Perhaps because of tradition, or because of local custom, many of us know about the place of Marriage and Ordained ministry in the Church, but not many are aware of yet another Order that has existed in the Church for centuries: the Order of Consecrated Virgins.
Ceremonies both simple and elaborate have been developed for the celebration of marriage and ordination. Even the ceremony for the profession of vows by religious women and men has been developed across the centuries, and is relatively well known. Surely the presence of both male and female religious as well as secular priests is known to various degrees within society.
By contrast, very few of us have even heard of the Order of Consecrated Virgins. Like religious priests and sisters, Consecrated Virgins take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. In the case of religious, the obedience is observed in relation to their major superior and-or to the bishop of the arch-diocese in which their particular charism is lived. In the case of Consecrated Virgins, the vow of obedience is lived out in relation to the arch-bishop of the arch-diocese in which they live. Consecrated Virgins live lives of devotion and prayer for the people of their local diocese and for the Church in general. They often are catechists or work in the church in some context or other.
This week, there is an international congress taking place in Rome. The invited participants are all Consecrated Virgins. From all parts of the world, some 500 'delegates' have gathered and had the privilege of an address by the Holy Father yesterday. The pope recalled the fact that consecrated virginity is a gift in the Church and for the Church. He pointed out that consecrated virginity has its roots in the beginning of evangelical life, and that the Virgin Mary was its first fulfillment.
The gifts we are to the Church, and to one another, are only recognized and celebrated when we realize that all of us are on the same journey, and that the most important lessons to be learned are often those that we come to appreciate only when we abandon ourselves to the deep abiding love of the Lord, made visible in his Son Jesus and those who strive each day to walk in his footsteps.
Ceremonies both simple and elaborate have been developed for the celebration of marriage and ordination. Even the ceremony for the profession of vows by religious women and men has been developed across the centuries, and is relatively well known. Surely the presence of both male and female religious as well as secular priests is known to various degrees within society.
By contrast, very few of us have even heard of the Order of Consecrated Virgins. Like religious priests and sisters, Consecrated Virgins take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. In the case of religious, the obedience is observed in relation to their major superior and-or to the bishop of the arch-diocese in which their particular charism is lived. In the case of Consecrated Virgins, the vow of obedience is lived out in relation to the arch-bishop of the arch-diocese in which they live. Consecrated Virgins live lives of devotion and prayer for the people of their local diocese and for the Church in general. They often are catechists or work in the church in some context or other.
This week, there is an international congress taking place in Rome. The invited participants are all Consecrated Virgins. From all parts of the world, some 500 'delegates' have gathered and had the privilege of an address by the Holy Father yesterday. The pope recalled the fact that consecrated virginity is a gift in the Church and for the Church. He pointed out that consecrated virginity has its roots in the beginning of evangelical life, and that the Virgin Mary was its first fulfillment.
The gifts we are to the Church, and to one another, are only recognized and celebrated when we realize that all of us are on the same journey, and that the most important lessons to be learned are often those that we come to appreciate only when we abandon ourselves to the deep abiding love of the Lord, made visible in his Son Jesus and those who strive each day to walk in his footsteps.
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