tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post6242707850276352162..comments2024-01-28T23:00:12.101-05:00Comments on Sponsa Christi: “Being” versus “Doing”Sponsa Christihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07520407168481380210noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post-10202151078327170282010-03-22T14:51:07.486-04:002010-03-22T14:51:07.486-04:00Friend,
I'm eager to read your thesis when it&...Friend,<br />I'm eager to read your thesis when it's done.Shall write to your email address after a few days.<br />Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post-83652143004709294682010-03-21T20:21:41.674-04:002010-03-21T20:21:41.674-04:00Anonymous/Friend:
Thank you for your comment, and...Anonymous/Friend:<br /><br />Thank you for your comment, and I'm happy that you found this post helpful. Unfortunatly, because of my impending thesis deadline, I really won't have any time for blog writing over the next few weeks. But I will discuss your points after Easter.<br /><br />By the way, if you (or anyone else) would like to read a copy of my thesis when it's done, send me an e-mail:<br /><br />sponsa.christi.author[at]gmail[dot]com<br /><br />and I'll see what I can do about getting a copy to you.Sponsa Christihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07520407168481380210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post-26748944511584365432010-03-21T15:17:30.620-04:002010-03-21T15:17:30.620-04:00Dear Friend,
This post has come as an answer to my...Dear Friend,<br />This post has come as an answer to my own search for the identity of the vocation of a consecrated virgin living in the world.THANK YOU!<br />Glad to know that the topic of your M.A. thesis is based on this.God Bless you in this effort!I'm sure the Holy Spirit is guiding you.<br /><br />I agree that the call to 'Be' and to 'Do' are interlinked.Let me put some practical situations before you for further reflection.<br /><br />1] In Early Christianity there were no monasteries or convents.The Order of Virgins consisted of women usually converts,several of whom were martyred for their faith, commitment to remain virgins for Christ and service of the Church's mission/ Christian calling.Their single-mindedness and love in the following of Christ and His mission itself gave their witness to the world as consecrated virgins 'married to Christ'.The Christian communities were small in numbers.Local churches could be compared to small or medium sized parishes today.<br /><br />2]The essential identity of a consecrated virgin according to the ancient rite is that of a virgin,a bride,a mother.I imagine it must have been easier in the early Church for a consecrated virgin to visibly become an image of the Church's love for Christ.Her identity was similar/same as the identity of the local church that was a people who were persecuted converts to Christ and were fervent followers of Christ with a mission.The call of the local church 'to Be' and 'to Do' was the call of the consecrated virgin'to Be' and 'to Do'.<br /><br />It is in this sense that the vocation of a consecrated virgin is closely knit with the life of the local church and 'limited' to it because it then reflects the image of the local people's love for Christ and their mission to serve the world.<br /><br />3]From the above perspective of the consecrated virgin as an image of the local church, it would be fitting for her to focus not so much on serving the church [ herself],but instead to reach out to the world that Jesus loves too.However she is called as a Bride of Christ,to be a Mother to raise up her christian family[to serve the church ?].<br /><br />4]Christian life and the local churches are different today.The very meaning of consecrated life based on the committment to celibacy is being questioned.In some countries religious life is still flourishing,in others it is diminishing in numbers.Once again the Order of Consecrated virgins is becoming an option.<br /><br />Can the OCV really live the same call 'to Be' and 'to Do' in today's Post-christian context in some and Multi-religious context in other parts of the world?<br /><br />5]In the Early Church the various orders like catechumens,virgins,widows,clerics etc. were a response to the need of some structure in the local churches.<br /><br />In today's context, in churches where there are still a sizeable number of church goers, other structures have emerged like Basic Christian Communities, various Associations, cells- with their own pastoral workers.The laity [even married christians]are taking up pastoral roles which were once limited to deacons/ virgins/ widows etc in the early church.The Holy Spirit is giving a new image to the local churches.The empowerment of the laity for the mission of Christ is a wonderful transformation that is happening and is unavoidable.<br /><br />In this situation,does not the revival of OCV according to the spirituality it had in the early church, reflect a movement towards the more traditional past? How does one see significant meaning in the spirituality as mentioned in the homily/ prayer of consecration in the Rite ? <br /><br />on the other hand,in local churches that are struggling to survive,can a consecrated virgin be an image of its call 'to be' and 'to do'?<br /><br />Awaiting a prayerful answer,<br />With Thanks,<br />FriendAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com