Consecrated Virginity Virginity Without Humility Is Vanity
- St. Augustine
Consecrated Virginity is
a perpetual commitment, following
Christ more
closely, consecrated
to God by
the diocesan bishop, betrothed
mystically to
Christ the Son of God, dedicated
to the service
of the Church.
-
from Canon 604, CCL 1983
God Calls
Total Gift of Self For the Sake of the Kingdom of Heaven
-
a
public vocation individually lived in the world
-
secular
mode of life self-supporting, regular job, own living arrangements,
own clothes, retirement provisions
-
consecration
is received in the Ceremony within the Ritual Mass
-
ring
is the sign of fidelity in espousals to God
-
annual
group meeting with the Archbishop
-
annual
individual conference with Delegate
-
local
and regional activities and projects
-
optional
membership in U.S. Association of Consecrated Virgins, as voting
member, or as Friend
Saying Yes To God
-
in
the state of virginity (never married)
-
maturity,
stability, tranquility of life
- variable
period of discernment, candidacy – can be several years
-
individual
conferences with Delegate, others
-
opportunities
to meet others in discernment and consecrated virgins
Information
Conference in Chicago every August, from a Thursday pm to Sunday
am.
Annual
Convocation in St. Louis every summer for four days, for those
who have attended Information Conference, and for all consecrated
virgins:
-
download
order forms for printed, electronic, audio, and visual materials
-
The
Lamp, newsletter several times a year
History Outline
- Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God
- holy
women who served Jesus, His disciples
-
Thecla,
who followed St. Paul
-
early
virgin martyrs, mentioned in Canon I of the Mass
- Church
Fathers – e.g., Jerome, John Chrysostom, Gregory Nazianzen,
Basil, Leavder, Ambrose, Augustine – treatises and letters
-
Benedictine
Order has retained the Consecration, with the profession of vows
- 1100’s-1900’s:
development of Orders, Institutes, Congregations in the West
-
Eastern
churches have always kept the simple form of consecrated life
- early
1900’s – initiatives in France (Anne LeFlaive)
- 1970
– Promulgation of the restored ancient Rite
- 1995
– Worldwide Pilgrimage to Rome, Special Audience with Pope
John Paul II
- 1995
– founding of USACV
Consecrations In the Boston Archdiocese
1970’s – 4
1980’s – 1
1990’s – 4
2000’s – 5
11 are presently living as of mid-2006
Contacts:
Sister Marian Batho, CSJ, Delegate for Religious Tel: 617-746-5637
USACV (U.S. Association of Consecrated Virgins)
www.consecratedvirgins.org
300 West Ottawa Street
Lansing,
MI 48933-1577
Information Conference Coordinator is:
Theresa Marshall Tel: 734-332-4648 Email: marshall@wash.k12.mi.us
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