Consecration of Virgins From the earliest days of the Church, God has called young women to a special relationship with Christ, a spiritual union which most perfectly reflects the relationship between Christ and his Church. As the Church is the bride of Christ , the consecrated virgin is the visible sign of this brideship and becomes in a special way an open channel of blessings for the whole Church.” Beyond physical virginity, she has chosen a constant dying to self and to the world, living totally for Christ alone. This miraculous love pours itself out in service to the Church, the Body of Him to whom she is espoused. She is fruitful, producing spiritual children for God though her union with her Beloved. By the sacramental rite of consecration, she is dedicated to prayer, sacrifice and vicarious atonement for sin.
The Carthusian nuns have retained the privilege of the consecration of virgins, which they have inherited from the nuns of Prébayon. The consecration, which is given four years after the vows are taken, can only be conferred by the diocesan bishop. The rite differs but slightly from that given in the "Pontifical." The nun is invested with a crown, ring, stole and maniple, the last being worn on the right arm. These ornaments the nun only wears again on the day of her monastic jubilee, and after her death on her bier. It is a consecrated nun who sings the Epistle at the conventual Mass, though without wearing the maniple. At Matins, if no priest is present, a nun assumes the stole and reads the Gospel. Consecrated Virgins Catholic Enyclopedia |
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