A consecrated virgin captures her life in a blog [Catholic Caucus]

Deacon's Bench ^ | January 2009 | Deacon Greg Kandra

[NYer]

I stumbled on this blog the other day: Sponsa Christi, which contains reflections from a newly consecrated virgin, a 23-year-old young woman who hopes to pursue a career in theology or canon law. (Above is a picture from her rite of consecration -- complete with deacons! -- earlier this month.)

Surf around the site and you'll find fascinating stuff about this unusual (and often misunderstood) calling, plus an account of her own vocation story. There's also this clear and concise description:

Modern consecrated virgins are solemnly consecrated by the local diocesan bishop (or by a delegated auxiliary bishop) within the context of the revised rite. The bishop is the one who grants permission for women to receive this consecration, as well as the one who determines the concrete circumstances under which they are to live their consecrated lives. Consecrated virgins remain directly under his authority, unlike religious sisters who are ordinarily accountable to the superiors of their religious community.

Besides life-long celibacy, the only formal obligation of a consecrated virgin is prayer, especially for the people, clergy, and bishop of her diocese. During the Rite of Consecration a consecrated virgin is also given the responsibility to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church.

While consecrated virgins are expected to live simply, they do not take vows of poverty and must support themselves financially. Because of this, they are not required to take on any specific ministry. However, they are still called to be “dedicated to the service of God and the Church.”

Consecrated virgins exist in the Church today for the same reason that consecrated people have always existed—to be a living sign and witness of the love Christ has for His people.

Congratulations and prayerful good wishes to "Sponsa Christi"!

H/T Roman Catholic Vocations.

[Kolokotronis]

“Consecrated virgins and widows are mentioned in Scripture; the practice is very ancient.”

Indeed they are. They lived in the temple, Campion, and later, after the rise of monasticism in the 4th century, mostly in monasteries. The deaconnesses of course, lived at the churches. This young woman, as I said, and I feel this way about all celibates, should be in a monastery unless there is a place for her to live actually within a church.

“She’s not “calling attention to herself” any more than a postulant nun would be.”

Do they post on the internet too? It seems... “unseemly”, not “comme il faut”.

[rwfromkansas]

“Our pleasure and bliss will come from our perfect intimacy with God, not our imperfect intimacy with our spouses.”

Very thoughtful way of putting it. Interesting.

[rwfromkansas]

I have seen that passage before, but I would point to other texts regarding marriage as a blessed union and forbidding marriage being wrong etc.

But, I didn’t come to argue, just to give my point of view.

I found another poster’s point about giving everything to God here, even submitting the sexuality to God, to be a profound one.

[Red Reign]

My observation is that an unmarried woman is anxious about how she can please a man to the point that he'll marry her, and a virgin over a certain age is anxious about how she can change her status. __________________________________________________________ That is a generalization, and while it may be true, it is NOT what this particular girl is all about. She seems to be the exception to most girls these days.

[Red Reign]

Oh dear. I suppose I’ll never understand the Latin Church, especially in its American form. I am, no doubt, the only one who sees this as prideful, as a method of calling attention to herself. I say this as this consecration is broadcast on an internet blog! She should be in a monastery.

I, for one, hope as many people as possible see this girl's blog. What better role model could young girls have these days? (Other than our Blessed Mother, of course!) Turn on any TV show, movie, or commercial, or pick up any magazine, and you're likely to find the promotion of promiscuity. I look at this girl's blog and think "Score one for our side!". Let us have this one little victory, will you?

[tiki]

Actually, it doesn’t. It is very Catholic to view your life as a vocation to God. For some it is the priesthood, for some it is to live in an unmarried state and concentrate on God and for the some it is to be a spouse with children and to live in the world. All are valid and holy choices.