Ordo Virginum

Ms. Holly Garnett
Kingston, ON

Code of Canon Law 1983:

§1. Similar to these forms of consecrated life is the order of virgins who, expressing the holy resolution of following Christ more closely, are consecrated to God by the diocesan Bishop according to the approved liturgical rite, are mystically betrothed to Christ, the Son of God, and are dedicated to the service of the Church.

§2. In order to observe their own resolution more faithfully and to perform by mutual assistance service to the Church in harmony with their proper state, virgins can be associated together.

“The characteristic of the Ordo Virginum is ‘a special relationship of communion with the particular and universal Church’
(Vita Consecrata, n.42.) 

“Since apostolic times this expression of the mystery of the Church has been demonstrated in a unique way in the lives of those women who with spousal love are dedicated to the Lord Jesus in virginity. Responding to a charism kindled in them by the Holy Spirit, they experience the spiritual fertility of an intimate relationship with him and offer the fruits of this relationship to the Church and to the world.”

 ECCLESIAE SPONSAE IMAGO, 1

What is consecrated virginity?
A consecrated virgin is a woman who is ‘set apart’ in a specific liturgical rite to love and serve God and the Church. She is a ‘bride of Christ,’ as she is united to Christ, something which is awaiting all of us in Heaven. Her life is therefore witnesses to the Kingdom of God, and the reality of God’s intimate and individual love.

This is a vocation that is lived in the world. The USAofCV explains, 

• “As a consecrated person [the consecrated virgin] lives in the world; she does not flee the world. Her life is a public witness in the Church and in society. By her very life of virginity, she is witnessing her total love for her Spouse, Jesus Christ.”

The consecrated virgin is committed to lifting up her diocese in prayer and penance. She discerns how to best serve her diocese through her own apostolate. She acts as a public witness to the reality of God’s intimate love through her life.

What is the history of this vocation?
In the early Church, women who sought to love and serve God with their whole being, remaining unmarried in witness to the coming Kingdom of God, were consecrated (‘set apart’) by their Bishop in a solemn liturgical rite. Some of the earliest consecrated virgins include saints like Sts. Agatha, Lucy, Agnes and Cecilia. By the Middle Ages, most women who felt a call to be consecrated entirely to Christ would do so through a religious community and the rite of consecration became quite rare for a period of time. However, responding to a resurgence of women called to this ancient vocation, the rite the Consecration of Virgins Living in the World was renewed in 1970. There are estimated to be around 5000 Consecrated Virgins around the world today. 

What does a consecrated virgin do?
Consecrated Virginity is first and foremost a vocation of being, rather than doing. Who she is as the bride of Christ gives a strong witness to the world and reminds us each of our heavenly calling and eternal home. Consecrated Virgins are to spend their time in works of mercy and in prayer, according to their spiritual gifts. Consecrated virgins can be found at work in almost any kind of ministry or employment, say, being a university professor or political scientist, for example ;).

What relation does a consecrated virgin have with her diocese?
A consecrated virgin is consecrated by the local bishop, who remains the spiritual father of the consecrated virgins in his diocese. In contrast with religious sisters, who have their religious community as their spiritual family, the “community” of a consecrated virgin is the local diocesan Church. Likewise, they normally live within their community, often in their own homes or apartments.

Who can become a consecrated virgin?
Ecclesiae Sponsae Imago explains that “Admission to consecration requires that the candidate gives evidence, with regard to her age, her human and spiritual maturity and the respect that she enjoys in the Christian community in which she is inserted, that she is able to assume the commitments that arise from consecration in a responsible manner. It is also a prerequisite that the person has never been married and has never lived in public or open violation of chastity” (ESI 84).

Those interested in becoming consecrated would enter into a process of formation and discernment for several years.  Enquiries should be directed to: RC MILORD 

"Depuis les temps apostoliques, cette expression du mystère de l'Église s'est manifestée de manière unique dans la vie de ces femmes qui, avec l'amour sponsal, sont consacrées au Seigneur Jésus dans la virginité. Répondant à un charisme allumé en elles par l'Esprit Saint, elles font l'expérience de la fécondité spirituelle d'une relation intime avec lui et offrent les fruits de cette relation à l'Église et au monde." (Ecclesiae Sponsae Imago, 1)

Qu'est-ce que la virginité consacrée ?
Une vierge consacrée est une femme qui est " mise à part " dans un rite liturgique spécifique pour aimer et servir Dieu et l'Église. Elle est une "épouse du Christ", car elle est unie au Christ, ce qui nous attend tous au Ciel. Sa vie est donc un témoignage du Royaume de Dieu, et de la réalité de l'amour intime et individuel de Dieu.

C'est une vocation qui se vit dans le monde. L'Association des vierges consacrées des États-Unis explique : "En tant que personne consacrée, [la vierge consacrée] vit dans le monde ; elle ne fuit pas le monde. Sa vie est un témoignage public dans l'Église et dans la société. Par sa vie même de virginité, elle témoigne de son amour total pour son Époux, Jésus-Christ."

La vierge consacrée s'engage à élever son diocèse dans la prière et la pénitence. Elle discerne comment servir au mieux son diocèse par son propre apostolat. Elle agit comme un témoin public de la réalité de l'amour intime de Dieu à travers sa vie.

Quelle est l'histoire de cette vocation ?
Dans l'Église primitive, les femmes qui cherchaient à aimer et à servir Dieu de tout leur être, en restant célibataires pour témoigner de la venue du Royaume de Dieu, étaient consacrées ("mises à part") par leur évêque lors d'un rite liturgique solennel. Parmi les premières vierges consacrées, on trouve des saintes comme les sœurs Agatha, Lucy, Agnès et Cécile. Au Moyen Âge, la plupart des femmes qui ressentaient un appel à se consacrer entièrement au Christ le faisaient par l'intermédiaire d'une communauté religieuse et le rite de consécration est devenu assez rare pendant un certain temps. Cependant, en réponse à une résurgence des femmes appelées à cette ancienne vocation, le rite de la consécration des vierges vivant dans le monde a été renouvelé en 1970. On estime à environ 5000 le nombre de Vierges consacrées dans le monde aujourd'hui.  

Que fait une vierge consacrée ?
La virginité consacrée est d'abord et avant tout une vocation d'être, plutôt que de faire. Ce qu'elle est en tant qu'épouse du Christ donne un témoignage fort au monde et nous rappelle à chacun notre vocation céleste et notre foyer éternel. Les vierges consacrées doivent consacrer leur temps aux œuvres de miséricorde et à la prière, selon leurs dons spirituels. On peut trouver des vierges consacrées à l'œuvre dans presque n'importe quel type de ministère ou d'emploi, par exemple en tant que professeur d'université ou politologue ;).

Quelle relation une vierge consacrée entretient-elle avec son diocèse ? 
Une vierge consacrée est consacrée par l'évêque du lieu, qui reste le père spirituel des vierges consacrées de son diocèse. Contrairement aux religieuses, qui ont leur communauté religieuse comme famille spirituelle, la "communauté" d'une vierge consacrée est l'Église diocésaine locale. De même, elles vivent normalement au sein de leur communauté, souvent dans leur propre maison ou appartement. 

Qui peut devenir une vierge consacrée ?
Ecclesiae Sponsae Imago explique que "L'admission à la consécration exige que la candidate donne la preuve, eu égard à son âge, à sa maturité humaine et spirituelle et au respect dont elle jouit dans la communauté chrétienne dans laquelle elle est insérée, qu'elle est capable d'assumer de manière responsable les engagements qui découlent de la consécration. Il est également indispensable que la personne n'ait jamais été mariée et n'ait jamais vécu en violation publique ou ouverte de la chasteté" (ESI 84).

Les personnes intéressées par la consécration entrent dans un processus de formation et de discernement pendant plusieurs années. Les demandes de renseignements doivent être adressées à l'ORDMIL CR
 

Consecrated virgins stand as a symbol for the Church’s love for Christ and “point towards a bigger reality: Christ is the ultimate fulfillment”
(Maslak 2017)

They look to Mary, perfect image of the Church, as the guiding star for their journey. The Church entrusts them to her maternal protection.

We praise you,
Virgin Mother of God
Woman of the covenant,
of expectation and fulfilment.
Be the mother and teacher
of consecrated virgins,
so that imitating you
they will receive the Gospel joyfully
and every day
with humility and wonder
discover in it
the holy origin
of their spousal vocation.

Virgin of virgins,
sealed fountain,
gate of heaven,
inspire and accompany
these sisters of ours,
may they have the gift
of spiritual discernment
pilgrims in history
may they live the dynamism
of prophecy
with freedom and courage
with determination and tenderness.

Woman full of grace,
overflowing with charity,
Virgin become Church
bless their journey
so that hope
enlightens their minds
and opens their hearts
guiding every step
and faith
makes their hands industrious
and creative
so may their lives be fruitful
and anticipating here and now
the reality of the Kingdom,
may they generate
and build up the people of God
sharing in its mission
kingly, prophetic and priestly.

We proclaim you blessed
woman of the Magnificat
mother of the living Gospel.
We pray for these sisters.
Gather them in your song
involve them in your dance
so that they follow the Lamb
wherever he goes
with lamps alight.
May they lead us also
to the eternal wedding banquet,
to the final embrace
with the Love
that never ends.

(Approved by the Holy Father in an audience on June 8, 2018)