request made of any group or organization to refrain from using the word “Catholic”.

Aside from Archbishop Vigneron attempting to exercise authority outside his jurisdiction, this is particularly outrageous as the “American Catholic Council” is located in Detroit and was formed by pro-abortion / pro-contraceptive / pro-homosexual marriage / pro-woman priest Catholics attempting to change Roman Catholic Church core teaching, tradition and values. This group was not asked to desist in using the word “Catholic”.

Moreover, the Archdiocese of Detroit harbors and meets with the pro-abortion / pro-contraceptive / pro-homosexual marriage / pro-woman priest group “Elephant In The Living Room”. The Jesuit Catholic University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) regularly violates Catholic teaching but have been permitted to retain their “Catholic” designation without interference from the diocese. UDM has proposed abortion agencies as career opportunities for students; had links to pro-abortion groups on its website; retained a renowned pro-abortion, pro-same-sex “marriage” nun on its Board of Trustees; held an annual event called ‘sexapalooza’ with activities such as ‘safe sex games’, sex-tac-toe; and has professors that put stickers on their office doors indicating their support for abortion. There are prominent “Catholic” entities as well as Catholic priests in the Archdiocese of Detroit directly flouting Church teaching without reprimand from the Archdiocese.
 
Dale, thanks for looking up the bulletin. I didn’t even think of that!

As for the Michael Voris topic, since it is another topic entirely, I think there have been a number of other threads devoted to that discussion. They might be more appropriate venues than continuing that debate here.
 
To get back to the subject at hand. I congratulate Dr. Smith on her calling as a Consecrated Virgin. I’ve had the chance to meet her briefly, by literally bumping into her at an ordination, and in the few minutes that we chatted, I can tell you that she never came across as academic, but instead a person that truly is in love with Our Lord! At the time I had an inner locution from the Lord moments earlier (something I’ve been blessed with on occasion since my childhood) and when I confided it to Dr. Smith, and told her exactly what the Lord had spoken to me, she said, Yep, that’s exactly how he speaks when he speaks to you!) I took this to mean that the Lord also speaks to her in the same way.
I say this, not to brag about our gifts from the Lord, for,( at least mine has been only the Lord speaking to me to console or confirm His love for me), but to let people know that this is a woman that truly KNOWS our Lord and truly LOVES Him with all her heart.
I am so happy for her choice of total commitment to Him, as a spouse. She will certainly be a target of the Evil One and his dominions, but she is strong in her faith and with our prayers she will be sustained and able to remain faithful unto death. May God truly bless her and may He bless and continue to guide her to do His will!:gopray2::byzsoc:
 
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