private vows

[Bookcat]

I never asked for dispensation, but only if my vow was real because I want it to be real. He told me a vow has to be made before a bishop in order to count.

Such would be an incorrect understanding of the nature of a private vow. It seems that he misunderstood the question. He was thinking it seems more of a consecrated virgin or widow.

A private vow can be made without another soul around or knowing of it.

(though again I would very much recommend the consultation with a confessor or spiritual direct --at least or especially in terms more serious private vows)

 

[ChibiViolet]

Such would be an incorrect understanding of the nature of a private vow. It seems that he misunderstood the question. He was thinking it seems more of a consecrated virgin or widow.

A private vow can be made without another soul around or knowing of it.

(though again I would very much recommend the consultation with a confessor or spiritual direct --at least or especially in terms more serious private vows)

So, a person cannot be privately married to God? I’m pretty sure St. Phiolmena was.

 

[Bookcat]

So, a person cannot be privately married to God? I’m pretty sure St. Phiolmena was.

I leave the theology of the terms you used there to the Church.

But in terms of various private vows --one may make various private vows (again I urge speaking with a confessor or spiritual director)…including a vow of chastity in the form of celibacy. But as to becoming a “consecrated virgin” in the canonical sense one needs the approval of the Church ( in this case the Bishop).

 

[ChibiViolet]

I leave the theology of the terms you used there to the Church.

But in terms of various private vows --one may make various private vows (again I urge speaking with a confessor or spiritual director)…including a vow of chastity in the form of celibacy. But as to becoming a “consecrated virgin” in the canonical sense one needs the approval of the Church ( in this case the Bishop).

So in a non-canonical sense, someone can be privately married to God? (I’m not refering to anything others would have to recognize as such.)

 

[TiggerS]

“Married” means that two are united in one. We are called through our baptism to holiness and to Unity with God.

Mystical Marriage : "A permanent perception or consciousness of the presence of God in the soul, and His union with it. Taken in a wide sense it consists in a vision in which Christ tells the soul that He takes it for His bride; in a restricted sense, according to Saint Teresa and Saint John of the Cross it designates that mystical union with God which is the most exalted condition attainable by the soul in this life.

New Catholic Dictionary’

MYSTICAL UNION. The union of a soul with God in deep contemplation. It is characterized by a deep awareness of the divine presence, and has a variety of grades, not necessarily successive, but distinguished by spiritual writers. They are: the two nights of the soul (senses and spirit) before mystical union, the prayer of quiet, the full union, ecstasy, and spiritual marriage or transforming union. therealpresence.org/cgi-bin/getdefinition.pl

 

[Bookcat]

So in a non-canonical sense, someone can be privately married to God? (I’m not refering to anything others would have to recognize as such.)

I am not fitted to discuss such terms. Though one can note that the Church is the Bride of Christ…we are all his.

As to the formal Consecrated Virgins or Widows this is what the Catechism notes:

Consecrated virgins and widows

922 From apostolic times Christian virgins461 and widows,462 called by the Lord to cling only to him with greater freedom of heart, body, and spirit, have decided with the Church’s approval to live in the respective status of virginity or perpetual chastity "for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven."463

923 "Virgins who, committed to the holy plan of following Christ more closely, are consecrated to God by the diocesan bishop according to the approved liturgical rite, are betrothed mystically to Christ, the Son of God, and are dedicated to the service of the Church."464 By this solemn rite (Consecratio virginum), the virgin is "constituted . . . a sacred person, a transcendent sign of the Church’s love for Christ, and an eschatological image of this heavenly Bride of Christ and of the life to come."465

924 “As with other forms of consecrated life,” the order of virgins establishes the woman living in the world (or the nun) in prayer, penance, service of her brethren, and apostolic activity, according to the state of life and spiritual gifts given to her.466 Consecrated virgins can form themselves into associations to observe their commitment more faithfully.467

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Now if someone made a private vow of say celibate chastity --that is yes a further consecration to God (of one who is already consecrated to him by the most wonderful consecration of Baptism). One that brings with it greater merit and greater moral responsibility via the virtue of religion.