There are many saints who, despite living seculars, consecrated their virginity to God, and so achieved greater glory.
I am reminded that also the married saints tend to take vows of perpetual chastity fro the start or eventually, and live continently.
The scriptures give special privileges to those who are virgins. This is not surprising. Both Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary are models of consecrated virginity, and marriage does not exist in Heaven, save such as the religious life on earth have it, as a spiritual allegory and true bond between Christ and the Church.
So virginity is the flower of flowers, St. Paul in the Holy Scriptures advises it to everyone who can possibly keep it, and speaks of special rewards given in Heaven to virgins alone, apart from all others.
Heaven is not egalitarian. . it is a place where everyone who takes the best path receives the best rewards, and every choice you make determines your lesser or greater reward forever and ever. Life is precious isn’t it?
Here are some quotes for contemplation on virginity:
‘We do not say that marriage was not sanctified by Christ, since the Word of God says: ‘The two shall become one flesh’ and one spirit. But we are born before we are brought to our final goal, and the mystery of God’s operation is more excellent than the remedy for human weakness. Quite rightly is a good wife praised, but a pious virgin is more rightly preferred.’
St. Ambrose of Milan, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
‘The fourth [spiritual weapon] is the memory of the glorious pilgrimage of that immaculate lamb, Christ Jesus, and especially his most holy death and passion, keeping always before the eyes of our minds the presence of his most chaste and virginal humanity. This is the best means for winning each battle, and without it, we will not achieve victory over our enemies. Every other weapon will achieve little without this one which surpasses all the rest.’
St. Catherine of Bologna
‘The seventh weapon with which we can conquer our enemies is the memory of Holy Scripture which we must carry in our hearts and from which, as from a most devoted mother, we must take counsel in the things we have to do. Thus we read of the most prudent and consecrated virgin St. Cecilia where it says: “She always bore the gospel of Christ hidden in her heart.” And with this weapon, our savior Christ Jesus conquered and confounded the devil in the desert saying: “It is written” (Lk 4.1-13). Therefore, dearest sisters, let not the daily readings that you read in the choir and at table go without effect; and let the thoughts which you hear each day in the gospels and epistles at Mass be new letters sent to you by your heavenly spouse.’
St. Catherine of Bologna
‘O Ye virgins, I have but a word to say to you. If you look to married life in this life, guard your first love jealously for your husband. It seems to me a miserable fraud to give a husband a worn-out heart, whose love has been frittered away and despoiled of its first bloom instead of a true, whole-hearted love. But if you are happily called to be the chaste and holy bride of spiritual nuptials, and purpose to live a life of virginity, then in Christ’s Name I bid you keep all your purest, most sensitive love for your Heavenly Bridegroom, Who, being Very Purity Himself, has a special love for purity; Him to Whom the first-fruits of all good things are due, above all those of love.’
St. Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
‘Virgins enjoy many privileges. They will have gold crowns, they alone will sing the canticle, they will wear the same garments that Christ wears, they will always march after the Lamb himself.’
St. Jerome, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
'When I advise virginity, I pass no censure on marriage. . . for blame is allowed only in reference to a really bad act. But how can it attach to a Christian whose only reproach is, that he confines himself within a more modest sphere, and dares not aim at the highest efforts of virtue? I shall not, indeed, praise the vigor and energy of his courage; but neither shall I cast blame on timid reserve.
Our doctrine. . . proclaims marriage to be good, and virginity better.
. . . Marriage, which is good in itself, leads us to admire virginity, that is better, and outstrips it in dignity as much as the captain and the general are above the common soldier and sailor.’
St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
‘Virginity surmounteth all conditions of nature human, by which men be associate to angels, and the victory of virgins is more than of angels. The angels live without flesh, and virgins living in their flesh triumph.’
Bl. Jacopus de Voragine
‘Saint Augustine saith: Virginity chooseth to follow more the life of angels in their flesh, than to increase the number of mortal people in their flesh. For it is more blessed and more plenteous to increase their mind than to be great with child. For some have children of sorrow, and virginity bringeth forth children of joy, virginity replenisheth heaven of children, and they that be married replenish the earth. And Jerome saith: The weddings fill the earth, and virginity filleth heaven; that one is of great business, and this is of great rest; virginity is silence of charge, peace of the flesh, redemption of vices and princess of virtues. Marriage is good, but virginity is better. Saint Jerome saith to Palmatius the difference between marriage and virginity, and saith: The difference is as much as is between not to sin and to do well, or as I may clearlier say, as is between good and better. For marriage is compared to thorns, and virginity to roses. And he saith to Eustochius: I praise marriage, for they engender virgins. I gather from the thorns roses, gold from the earth, and out of the shell a precious pearl or stone.’
Bl. Jacopus de Voragine
‘Virginity is the flower of the seed of the Church, beauty and adornment of spiritual grace, a glad joy of laud and honour, work entire and incorrupt, image of God, and yet more noble as to the holiness of God and portion of the flock of Jesus Christ.’
St. Cyprian of Carthage, Father of the Church
‘The virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord: that she may be holy both in body and in spirit.’
1 Cor. 7,34
‘O Lord, we cannot go to the pool of Siloe to which you sent the blind man. But we have the chalice of Your Precious Blood, filled with life and light. The purer we are, the more we receive.’
St. Ephrem of Syria, Doctor of the Church
If that was your interpretation of my comment, then I apologize…
It’s a whole different calling then Religious life. I once had lunch with Karen Bussey who runs the Mother Teresa house and she sent me a note a few days later that was very encouraging to me in my vocation. I also had a chance to go on a retreat with some of them and I discerned that it wasn’t for me, but it’s an amazing calling!