Consecrated Virgin vs. Consecrated Woman

[Sponsa-Christi]

1 hour ago, GraceUk said:

I was wondering if any orders still do the consecrated virgin ceremony. I'm only asking this because in the novel 'in this house of Brede, Cecily has the consecrated virgin ceremony and receives   a crown called a mitre. While Philippa a widow doesn't.  I don't expect this happens these days.

There are some religious communities that do still have the consecration of virgins. Carthusian monasteries still give their nuns the option of receiving the consecration of virgins several years after solemn vows, and some Benedictine monasteries incorporate the consecration of virgins into their solemn profession ceremonies. I believe St. Cecilia's Abbey on the Isle of Wight does this. 

[littlebell]

The Abbey of Regina Laudis had this article on its website:

https://abbeyofreginalaudis.org/ceremonies-Consecration2018.html

[gloriana35]

It would take a canon lawyer to explain all of the specifics, but 'private' vows never meant 'secret.' For example, the Filippini Sisters never were erected as a religious institute - the Daughters of Charity make 'private' vows, as do various other well-known congregations. There are many classifications for religious congregations - 'solemn vows', such as Benedictine monks and Franciscan friars make (though only cloistered Franciscan nuns make 'solemn vows,' where active Sisters make 'simple', though perpetual vows.) Other communities are 'societies of life with semi-public vows.'  I never did know where the idea that solitaries had to keep their vows a secret arose - it seems to be of the modern era (post-French Revolution, perhaps.)

Before the new Order of Mass was developed in the 1970s, a Mass that was not sung was considered to be a 'private' Mass, though there might be hundreds in attendance. 

Yet it is amazing how many priests and religious (I once heard a vicar for religious say this) think that 'private vows' are supposed to be a secret.