Tuesday, June 17

Consecrated Virginity and Hidden Lives

Recently, the Diocese of Richmond had a beautiful ceremony in which a young woman consecrated her virginity to Christ.  I showed the article on the event to my girls, who marveled at the choice this woman has made.  Yet another option was presented to them, another vocation for them to discern.  (Yes, they are nearly-seven and nearly-ten, but we do discuss discerning God's plan for their lives and encourage them to be open to His will.  One prayer we pray is, "Jesus, help me to want what You want for me.")

Yesterday, I picked up my copy of The Catholic Virginian and found this letter among those highlighted:

Congratulations to Bernadette Snyder on making her perpetual vows in the Order of Consecrated Virgins (June 2 issue).

However, I am finding that the Catholic Church is growing more obsessed with not how women serve the needs of the people in the Diocese of Richmond but with who these women are as defined by their sexual activity and sexual labels.

Women have an intelligence and personality that is uniquely individual of their sexuality just as men do and are able to give of themselves to any prject they are made a part of such as Ms. Snyder's job as research analyst in the diocesan Office of Pastoral Planning.

The Catholic Virginian gives the false sense that the laity are lacking when ministering in various positions due to family obligations.  However, how does one truly determine dedication and faithfulness to one's position?

It should never be based upon the "viginity" of one's body over the skills, commitment, intengrity and heart of the candidate.

It is a sad day when we read stories of good, dedicated women leaving leadership roles, and other stories of women committing themselves to virginity, religious orders and deacon's spouses.  Women have much more to offer than support roles, as even Jesus Christ saw and called us to be.

-Theresa D. Conley
Portsmouth

Wow!  Where to begin here?

First of all, Ms. Conley starts with a backhanded compliment of sorts.  "Congratulations ...  However, ..."  

She states that the Church is "growing more obsessed" with defining people by their sexuality and sexual labels and activity.  This shows a definite lack of knowledge of the history of Consecrated Virgins.  This order is nothing new; indeed, there is evidence that such people existed in the Old Testament times, as well.  Our Blessed Mother, according to Tradition, was a virgin consescrated to the Lord.  This is part of why she was amazed that she would bear a child: she had no plans to change her status as a consecrated virgin.  In addition, the Church does not define anyone according to their sexual activity and sexual labels.  Each person is a unique individual with gifts and a vocation.  Our duty is to seek out the vocation to which God has called us.  Some people are called to a consecrated life as consecrated virgins, consecrated laity (as in the Madonna House), nuns, brothers, and priests.  Others are called to the vocation of married life.  

While each of us has a different vocation, none are considered to be superior to another.  Saint Paul, himself, dealt with this attitude early in the Church's history, and wrote to the church in Corinth about the various gifts each person has.  "There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.  To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. ... God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.  ... Are all apostles?  Are all prophets?  Are all teachers?  Do all work mighty deeds?  Do all have gifts of healing?  Do all speak in tongues?  Do all interpret?  Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts."  (1 Corinthians, 12: 4-7, 24b-25, 29-31)  To this day, the Holy Catholic Church values the gifts of her children, seeing how each unique gift serves the Body of Christ.  

Ms. Conley also implies that somehow women who are in a "support role" do not make any difference in the Church.  She seems to decry women who make a perpetual vow of virginity, join a religious order, or live as the wife of a deacon, as well as women who "[leave] leadership roles."  I see no reason to find calamity in these situations.  If by leaving a leadership role I am able to concentrate my focus on my vocation in life - that is, my marriage - then I am doing my marriage proper justice.  If my daughters take vows as nuns when they are adults, I will see this as a joyous occasion!  To serve the Lord as a sister is a great honor for the women who are called to such a life, and we, as laity, should not look down upon those callings or the women who follow Christ's call to them.  If at some time my husband became a deacon, what an honor for me to be married to a man who was called to such a vocation!  

Women should never - never - be ashamed of living a "hidden" life that does not include leadership roles in the Church hierarchy or in a diocese.  Our work does not always entail the same work others might have.  And our hidden lives at home are what build the foundation of the Church for the future.  Remember: supporting roles are incredibly important.  Without proper support, a building cannot stand, just as without proper support, our children's faith cannot stand.

Such "support roles" are not demeaning to women, nor are they somehow less important than roles that are more visible in the world.  A college-educated woman who gives up a career to stay home with her children - perhaps even homeschooling them in the process - and be a full-time homemaker for her family is not a woman whose life should be lamented.  Far from it!  What career, what position of leadership, can be more important to me than my own vocation that God called me to - that of marriage?

The prime example women have, of course, is the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was nothing more than a homemaker, wife, and mother.  But she is the most honored of all Creation!  She is Queen of Heaven and Earth, Queen of Angels!  Her simple life on earth has been rewarded greatly in Heaven.  Her obedience to God here on earth has been rewarded in the afterlife.  We would all do well to imitate our Blessed Mother in this life.  She is the perfect example for us as Christians.



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