Fort Wayne Woman becomes rare Consecrated Virgin

[Joie_de_Vivre]

I appreciate the women’s dedication to Christ, and I certainly don’t doubt it, but I think the wedding ceremony with the dress, etc. was all a bit too much. It doesn’t seem tasteful - the whole thing - her dress was modest. I think a ceremony similar to those of third orders would be more fitting. Something like this is adding to fuel to the fire of those who already dislike religion in general and Catholicism in particular. And, it sort of defeats the Church’s stand that married people must be open to children.

And, nothing against the women, but I don’t see how one can come to the conclusion they will be a “consecrated virgin” and not a nun. To configure your life to Christ to that extent means a life of service to him. So I don’t get the whole “married to Christ, but not a nun” thing.

Still, I presume the woman will be doing good in the world, and that’s more than can be said for most people. And the nasty comments were uncalled for, but no matter what the article is about the “Daily Mail” carries many nasty comments.

Even though I think it was overdone, I wish the woman all the best in life and hope she is able to keep her vows. It’s easier for nuns because they, at least, live in community. I know several priests who have broken their promises of chastity. Most remained priests, some left to marry.

Given that the ceremony has them betrothed to Christ that is pretty much a wedding ceremony. I also believe that ceremony was also

Nuns are not married to Christ, consecrated virgins however are betrothed to Christ.

Given how intensely they are evaluated I think the odds of them breaking their vows is fairly low.

I understand what you mean to some extent…I don’t know (someone who reads this thread I am sure will definitely know!), but I thought that when such a life was more common, it was still conducted as a sort of wedding then, too. My understanding was this manner of consecration was a fairly old tradition.

It is old, it predates organized monastic life.

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.

It isn’t that elaborate.

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.

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.

Nuns are not brides of Christ, people call them that, but they aren’t. Consecrated virgins are betrothed to Christ so the trappings of a wedding are completely appropriate.

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.

Not only that, they eat people

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?

I think it is because consecrated virgins are more modest and do not try to get media attention meaning there is less media exposure thus the perception that they are rarer. Additionally the concept of sisters and nuns together are a well known concept.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

I know the Sisters of Notre Dame, at least, wear wedding rings and call themselves the “Brides of Christ.”

In the end, it doesn’t really matter. Christ’s Bride is his Church, and we’re all betrothed to Christ, even if “unofficially.” Whether we all make the wedding ceremony is up to us.

 

[SerraSemper]

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.

Once again, sacred virgins who live in the world do NOT make vows as part of the ceremony. Only sacred virgins who are cloistered nuns make vows and that’s because they are nuns. I should know. I am both a sacred virgin and a canon (Church) lawyer.

 

[SerraSemper]

I know the Sisters of Notre Dame, at least, wear wedding rings and call themselves the “Brides of Christ.”

In the end, it doesn’t really matter. Christ’s Bride is his Church, and we’re all betrothed to Christ, even if “unofficially.” Whether we all make the wedding ceremony is up to us.

Those of us who are sacred virgins are Christ’s Brides in a different way than those who have received baptism and confirmation but are not in the consecrated state. Consecration of consecrated people is a spiritual anointing of the Holy Spirit that conforms us closer to the image of the Bride of Christ, the Church. This is dogma. Yes, everyone who is validly baptized enters the common priesthood and the common bridehood of Christ and the Church. And then you have ordinations and consecrations to reflect the Petrine and Marian dimensions of the Church more clearly. Again, dogma. Consecrated virginity is different than other forms of consecrated life because it alone is understood on a simply bridal paradigm whereas the other forms participate in some manner in that bridal paradigm but without the same intensity (hence they are like consecrated widows/widowers in the three-fold paradigm of the virgins, widows, and married).

 

[Crown_of_Stars]

She’s beautiful, and so Mary-like. Nothing wrong with her at all.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

Once again, sacred virgins who live in the world do NOT make vows as part of the ceremony. Only sacred virgins who are cloistered nuns make vows and that’s because they are nuns. I should know. I am both a sacred virgin and a canon (Church) lawyer.

Thank you, but I do know what they are. I am professor of theology at a Roman Catholic college. A little of Church History touched on sacred virgins like Saint Lucy and Saint Agnes and a few other early martyrs. I hadn’t heard of many consecrated virgins other than some early martyrs, a British woman whose name I can’t remember, and Wendy Beckett, of course, who was a Sister of Notre Dame and an art critic.

Vows is a bad word choice. Diocesan priests don’t even make vows, just promises, which is, of course, a kind of vow. So you make no promises, either?

 

[SerraSemper]

Thank you, but I do know what they are. I am professor of theology at a Roman Catholic college. A little of Church History touched on sacred virgins like Saint Lucy and Saint Agnes and a few other early martyrs. I hadn’t heard of many consecrated virgins other than some early martyrs, a British woman whose name I can’t remember, and Wendy Beckett, of course, who was a Sister of Notre Dame and an art critic.

Vows is a bad word choice. Diocesan priests don’t even make vows, just promises, which is, of course, a kind of vow. So you make no promises, either?

Sorry. I didn’t see your response until now. No, we make no promises. We make one “resolution” (Latin: “propositum”) but that is neither a vow nor a promise.