Pennsylvania Woman Makes Solemn Vow of Virginity to the Lord

[mdgspencer]

see catholicphilly.com/2017/03/news/profile/west-chester-woman-makes-solemn-promise-of-virginity-to-the-lord/

Jennifer Settle underwent a solemn consecration of perpetual virginity at a special mass before Archbishop Chaput of Philadelphia. It is “a solemn promise made before the archbishop to live out her life in perpetual virginity.,” she said. “The vocation is irreversible,” she said. “You can’t unconsecrate something that is consecrated.”

“Her eventual choice could well be directly attributed directly to the Holy Spirit, or as Settle recalls, ‘The Lord spoke into my heart.’
It was while she was receiving holy Communion during the first Mass of a priest friend.
The words, ‘consecrated virgin’ came into her head and she didn’t have a clue as to exactly what that meant”…

 

[MikeWest]

I’m glad to hear of this. I did not know that lay people could make such vows.

However, I will say this:

I learned that after a few years of being married,
celibacy was imposed on me
against my will.

If U don’t understand me, talk to some married folks.

So be it.

 

[Arizona_Fat_Gir]

A solemn vow of perpetual virginity is a major decision. Since she is living in the world and not as a nun, I would imagine she could still fall in love and want to get married. I hope she thought of that.

 

[steve93]

I’m glad to hear of this. I did not know that lay people could make such vows.

However, I will say this:

I learned that after a few years of being married,
celibacy was imposed on me
against my will.

If U don’t understand me, talk to some married folks.

So be it.

Why? Is your wife ill?

 

[ChemicalBean]

This is a wonderful story to read and I hope this vocation continues to grow!

A couple of clarifications that I think the story didn’t quite get right:

The headline here says “solemn vow”. Religious men and women, members of secular institutes, and hermits profess vows (usually some form of poverty, chastity, obedience). Consecrated virgins do not profess vows. Although complicated, there is a process to release people from vows. These vows are to disciplines for living the Gospel in a radical way.

The story inside clarifies the vow part and instead calls the commitment a “promise”. Priests and unmarried deacons state promises of celibacy and obedience to their bishop. Consecrated virgins do not state promises. Although serious, there is also a process to release people from promises. These promises are to disciplines for executing offices of ministry in the name of the Church.

The term for the commitment of a consecrated virgin is a “propositum”. It is her resolve to live in the state of virginity received at the hands of the bishop. The part of the Rite where this happens is called “Renewal of Intention” in English. Although the virgin states her propositum, it is not her action that consecrates her (like making vows); it is by receiving the action of the consecratory prayer through the bishop that she is consecrated. Her virginity is offered as gift to her divine spouse and consecrated, because it is her whole self who is offered as gift. It is a lot like the Eucharist in that it is a holy exchange of gifts. It is also like the Eucharist in that it can’t be undone.

 

[twf]

I’m glad to hear of this. I did not know that lay people could make such vows.

However, I will say this:

I learned that after a few years of being married,
celibacy was imposed on me
against my will.

If U don’t understand me, talk to some married folks.

So be it.

I’m sorry to hear about your personal situation.

If I am understanding the article correctly, this isn’t merely a case of a lay woman taking vows. The Order of Consecrated Virgins is very ancient, going back to the early Church. It was restored in the wake of Vatican II. Consecrated Virgins are truly and solemnly consecrated by the bishop. I understand that the rite has many parallels to ordination. She is conformed as a perfect image of the Church as the Lord’s Virgin Bride. Unlike a nun or religious sister, she is not a member of an Institute of Consecrated Life (Order or Congregation), but she is very much a consecrated person, as surely as nuns and sisters are.