Consecrated Virginity

[Tally Marx]

[quote name='savvy' timestamp='1324408974' post='2354527']
Last week there was a ceremony at my parish, where a local woman became a consecrated virgin.

She wore a wedding gown and received a ring. She took a vow of virginity. She is not a nun, but lives on her own and has a secular job.

There were about 10 priests and the Bishop at the ceremony, and the church was packed. I had no idea this was such a big deal.

Has anybody come across this?
[/quote]

It's a pretty big event where I come from.

[CatherineM]

We had an elderly nurse back in St. Pete who was consecrated. She had been in a convent years ago, and it closed. We have one here. She's much younger, used to teach scripture at the seminary, but is now in charge of chaplains for the Catholic hospitals here. She wanted to be consecrated as a single instead of a virgin though. She said she wanted the focus on the vocation and not on sex.

[mantellata]

One of the best blogs by a young consecrated virgin from New York.... (currently studying in Rome).... [url="http://sponsa-christi.blogspot.com/"]http://sponsa-christi.blogspot.com/[/url] If you want to meet a group of women, some consecrated virgins, some discerning, some just curious about the vocation... check out the following forum: [url="http://sponsa-christi.proboards.com/index.cgi?"]http://sponsa-christi.proboards.com[/url]

Edited February 23, 2012 by mantellata

[BarbTherese]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1329871603' post='2390926']
We had an elderly nurse back in St. Pete who was consecrated. She had been in a convent years ago, and it closed. We have one here. She's much younger, used to teach scripture at the seminary, but is now in charge of chaplains for the Catholic hospitals here. She wanted to be consecrated as a single instead of a virgin though. She said she wanted the focus on the vocation and not on sex.
[/quote]

I dont think there is a consecration to the single lay life? I think there might be a contradiction in terms. Those consecrated are in the consecrated state apart from the laity? While single lay life is part of the laity.
Some secular institutes are in the consecrated state - but these, to my understanding, are in the consecrated state living a secular life in accord with their Rule and Constitution.? I think the Schoenstatt Sisters are a secular institute, unsure if some live in community - others in the general community. They do wear a religious habit and are part of the consecrated state of life while remaining a secular institute?

All questions!

[Sister_Laurel]

[quote name='Discipulus' timestamp='1324494179' post='2355241']

I know several solitaries here in the UK. There is - ironically perhaps! - an association through which they offer support to each other. Although she's a hermit rather than a consecrated virgin, Sr Laurel from Oakland USA keeps a blog in which she describes the nature of solitary consecrated life in very informative and inspiring terms: [url="http://notesfromstillsong.blogspot.com/"]http://notesfromstil...g.blogspot.com/[/url]

Hope this is of interest.
[/quote]

Thanks very much!

best,
Sister Laurel, Er Dio
Stillsong Hermitage
Diocese of Oakland

[CatherineM]

[quote name='BarbaraTherese' timestamp='1329973729' post='2391632']
I dont think there is a consecration to the single lay life? I think there might be a contradiction in terms. Those consecrated are in the consecrated state apart from the laity? While single lay life is part of the laity.
Some secular institutes are in the consecrated state - but these, to my understanding, are in the consecrated state living a secular life in accord with their Rule and Constitution.? I think the Schoenstatt Sisters are a secular institute, unsure if some live in community - others in the general community. They do wear a religious habit and are part of the consecrated state of life while remaining a secular institute?

All questions!
[/quote]
I didn't attend the ceremony so I don't know how the archbishop did the service. I just remember her interview in the Western Catholic Reporter. It could be he called it CV, but she just refers to it as single.