Consecrated Virginity

IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

What is a "Consecrated Virgin"?

Click on the links on the left for information regarding consecrated virgins in the Catholic Church

Practical Suggestions for Candidates

The candidate should be able to explain to the bishop of her diocese the following: her motivation for petitioning for the Consecration of Virgins, her aptitudes for this state in life, and her adequate preparation intellectually and spiritually to receive the Consecration.

Motivation

She ought to be able to assure the Bishop of a true, stable, and profound desire to live the life of a consecrated virgin in the world and always follow the teachings of the Church.

Her motivation should not be tainted by pride, nor some sort of fear of marriage, nor just the mere desire to remain single.

Her words should be backed up by the example of her life.

It is up to the bishop to question her further about her motivation, if he deems it necessary.

Aptitudes

The correct motivation is not sufficient to guarantee that one can live the life of a consecrated virgin in the world.

That is, she should be mature in her affections, able to live a life as an individual, and be able to be formed through prayer.

It should be clear that she is a person of stability.

Preparation

Of primary importance is that the candidate be very familiar with the meaning, the nature, the specific depths, the obligations, and the graces of the state of consecrated virginity in the Church.

She should be able to maintain a life of prayer, asceticism, on-going growth, and the gift of her self in service to God and her brothers and sisters in Christ.

The bishop is the one to decide how long this preparatory period should last, depending upon the individual’s life thus far, her development in an understanding of consecrated virginity, and her growth in spiritual and intellectual maturity.

The candidate will make a retreat before the actual Consecration takes place.

After the Consecration, she will continue to examine her life seriously at regular intervals to see how she is living out her state of life. She will continue to obey and respect the bishop of her diocese.

Adapted from a document by the Comité permanent des Religieux de France

See also the Preparation Process for the Consecration of Virgins Living in the World

©2004-2008 by the United States Association of Consecrated Virgins. All rights reserved. The USACV provides this information service under the authority of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.