Consecrated virgin

A consecrated virgin (Latin consecrated virgin, pl. Virgins consecratae ) is in the Catholic Church, a woman who has vowed a life in the state of virginity in the hands of the diocesan bishop publicly and forever and was donated by the Bishop, the virginal consecration.

Historical Development

Already in apostolic times, it was the custom to consecrate virgins. Therefore, a solemn rite was created by the Virgin to a consecrated person.

The early Christian order of virgins belonged to girls and women of different ages who took the life of celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom (Mt 19,11 f EU ) due to a particular vocation of Christ. The writings of the Apostle Paul (1 Cor 7,25 ff EU ), (1 Cor 7.34 EU), grave inscriptions and pictures in the Catacombs, early Christian community orders, sermons, letters, and treatises such as the Church Fathers Tertullian, Cyprian, Jerome, Ambrose, Augustine, and others tell of the virgins of the early Church. Numerous Greek writers of the first centuries have written about the virgins.

After a long time of testing using the private vow of virginity for the sake of the Kingdom, the candidates asked their bishop for the administration of the virginal consecration. In a public service they promised, for Christ's sake to live voluntarily and forever as consecrated virgin. The bishop gave the consecration by the prayer of consecration of the church. Since the 3rd century the virgins get a veil, since the 7th century a ring. Already in the 4th century it was common for young women to wear a shabby tunic.,

The Christian virgins of the early Church lived retired in their families. They committed themselves to a life of prayer, fasting, studying the Holy Scriptures, to work, but also to care for the poor. Their lifestyle had to be simple and appropriate to their level. At the celebration of worship they had their own courts.

Until the beginning of the 6th century, the consecrated virgins joined more and more common life in cloistered monasteries together. Since the 9th century, the virginal consecration was always rare and actually donated only in cloistered monasteries. Get this custom has in the monastic orders of the Benedictines, Cistercians, Trappist and Carthusian. In other religious communities - such as the Ursulines - can the virginal consecration will be donated, "if there is an old custom ."

Presence

As part of the renewal after the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI presented. 1970 rite for women who are "in the world" live restores. Members of the Ordo virginum can therefore be both nuns living in the world consecrated virgins. In the Post-Synodal Exhortation Vita consecrata Pope John Paul II:

" Cause for joy and hope it can be seen that since apostolic times, the Christian communities testified in old consecration of virgins flourish again today. Because of their consecration by the diocesan Bishop, they acquire a special bond to the Church, whose service they devote themselves, even if they remain in the world. Alone or in community, they represent a special eschatological image of the Heavenly Bride and the afterlife, if the church is finally live her love for her bridegroom Christ in all its fullness. "

The candidate is consecrated after a long preparation time, which precedes the passing of private vows by the bishop of their diocese by the solemn rite of CONSECRATIO virginum the service of the Church. Canon 604 of CIC provides:

"§ 1 Unless there's these forms of consecrated life the order of virgins to follow the expression of their holy project, Christ in a particularly narrow way, consecrated to God by the diocesan bishop to 's approved liturgical rite, Christ, the Son of God, mystically espoused and for are determined to serve the church. § 2 In order to keep their projects loyal and increase their own corresponding registry service to the Church through the mutual support that virgins can form associations. "

The consecrated virgin living in a public ecclesiastical state, in the Ordo virginum, one of the forms of consecrated life, and is directly subordinate to the respective diocesan bishop. The Christ consecrated virgins are to devote depending on their circumstances and gifts of grace, penance, works of mercy, the apostolate and prayer. This includes above all the task of the Church to the Church's Liturgy of the Hours. Where they live, they should serve the Church and share the concern of the bishop.

At the consecration of the Pontifical provides for the transfer of the ring, the veil and the Church's Book of Hours as regalia. In this case, ring and veil characters for the nuptial, the Book of Hours sign of the church affiliation.

The consecrated virgin belongs neither to the church hierarchy, nor are certain offices or functions with this item is linked. You also will not be entertained by the Church, but is responsible for their own livelihoods.

Worldwide there are now over 3,000 consecrated virgins who live outside of monastic communities, including 170 in Germany, 500 in France and about 50 in Switzerland.

Known Saints, who belonged to the order of virgins are, for example Agatha of Catania, Agnes of Rome, Cecilia of Rome, Scholastica of Nursia, Lucia of Syracuse, Catherine of Alexandria and Saint Catherine of Siena.