- The consecrated virgin is constituted a sacred person in the Church. [Introduction, No. 1]
- No particular service or spirituality is imposed; the consecrated virgin's time is spent in works of penance and of mercy, in apostolic activity, and in prayer, in accord with her state of life and spiritual gifts. [No. 2]
- She is strongly advised to recite the Liturgy of the Hours daily and is committed to praying Morning and Evening Prayer. [No.2]
- Her life is one of perpetual virginity. [No.5]
Bishop, Diocese
The virgin is consecrated to God by the diocesan Bishop according to a rite approved by the church. [Catechism of the Catholic Church, 922-924]
She lives her life as an individual, under the direction of the diocesan Bishop. The Ordo Virginum is comprised of those who are consecrated to God by the diocesan bishop according to the rite of consecration to a life of virginity (canon 604). The virgin constitutes “a special eschatological image of the Heavenly Bride and of the life to come, when the Church will at last fully live her love for Christ the Bridegroom.” (John Paul II, Vita Consecrata 7). Bodily and spiritual virginity – both – are essential to the vocation of consecrated virginity lived in the world to image the relationship of the virgin Church to her virgin Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. “Lord,” the consecrating bishop prays during the Prayer of Consecration of a virgin, “look with favor on your handmaids. They place in your hands their resolve to live in chastity. You prompt them in this, their intention; now they give you their hearts . . . Among your many gifts you give to some the grace of virginity.” (Rite of Consecration to a Life of Virginity, 24).
Can. 604.1 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.
Can. 604.2 In order to observe their resolution more faithfully and to perform by mutual assistance service to the Church which is in harmony with their proper state, virgins can be associated together.
From the text of the canon one may draw particular elements of the theological nature of this distinct vocation to a consecrated life in the Church:
- Consecrated to God by the diocesan bishop according to a rite approved by the Church
- Betrothed mystically to Christ and dedicated to the service of the Church
- Public state of consecrated life in the Church
- Individual form of consecrated life, under direction of diocesan bishop
[See "Consecration to a Life of Virginity for Women Living in the World" in the Roman Pontifical and "The Consecrated Virgin Lives and Manifests the Wedded Love of the Church for Christ" by Fr. Ignazio Maria Calabuig, given in Rome, June 1995, and "Lex orandi, lex credendi" by Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke, given in Rome, May, 2008, both found in Information Packet, USACV, revised August 2009]
The introductory norms state:
- The woman never married or lived in public or open violation of chastity.
- That by her age, prudence, and universally approved character she gives assurance of perseverance in a life of chastity dedicated to the service of the Church and of her neighbor.
- She may be admitted to this consecration by the bishop who is the ordinary of the place
It is understood that only a woman may receive this consecration, as only she can image the bride of Christ. It is understood by the above norms that widows and women whose marriages may have been annulled would not fit into the stated criteria. In a response to an inquiry from Archbishop Raymond Burke, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has also clarified that "women who have lost the gift of virginity by knowingly and deliberately engaging in sexual relations should not be received as consecrated virgins." [Congregatio de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum, Prot.n.231/06/L, Rome, 4 April 2007]
The bishop's examination of the candidate for Consecration, as given in the rite, shows the image of the virgin as bride of Christ and indicates the permanence of this individual vocation:
- Are you resolved to persevere to the end of your days in the holy state of virginity and in the service of God and his Church?
- Are you resolved to follow Christ in the spirit of the Gospel that your whole life may be a faithful witness to God's love and a convincing sign of the Kingdom of Heaven?
- Are you resolved to accept solemn consecration as a bride of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
From the Code of Canon Law:
- The virgin is consecrated to God by the diocesan Bishop according to a rite approved by the church. [Catechism of the Catholic Church, 922-924]
- She is betrothed mystically to Christ and dedicated to the service of the church.
- She enters a public state of consecrated life in the Church.
- She lives her life individually, under the direction of the diocesan Bishop.
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The consecrated virgin remains in the secular state, providing completely for her own material needs, medical care, and retirement. At no time is the diocese financially responsible for her. [Sr. Sharon Holland, Consecrated Virgins for Today's Church, 1998, as printed in Consecrated Life, Vol. 24, No.2, pp. 257-75]
The consecrated virgin does not wear habit or veil, nor use the title "Sister," nor write "OCV" after her name. She witnesses subtly, but publicly and powerfully, by her virginal life given exclusively to Jesus Christ. Consecrated virgins today wear their ring, but their comportment, modesty in dress, simplicity in lifestyle all betoken their living of the evangelical counsels. [from Archbishop Burke, Questions and Answers in "Preparation Process," USACV Information Packet, revised August 2009]
Taken from The Companion Discernment Guide to Consecrated Virgins in Today's Church, USACV, 2005, page 7.