Virginity

[LittleOne1]

I had this in sacred scripture, but thought maybe people here would appreciate reading and commenting on these thoughts!

I was Just wondering about this thought I had and decided to pass it along to see what you all thought:
Many times people see the important role of the priest because the role they play in the sacraments, where as they do not see the beauty of virginity and the role virgins play in the sacramental life of the Church. But what if virgins in the spirit of Mary’s Virginity played a role in the sacramental life through receptivity, for the Sacraments only confer grace on fertile ground just as only the seed of the sower was fruitful on fertile ground… maybe the special gift of receptivity makes is intrinsict to the Sacramental life of the Church.
Obviously the receptivity of Mary at the annunciation is clear and how God made salvation dependent upon this receptivity. But also, look at the Wedding Feast of Cana… was it not Mary who instigated this miracle (Christ’s first) and had the servants be receptive to Christ by commanding them to “do whatever he tells you.” In this co-operation, the sacramental life of the eucharist is forshadowed.
Or how about at the cross… where not both the heart of Christ adn Mary pierced. Just as sacramental life of the church poured out, could not receptivity poured from her heart (for she accepted the Will of God completely at this moment) and in this mingling, the Children of the Church are born (remember The New Adam Christ calls Mary, the New Eve, “Woman” and before her shows her John, her son).
Finally at Pentacost, who is it that leads them in prayer… the heart of receptivity, but Mary… and New Life in the Spirit is produced in them because they became completely recpetive to Christ filling them with the seed of Life in the Spirit.
And is this not imaged through the Theology of the Body in which the male organs are outside and more apparent to view (just as the sacraments are outward signs of the grace of God) while the hiddeness of the female is the hiddeness of receptivity of the soul to the sacramental life, the fertile ground (uterus and gift of self in the ovum) signs of the receptivity that allows for New Life.

Just some thoughts on the hidden gift of receptivity that nuns and consecrated women today are sources of for the Church… I mean how can one not go to Christ but through the school of receptivity of Mary and the Women in union with her consecrated virginity. They are what prepare us to be fertile ground!

 

[BabyFang]

I had this in sacred scripture, but thought maybe people here would appreciate reading and commenting on these thoughts!

I was Just wondering about this thought I had and decided to pass it along to see what you all thought:
Many times people see the important role of the priest because the role they play in the sacraments, where as they do not see the beauty of virginity and the role virgins play in the sacramental life of the Church. But what if virgins in the spirit of Mary’s Virginity played a role in the sacramental life through receptivity, for the Sacraments only confer grace on fertile ground just as only the seed of the sower was fruitful on fertile ground… maybe the special gift of receptivity makes is intrinsict to the Sacramental life of the Church.
Obviously the receptivity of Mary at the annunciation is clear and how God made salvation dependent upon this receptivity. But also, look at the Wedding Feast of Cana… was it not Mary who instigated this miracle (Christ’s first) and had the servants be receptive to Christ by commanding them to “do whatever he tells you.” In this co-operation, the sacramental life of the eucharist is forshadowed.
Or how about at the cross… where not both the heart of Christ adn Mary pierced. Just as sacramental life of the church poured out, could not receptivity poured from her heart (for she accepted the Will of God completely at this moment) and in this mingling, the Children of the Church are born (remember The New Adam Christ calls Mary, the New Eve, “Woman” and before her shows her John, her son).
Finally at Pentacost, who is it that leads them in prayer… the heart of receptivity, but Mary… and New Life in the Spirit is produced in them because they became completely recpetive to Christ filling them with the seed of Life in the Spirit.
And is this not imaged through the Theology of the Body in which the male organs are outside and more apparent to view (just as the sacraments are outward signs of the grace of God) while the hiddeness of the female is the hiddeness of receptivity of the soul to the sacramental life, the fertile ground (uterus and gift of self in the ovum) signs of the receptivity that allows for New Life.

Just some thoughts on the hidden gift of receptivity that nuns and consecrated women today are sources of for the Church… I mean how can one not go to Christ but through the school of receptivity of Mary and the Women in union with her consecrated virginity. They are what prepare us to be fertile ground!

Beautifull. You’ve just made me look at virginity in a new way. Exellent.

 

[DL82]

Beautiful post.

As an aside, must consecrated virgins be physically virgins, or can they be ‘born again virgins’ so to speak?

 

[jstreets]

Beautiful post.

As an aside, must consecrated virgins be physically virgins, or can they be ‘born again virgins’ so to speak?

I would say, from my own perspective, that they would most likely have to be physically virgins. I say this because “born again virgins” are a fairly new phenomenon, while consecrated virgins have been around during the last two millenia.

 

[MFTM]

Consecrated Virgins Living in the World or those nuns who receive this consecration in addition to and after their profession of vows do have to be physically virgins. That is “secondary or born-again” virgins can not receive this consecration. The only exception being women who are victims of rape or incest, since they did not willing give up their virginity. Sisters and nuns do not have to physically be virgins to enter religious life however.

 

[LittleOne1]

Beautifull. You’ve just made me look at virginity in a new way. Exellent.

Well I figured God gave a special gift to the Church through Mary, Co-Redemptress, that God made necessary for the Church and salvation of the world. I think so many lukewarm Catholics and Outsiders fail to see the intrinsict role that the New Eve played in salvation and how Consecrated Virgins continue to infuse the Church today with this gift and how much we need Women in the important role. Without them I figure, the grace of God through the Sacraments would not have its effect (I mean Christ could not cure those who were hard of heart).

On another note, look at how Christ used Mary Magdalene… He had her be a messenger to the Apostles to recieve the Resurrected Lord… again the great gift of receptivity.

The gift of receptivity though could also be applied to the married life in the image of the marital embrace, but Consecrated Virginity is necessary for the Heavenly kingdom and the bride to be receptive to the Bridegroom.

So people who say women do not play important role in the Church are so way off and at the end of time; this great gift will be shown in all its glory in the Bride adorned with jewels and all people who mocked the Church, sadly, will be seeing for the first time this great truth… and why men were called to be priests and women consecrated virgins.

I am glad if this helps people in their argument for male only priesthood, but also may we exult consecrated virginity and the essential gift it is for the Church!

 

[BabyFang]

Both the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene are great role models for the Church, especially for girls. Mary is a role model for those longing to keep their virginity and Mary Magdalene to those who have sinned, even if they still have their virginity.

 

[Sister_MM]

The best book I’ve read on this beautiful virtue, and what inspires me to live a life of virginity, is called “Virginity” by Father Cantalamessa. It is in two parts, and I found the second part much easier to read, meditate on, and study. The first part (which I would recommend most people just skip entirely) is heavy, theologically. It’s all very beautiful - please don’t misunderstand! - it’s just that most people, especially teens or young adults, would find the first part mentally exhausting. I use this book in forming my own sisters, whether they are physically virgins or formerly married and living chaste.

Praying the Liturgy of the Hours on the feast of Virgins is also another joy-filled jewel for those consecrated to virginity or on the road toward consecration.

There are probably some very inspiring books for “born again” virgins, that relitavely new phenomenon. If anyone knows of a title, I would really appreciate it. As someone else posted, not all women who join religious orders are physical virgins, and I often sense that those women feel “left out” or “second class” and I would like to help them to embrace their present state of chastity with all the joy that is possible.

Any thoughts?