tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post6131514263079416594..comments2024-01-28T23:00:12.101-05:00Comments on Sponsa Christi: Consecrated Virginity versus Private VowsSponsa Christihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07520407168481380210noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post-45079530271932846752022-02-14T15:25:38.507-05:002022-02-14T15:25:38.507-05:00Hi Megan,
Private vows can be as individual as th...Hi Megan,<br /><br />Private vows can be as individual as the people who make them, so they don't have exactly the same place in the Church as public states of consecrated life (in the sense that public forms of consecrated life each have their own clearly-defined nature and mission, with the publicly-consecrated also having certain specific obligations to the Church). For this reason as well, there aren't as many resources out there on making an living a private vow.<br /><br />Honestly, one of the best resources right now may be simply the stories of those saints who have made private vows. But one modern book I can recommend is: "Single for a Greater Purpose" by Luanne Zurlo. Sponsa Christihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07520407168481380210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post-81449397160542715332022-02-13T21:36:56.834-05:002022-02-13T21:36:56.834-05:00Are there any good resources on private vows and d...Are there any good resources on private vows and discernment? What are some youtubers/bloggers,etc. who have done so who share their life? Is this still seen as the same/similar importance to a cv?Megan Dunbarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post-91648730558908877442021-03-14T22:06:37.048-04:002021-03-14T22:06:37.048-04:00"His Princess Bride": You're right t..."His Princess Bride": You're right that secular institutes aren't "private vows" in the sense of which I'm speaking of private vows here. (When I wrote this post years ago, I actually wasn't intending to comment on secular institutes at all!) <br /><br />And of course, you're also correct that the consecration of secular institute members is not less than religious consecration. Still, the exact nature of secular institute members' vows is not entirely clear. Such vows would seem to have a public dimension in that they are received by a legitimate authority in the Church (as opposed to being a purely personal commitment made on one's own initiative); but at the same time secular institute vows are specifically identified as NOT being public, which is often expressed practically in customs relating to discretion, etc. "Semi-public" would seem to be a good word to describe them, but this isn't a term used in any kind of official canonical context. So, on a strict technical level, the exact nature of vows in a secular institute is somewhat of an open academic question.<br /><br />But, while these sorts of questions are interesting and important, the most important thing for people with vocations to secular institutes is to live out their vocation and charism fully. The lived reality of a call and the vibrant witness of secular institute members is--at the end of the day--a much better way to understand secular institutes than nailing own exact canonical definitions. Sponsa Christihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07520407168481380210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post-1520978256582053662021-02-25T23:56:06.181-05:002021-02-25T23:56:06.181-05:00Secular institutes do not make “private vows” they...Secular institutes do not make “private vows” they may be different canonically than a religious or a consecrated virgin but still not private. We are fully lay and fully consecrated. Some like to use the term to make it easier semi public vows because we don’t enter into the religious state but we are still equal in consecration to religious. His Princess Bridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12282114882817333863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post-62317125152246799322012-02-03T19:58:05.633-05:002012-02-03T19:58:05.633-05:00Wonderful! Thank you for this.Wonderful! Thank you for this.Max Marie, OFShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07645038840540185160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post-69379897595218116432011-02-17T18:11:45.135-05:002011-02-17T18:11:45.135-05:00Thanks for bringing up secular institutes. I am di...Thanks for bringing up secular institutes. I am discerning this vocation and am sometimes frustrated that secular institutes are usually so little spoken of in the Church.<br /><br />You probably know much more about canon law than I do, but I would like to clarify that even if vows in secular institutes are not technically 'public' they do involve a rather different sort of commitment from private vows in the usual sense (even though of course the latter may be just as seriously intended and just as fervently lived by the person making the vow). For example, members of SIs (of pontifical right) who have made perpetual vows can only be dispensed by the Holy See if they decide to leave the institute, like religious who leave their congregations. OTOH, as you note in your newest post, a person who e. g. has made a private vow of virginity can be dispensed from it by her parish priest.Annanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post-91054086395365323532011-01-31T00:16:45.855-05:002011-01-31T00:16:45.855-05:00Thank you for writing this post.
I would like to ...Thank you for writing this post.<br /><br />I would like to make a private vow of virginity before making my Consecration Virginity vows and was wondering if there are any private vow prayers that are already written out that I can pray and what would you suggest of what one can do to live their private vows.<br /><br />Thank You and God Bless You!<br />KarenKarennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post-59748381941222262042011-01-09T15:38:51.243-05:002011-01-09T15:38:51.243-05:00Hannah: I’m so glad you found this post helpful.
...Hannah: I’m so glad you found this post helpful. <br /><br />This is just a suggestion, but in your discernment you might want to check out secular institutes. Secular institute members are basically laypeople who make private vows to observe the evangelical counsels, and who associate regularly for the purpose of prayer, formation, and mutual support. Unlike consecrated virgins or religious, the vocation of secular institute members is to bear a Christian witness while remaining fully engaged in the world of secular and temporal affairs, with an emphasis on evangelization through professional excellence and ordinary daily interactions. <br /><br />Each secular institute has its own spirituality and charism. Two well-established women’s secular institutes in the United States are Caritas Christi (http://www.ccinfo.org/), and the Blessed Trinity Missionary Institute (http://mcenacle.org/btmi/index.html).<br /><br />Curious: I’m in the middle of writing a full-length post to answer your question. So stay tuned!Sponsa Christihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07520407168481380210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post-34631915071049404172011-01-09T12:20:58.024-05:002011-01-09T12:20:58.024-05:00Dear Curious,
Your comment is both interesting an...Dear Curious,<br /><br />Your comment is both interesting and practical. From what I know about the appropriate preparation for consecrated virginity in the church, these are the points which should be discussed with the Bishop of the diocese during the discernment and preparation process because it concerns the authentic living of the vocation for the entire life of an individual who is precious in God’s sight and is co operating with God’s plan to be united with Jesus Christ to be dedicated to serve His church family. <br /><br />In this spirit of love for Christ’s family, I personally don’t think it is essential for a consecrated virgin to serve only according to her qualifications or full-time . From what I have seen in some consecrated virgins around the globe and in history , this consecration seems to create a new gift or talents through the work of the Holy Spirit based on the needs of the church. If we avoid a very cerebral interpretation of this vocation – and try to discern the Spirit’s calling of the consecrated virgin to some particular service or services, your question might be answered. <br /><br />Well -WisherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post-85249067255511509922010-12-23T23:51:00.245-05:002010-12-23T23:51:00.245-05:00"Curious" above has a good question, one..."Curious" above has a good question, one I sort of brought up in a previous email. As you know one diocese that I'd consider for Consecrated Virginity would be Ogdensburg along with the Archdiocese of New York. Ogdensburg on the one hand being the most rural in the state with perhaps less employment opportunities compared with the Archdiocese, the most urban. It's an interesting question about how service to the Church would look different in a rural vs. urban diocese. Of course we could discuss this matter in our "come and see" coming up! Haha.Shanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01328812376288894935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post-56047911105582443462010-12-23T12:44:02.886-05:002010-12-23T12:44:02.886-05:00I have a question about working for the Church to ...I have a question about working for the Church to directly advance her mission. Please don't take this the wrong way, but not all of us live in the Archdiocese of New York, where there are numerous Catholic institutions. What about women who live in small, or even large, rural dioceses. These dioceses tend to be poorer, without a lot of resources and with few Catholic Institutions. In my diocese, for instance, there is not a single Catholic healhcare facility. Would a consecrated virgin who was a nurse have to go to another diocese to work in a Catholic sponsored hospital? Or should she quit nursing to become a teacher in one of the few Catholic schools in the diocese, even though she has neither the interest or ability to be a good teacher?<br /><br />Thank you for your posts. They are interesting and give a lot of food for thought.<br /><br />CuriousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984186295935598389.post-25584587929811414132010-12-18T17:55:25.941-05:002010-12-18T17:55:25.941-05:00Thank you for writing this post. I thought your an...Thank you for writing this post. I thought your analogy between Consecrated Virginity and Liturgical prayer versus a private vow and private prayer was really clear and made a lot of sense. Your list of signs of a call to Consecrated Virginity versus a private vow were really helpful to me. I'm still discerning (and definitely need to get to finding a spiritual director), but if I am called to celibacy, I think it is in the form of a private vow. The best way I know how to witness is to not hide that I'm a serious Catholic, while still outperforming most of the students in the department, being funny without making vulgar jokes, and wearing cool and (not but; cool is not opposed to modest) modest and not being someone who puts "Christian" on their Facebook profile, but goes to the frat parties and gets drunk. This is certainly more subtle than that of a consecrated virgin.Hannahnoreply@blogger.com