Consecrating Virginity To God

[Annie12]

I was wondering if one could consecrate their virginity to God privately without it being a sacrament. I know there are consecrated virgins but what about people who don't feel called to marriage and wish to say a prayer, consecrating their virginity to God????

[emmaberry]

How beautiful! I am not knowledgeable on the state of consecrated virgins, but here's a thread that might help: [url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/117643-consecrated-virginity/"]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/117643-consecrated-virginity/[/url]

I think the Church says that for a promise of virginity, even a private one, to be recognized by the Church a priest must be witness to the promise. That is arseuming that you want the promise recognized by the Church, of course. Technically, consecration is a lot like a man being ordained. It is a parseive act on the part of the women which is conferred on her by the Bishop. So a private promise of purity to God might be wise until you are in the proper state (age, etc) to make the Church-recognized promise of consecrated virginity.

Again, a lot of this may be phishy. I am just relating concepts and thoughts found in the thread I posted above.

Good luck and praying for you!

[OnlySunshine]

If you look back on the history of the saints such as St. Catherine of Siena or St. Rose of Lima, both of them promised perpetual virginity to Christ and became Dominican tertiaries. It is not a thing to be taken lightly, and is actually the step taken before one makes a public promise to Consecrated Virginity in the Church. There is a beautiful blog post that a Consecrated Virgin and Church Scholar wrote that explains it so much better than I ever could:

[url="http://sponsa-christi.blogspot.com/2010/12/consecrated-virginity-versus-private.html"]Consecrated Virginity vs Private Vows[/url]

[Annie12]

So, a promise of purity and consecrating your virginity are two different things? Wow the things I learn!!!

[Annie12]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1341115482' post='2451065']
If you look back on the history of the saints such as St. Catherine of Siena or St. Rose of Lima, both of them promised perpetual virginity to Christ and became Dominican tertiaries. It is not a thing to be taken lightly, and is actually the step taken before one makes a public promise to Consecrated Virginity in the Church. There is a beautiful blog post that a Consecrated Virgin and Church Scholar wrote that explains it so much better than I ever could:

[url="http://sponsa-christi.blogspot.com/2010/12/consecrated-virginity-versus-private.html"]Consecrated Virginity vs Private Vows[/url]
[/quote]
This link was very helpful! I think I am more after a personal vow of virginity because I feel a strong call to become a religious sister but that won't happen for a while so I wanted to do something in the meantime and a private vow seems right!!

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='Annie12' timestamp='1341121393' post='2451083']
This link was very helpful! I think I am more after a personal vow of virginity because I feel a strong call to become a religious sister but that won't happen for a while so I wanted to do something in the meantime and a private vow seems right!!
[/quote]

You're welcome! I still think Consecrated Virginity is a beautiful vocation and, if I find out I'm not called to religious life, I would 100% consider it. I was really interested in learning more about it and this blog really helped.

Did you know that some religious communities take the promise of Consecrated Virginity? The Benedictines have the custom of allowing their virgin nuns to receive the consecration after some time elapses after their perpetual vows.

One such Benedictine order is located at the [url="http://www.abbeyofreginalaudis.com/sitelive/index.htm"]Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, CT[/url]. From their website:

[quote]
[font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size="2"]Formation at Regina Laudis follows the clarseical stages of Postulancy, Novitiate, First Vows, Perpetual Vows and the [b]reception of the [i]Consecratio Virginis,[/i] the ancient Rite of Consecration to a Life of Virginity.[/b] Each nun takes the uniquely Benedictine vows of Stability, Conversion of Life and Obedience: Stability, binding her perpetually to this particular [/size][/font][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size="2"]monastic community; Conversion of Life, obliging her to choose every day to re-center herself in God through the community; and Obedience, by which she pledges fidelity to the authority of the Abbess and all those delegated to take responsibility within the "school of the Lord's service."[/size][/font]
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[BarbTherese]

[quote name='Annie12' timestamp='1341110725' post='2451041']
I was wondering if one could consecrate their virginity to God privately without it being a sacrament. I know there are consecrated virgins but what about people who don't feel called to marriage and wish to say a prayer, consecrating their virginity to God????
[/quote]

Consecrated Virginity is a public consecration (as apposed to private dediction) in The Church and comes under "Consecrated Life" and is very highly valued indeed in The Church - it is very ancient and of great esteem by The Church. It is known, when public consecrated virginity by The Church, as "The Order of Virgins". Consecration to a life of virginity (Order of Virgins) is not a sacrament. Holy Orders and Marriage are the two states in life that are Sacramental - and of course Baptism into the lay state in life.

"The Order of Virgins" and public consecration by The Church into this Order does ask physical virginity.

One can if one chooses prior to entering religious life (I did it at 12yrs old) make a completely private vow to God to remain a virgin - best done with the advice of a priest, although not absolutely necessary (one can make a completely private and secret vow or promise to God, but wisely done, not must be done, after speaking with a priest). Such a private, even secret between self and God, vow or promise is known as "dedicated virginity" or "dedicated chastity" and private promises or vows to God do come under Canon Law. If one makes such a promise or vow of virginity or chastity prior to entering religious life and then goes ahead and enters religious life this is acceptable under Canon Law relating to Private Vows or promises, since one is commuting one's private vow to a greater good.

You will find Sr. Laurel O'Neil's blog "Notes from Stillsong Hermitage" [url="http://notesfromstillsong.blogspot.com.au/"]http://notesfromstil...logspot.com.au/[/url] a very useful site and she is also willing to answer questions, either privately or on her blog: On the far right hand side of her blog (scroll down) is an extensive index of subjects.

Edited July 1, 2012 by BarbaraTherese

[4588686]

They tend to commemorate their concecration by joining the school band.




BOOM!

[carmenchristi]

[quote name='Annie12' timestamp='1341121393' post='2451083']
This link was very helpful! I think I am more after a personal vow of virginity because I feel a strong call to become a religious sister but that won't happen for a while so I wanted to do something in the meantime and a private vow seems right!!
[/quote]

Annie... this is a very beautiful aspiration. You should seek spiritual direction before making a decision of this magnitude. A perpetual promise to God, even a private one, must be pondered with the utmost care. Sure, a private vow can be dispensed by your parish priest without any other special permissions, but of course that doesn't mean it's not serious. I'm sure you realize this, otherwise what would be the point of your interest. I'm saying this because the church mandates many years of formation before one's vows are permanently binding. The canonical ABSOLUTE minimum is 4 years. 1 year novitiate and 3 years temporary vows, but some communities will require a minimum of 6 years, but nowadays that number is increasing and can be more like 8 years. So, what's the point of all this formation? Is it to learn the rules and way of life of the community? That can be done in a year or two. The purpose is [i]discernment[/i]. You don't KNOW that you are called to religious life until you make perpetual vows. This doesn't mean that you can't be fairly certain, and it most certainly doesn't mean you can't begin aspiring to that calling, and preparing your heart to enter into it.

If you really desire to make a promise to God anticipating your entrance into religious life, you should do so in a way that does not preclude the discernment process that the Church requires with good reason. You might consider a promise of purity, or if you SD is in agreement a temporary vow of virginity that you can renew every year until you enter the convent.

I do understand what it is like to feel certain of your vocation and to have others tell you not to jump to your guns. I know what it is like to have the utmost confidence that God has already revealed His will, and to hear someone say "you still might change your mind". Well, you know what? It's true. Until your vows are signed on the altar, God may still have a different plan for you. This is not a bad thing! Don't let your personal desires, no matter how holy and sublime they may seem get in the way of that plan. That plan for you right now is to live your state in life, as a Christian young lady, a student, a daughter etc. You can elevate this by making a promise to God according to this state: as I suggested a promise of purity. This gives you the extra responsibility of commitment, and keeps you free to continue to discern and discover God's will for you as the Church intends.

Of course, many saints did in fact make promises to God before entering religious life... so it's not to say it's impossible. My foremost recommendation to you is to seek the advice of a holy priest who can guide you.

edit: I just wanted to add that I don't know how old you are, so that too is important to consider. I had arseumed you couldn't enter into religious life because you aren't old enough. It just occurred to me that you might be an adult with different reasons, in which case the situation might be slightly different. I still hold to what I have written though.

Edited July 1, 2012 by carmenchristi

[Annie12]

[quote name='carmenchristi' timestamp='1341167827' post='2451202']


Annie... this is a very beautiful aspiration. You should seek spiritual direction before making a decision of this magnitude. A perpetual promise to God, even a private one, must be pondered with the utmost care. Sure, a private vow can be dispensed by your parish priest without any other special permissions, but of course that doesn't mean it's not serious. I'm sure you realize this, otherwise what would be the point of your interest. I'm saying this because the church mandates many years of formation before one's vows are permanently binding. The canonical ABSOLUTE minimum is 4 years. 1 year novitiate and 3 years temporary vows, but some communities will require a minimum of 6 years, but nowadays that number is increasing and can be more like 8 years. So, what's the point of all this formation? Is it to learn the rules and way of life of the community? That can be done in a year or two. The purpose is [i]discernment[/i]. You don't KNOW that you are called to religious life until you make perpetual vows. This doesn't mean that you can't be fairly certain, and it most certainly doesn't mean you can't begin aspiring to that calling, and preparing your heart to enter into it.

If you really desire to make a promise to God anticipating your entrance into religious life, you should do so in a way that does not preclude the discernment process that the Church requires with good reason. You might consider a promise of purity, or if you SD is in agreement a temporary vow of virginity that you can renew every year until you enter the convent.

I do understand what it is like to feel certain of your vocation and to have others tell you not to jump to your guns. I know what it is like to have the utmost confidence that God has already revealed His will, and to hear someone say "you still might change your mind". Well, you know what? It's true. Until your vows are signed on the altar, God may still have a different plan for you. This is not a bad thing! Don't let your personal desires, no matter how holy and sublime they may seem get in the way of that plan. That plan for you right now is to live your state in life, as a Christian young lady, a student, a daughter etc. You can elevate this by making a promise to God according to this state: as I suggested a promise of purity. This gives you the extra responsibility of commitment, and keeps you free to continue to discern and discover God's will for you as the Church intends.

Of course, many saints did in fact make promises to God before entering religious life... so it's not to say it's impossible. My foremost recommendation to you is to seek the advice of a holy priest who can guide you.

edit: I just wanted to add that I don't know how old you are, so that too is important to consider. I had arseumed you couldn't enter into religious life because you aren't old enough. It just occurred to me that you might be an adult with different reasons, in which case the situation might be slightly different. I still hold to what I have written though.
[/quote]
Thank you! This is really good advice! And btw I am 19.

[OnlySunshine]

CarmenChristi makes an excellent point. This is a very important spiritual matter and must be thought about long and with careful consideration.

I remember reading about someone who was preparing to make a perpetual promise of virginity but wanted to make absolutely sure that this is what God was calling her to. Instead of vowing her whole life all at once, she vowed to be celibate for a whole year and did it for about 5 years before making the perpetual promise. I'm not sure if she ever became a Consecrated Virgin, but it's a good practice. Essentially, that is what junior professed religious do because their vows are only binding for 3 years in some communities and 1 year each in others. It's a practice until the final commitment.

I highly suggest that you talk this through with a spiritual director. If you are considering becoming a Consecrated Virgin, your bishop must approve of your life in his diocese, so it is important to establish a concrete practice. Having someone to back you up, such as a priest or religious, would really help to show that you have been putting in the effort.

This is a good supplement to read:

[url="http://consecratedvirgins.org/QA_who_can"]Who can be consecrated?[/url]

Edited July 2, 2012 by MaterMisericordiae