Fort Wayne Woman becomes rare Consecrated Virgin

[Lily_Bernans]

Thank you, that’s sweet. I’m sure you deserve one, too!

 

[ctb95]

The people who comment in the “Daily Mail” slander everyone, good, bad, or indifferent. They are part of the “Internet mentality” that says it’s okay to say anything about anyone as long as you remain anonymous. It’s a terrible mentality. I don’t understand what joy people get from leaving nasty comments about others, even others that haven’t done such good things.

I have heard that the Daily Mail is little more than a tabloid.

Unfortunately, there’s no accountability on the internet. This anonymity means people can say almost anything they want. They certainly wouldn’t say those those things to her face (I hope). Perhaps the Internet is where people show their true colors.

 

[Murmurs]

I have heard that the Daily Mail is little more than a tabloid.

Unfortunately, there’s no accountability on the internet. This anonymity means people can say almost anything they want. They certainly wouldn’t say those those things to her face (I hope). Perhaps the Internet is where people show their true colors.

It IS a tabloid But somehow more sexist…

Though we shouldn’t just pick on the Daily Mail. It is such low-hanging fruit it’s basically a potato.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

I have heard that the Daily Mail is little more than a tabloid.

Unfortunately, there’s no accountability on the internet. This anonymity means people can say almost anything they want. They certainly wouldn’t say those those things to her face (I hope). Perhaps the Internet is where people show their true colors.

Unfortunately, I do think most people show their true colors on the Internet, behind a shield of anonymity. I guess accountability on the Internet can only be had through various Websites holding members or those who visit accountable. Unfortunately, a tabloid like the Daily Mail doesn’t care what people say as long as they comment.

 

[turtle18]

The ceremony is not overdone at all. There is a liturgical rite the Catholic Church has to follow when consecrating a virgin, just the same as an ordination.

Here is a link to the page containing the Rite:

consecratedvirgins.org/writings

 

[christofirst]

I think Bishop Rhoades of Fort Wayne deserves positive mention here as well. I have heard that some of our bishops discourage the idea of taking such time honored vows as becoming consecrated virgins or diocesan hermits in our modern age. I’m sure such a calling is very rare, but when it is genuine, our bishops should be open to the idea. Good for him.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

I think bishops should be open to all genuine callings of God. I think there are more consecrated virgins than we know. Most just don’t go through the ceremony. I know I never would. I wouldn’t want the attention and don’t like the ceremony, and I like ceremony. The bridal dress, etc. are waaay too overdone for me. I know nuns are called “brides of Christ,” and some even wear rings showing their consecration to him. I grew up with nuns. They don’t wear wedding gowns when they take their final vows. I can’t think of one order that does. The true “Bride of Christ” is his Church. It’s what the “Song of Solomon” is all about, Christ’s love song to his bride, i.e. the Church. Christ doesn’t “marry.” Male and female virginity is so special because Christ remained chaste. To me, the ceremony makes a mockery of the intentions of the person and is nothing like the ordination of a priest (and I’ve seen my share of those coming from a family replete with nuns and priests), with the exception of lying prostrate for a time.

Despite my hearty dislike for the ceremony, I think the nasty comments are uncalled for (but that is the “Daily Mail,” they make nasty comments about the pope), and I wish the woman all the best in life.

St. John Paul II wrote that consecrated virgins serve an eschatological purpose and show us a glimpse of what life will be like after the Second Coming (paraphrased, I can’t remember his exact words). Granted, JPII knows more than I do! And I see his point. But he didn’t mention the ceremony. In the Kingdom to come, there will be no marriage - Christ said it in the Bible, I’m not developing a theory - so that makes me think the wedding dress, etc. is even more “off.” White, fine, just not a secular wedding gown.

 

[turtle18]

Anyone who is consecrated to the Lord is espoused to Him. There are different paths to consecration–one can be consecrated through a religious profession (the most common way to espousal). One can also be consecrated through a secular order, becoming a hermit or through being a virgin. Once one is consecrated they are no longer eligible to married because they are espoused to the Lord.

You do not have to wear a wedding gown at the Rite-some consecrated virgins just wear normal clothing. However, as part of the rite mentioned in Canon Law, the bishop may veil you (albeit it is optional but it is there.) It would look silly to be a veil on someone who is in street clothes.

Someone can be a virgin without being a consecrated virgin. A non-consecrated virgin is free to marry and has no recognized vocation in the Church.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

Well, of course I agree with that. I’ve known virgins who say they are atheists, and I’ve known priests who are having sexual affairs. I guess I do not believe in espousal to Christ because Christ’s Bride is his Church. I do believe in consecration to him, and I think most of the people who consecrate their lives to him remain true to their promises.

I accept the ceremony as it is. It is part of the liturgy of the Church, and I’m not looking to change ancient rites. I don’t have to like it, and I don’t. Far too overdone and outlandish for my taste. I wish all well, though.

 

[eamonnroma]

Anyone who is consecrated to the Lord is espoused to Him. There are different paths to consecration–one can be consecrated through a religious profession (the most common way to espousal). One can also be consecrated through a secular order, becoming a hermit or through being a virgin. Once one is consecrated they are no longer eligible to married because they are espoused to the Lord.

You do not have to wear a wedding gown at the Rite-some consecrated virgins just wear normal clothing. However, as part of the rite mentioned in Canon Law, the bishop may veil you (albeit it is optional but it is there.) It would look silly to be a veil on someone who is in street clothes.

Someone can be a virgin without being a consecrated virgin. A non-consecrated virgin is free to marry and has no recognized vocation in the Church.

And of course we are all consecrated to God by virtue of our baptism.

 

[J_Peterson]

I agree, this is a wonderful thing.

There have been thousands of posts on UK blogs etc. Some of them puerile, offensive, the product of ignorant minds. Also showing that people have no concept of the idea of dedicating one’s life to God.

This is from a UK newspaper, the Daily Mail. The article was not so good. However read the comments left by readers, it is so sad.

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3202430/I-married-Jesus-Religion-teacher-38-marries-God-wedding-ceremony-attracts-hundreds.html?offset=1500&max=100&reply=96018934&jumpTo=comment-96018934

Yikes, a lot of budding comedians on that site. Hilarious stuff

This comment did make me proud to be Catholic. They summed it up perfectly:

“catholics are weird”

We should provoke a sense of wonder and mystery. We are weird compared to many others out there in the world. We actually eat our God’s flesh and admit when we’ve sinned!

 

[Lily_Bernans]

To some we bow down to bread and worship wine! They just don’t understand. I’ve heard some people say, “Oh you Catholics! You think you can sin, just confess, then go out and sin again!” People do not understand us. We are a mystery.

 

[twf]

It might be a very old tradition. I don’t know. I would guess that it is. Although I don’t agree with the elaborateness of the ceremony, I do believe the woman’s intentions are the best, and I wish her the best, and I understand that you wish her the best, too.

Its an ancient tradition resurrected in recent decades by the Church. There were consecrated virgins long before there were nuns or formal monasticism. In some ways it is a more primitive, primordial form of consecrated life.
It is very appropriate for the ceremony to be “elaborate”. This consecration was a solemn liturgical action of the Church which, through the Bishop, as a vicar of Christ, configured this woman into a living image of the Church as the Bride of Christ. It isn’t just about her as an individual. .

 

[SerraSemper]

Its an ancient tradition resurrected in recent decades by the Church. There were consecrated virgins long before there were nuns or formal monasticism. In some ways it is a more primitive, primordial form of consecrated life.
It is very appropriate for the ceremony to be “elaborate”. This consecration was a solemn liturgical action of the Church which, through the Bishop, as a vicar of Christ, configured this woman into a living image of the Church as the Bride of Christ. It isn’t just about her as an individual. .

Yes, it is good to remember that the sacred virgin is being configured to the likeness of the Church in a way that’s over and beyond that of the common bridehood we receive and participate in in baptism. That is why the Church says in this Rite that she is anointed with a spiritual anointing and made a sacred person… and that she “shares with the Church the title of Spouse of Christ”. This consecration ceremony is considered to be one of the most important “principle events” that a bishop can preside over within his diocese surrounded by his clergy and is specifically numbered amongst the Chrism Mass and Ordination ceremonies of priesthood as one of the most important events a bishop can be at.

The dress is appropriate. It is meant to be bridal because it signifies a new spiritual reality. The sacramental of the consecration of virgins has always been taught by the Church to be closely tied with marriage. The sacred virgin has an “indissoluble nuptial bond” with Christ and before she is consecrated, she is asked whether she “accepts” being “espoused to Jesus Christ, the Son of God?”. The Rite of consecration of virgins has always been written to reflect primarily the Rite of Marriage (and secondarily, the Rite of Ordination which I won’t get into here but there are MANY parallels that liturgical experts have discussed since the middle ages). When new brides simply wore a bridal veil, the virgins were simply given a bridal veil. When a wedding ring was added (probably 6th or 8th centuries) to the wedding ceremony, a wedding band was added to the consecration ceremony… Not so religious life; religious life is entirely a different matter and lifestyle. Its character, while analagously having “spousality” is more clearly discipleship, the “following of Christ” in the three counsels.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

And what happens should one of them break their vow to remain chaste?

 

[SerraSemper]

And what happens should one of them break their vow to remain chaste?

First of all, we don’t make vows. Second, it is a sacrilege and adultery to have sex once one has been consecrated as a sacred virgin. Fallen virgins are nothing new- we’ve had them since the beginning of the Church and the Church Fathers discuss their sacrilegious acts. The offense was considered so serious that at times capital punishment (yes, death was a civil law penalty for both the man and the fallen sacred virgin) was the penalty for violation, and other Church mandated punishments have been decreed such as excommunication and the inability to receive Holy Communion until danger of death. This is why the Church requires that the candidates be sufficiently mature and know that they are renouncing human marriage for marriage with Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

 

[CatholicFireman]

We have at least two consecrated virgins in our parish that I know of. One is a very good friend of our family.

 

[SerraSemper]

I also find it hilarious that they think the vocation to consecrated virginity is “rare”. Since when is a vocation that has about ~300-350 in the USA and 5,000-6,000 worldwide, most of them having been consecrated since 1970 when the consecration was re-opened to women living in the world “rare”? To give some perspective. The Dominicans Sisters of Ann Arbor (DSSME’s) total about 110 members. Are they considered rare? The Salesian Sisters are the biggest religious congregation of women in the world and they have been around for a century or two. Yet they have about 17,000 women members. Again, they do not have close to the growth the Order of Virgins is having. The individual dioceses of Rome and Paris ALONE have at least 800 sacred virgins. This is rare?

 

[Lily_Bernans]

First of all, we don’t make vows. Second, it is a sacrilege and adultery to have sex once one has been consecrated as a sacred virgin. Fallen virgins are nothing new- we’ve had them since the beginning of the Church and the Church Fathers discuss their sacrilegious acts. The offense was considered so serious that at times capital punishment (yes, death was a civil law penalty for both the man and the fallen sacred virgin) was the penalty for violation, and other Church mandated punishments have been decreed such as excommunication and the inability to receive Holy Communion until danger of death. This is why the Church requires that the candidates be sufficiently mature and know that they are renouncing human marriage for marriage with Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Mature people can break their promises, though. I personally know priests who have sex on a regular basis, and not always with the same woman (and NEVER with me, I don’t do that). They carry on as before their promises (and they DO make promises, not vows) to the bishop were broken. I think it’s rarer with nuns because they don’t have as much freedom as priests. But a virgin who is not living in community with her sisters is more vulnerable. I am NOT saying this particular woman is going to break her vows. I don’t know what she’s going to do. I wish her the best.

 

[ctb95]

I also find it hilarious that they think the vocation to consecrated virginity is “rare”. Since when is a vocation that has about ~300-350 in the USA and 5,000-6,000 worldwide, most of them having been consecrated since 1970 when the consecration was re-opened to women living in the world “rare”? To give some perspective. The Dominicans Sisters of Ann Arbor (DSSME’s) total about 110 members. Are they considered rare? The Salesian Sisters are the biggest religious congregation of women in the world and they have been around for a century or two. Yet they have about 17,000 women members. Again, they do not have close to the growth the Order of Virgins is having. The individual dioceses of Rome and Paris ALONE have at least 800 sacred virgins. This is rare?

The Dominican Sisters of Ann Arbor is an apples to oranges comparison because they are an individual community among the larger Dominican tradition. I would guess that when you add up all the women’s religious and compare it to the number of consecrated virgins, the number of consecrated virgins would be significantly smaller. So yes, relatively speaking, consecrated virgins are rare.