Three women have been consecrated as virgins in a rare ceremony in Detroit.
Such a consecration had never taken place before in the archdiocese. As far as records show, it was the first time in the United States that three women had committed their lives at the same time in this way.
The women, who stood in white dresses before the altar of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, are “brides of Christ” confirming their intention to dedicate their lives to God in perpetual virginity.
“It’s a promise that we make to be faithful to Christ all our life,” Theresa Jordan said. “[We] make him a promise of our virginity as a gift back to him.”
“Making a resolution to live in perfect chastity my whole life, I get to testify that God satisfies. He is enough,” Karen Ervin added.
The order of virgins, whose members are known as “consecrated virgins living in the world”, dates back to the beginning of the Church. “If you’ve heard of St Cecilia or Agnes or Lucy, they were all virgins living in the world,” said the third bride, Laurie Malashanko.
Women called to this vocation do not live in community or wear habits but continue their careers – Jordan as a college professor, Malashanko as an editor for a publisher and Ervin as a headteacher at a Catholic girls’ school.
The rite of consecration of virgins declined after the 11th century as monastic community life for women developed.
The vocation was revived after it was included in the Vatican II document Sacrosanctum Concilium. Today, the US Association of Consecrated Virgins counts about 245 consecrated virgins living in 106 dioceses.
Bishop: no Communion for people in same-sex marriage
Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield has decreed that people in same-sex marriages should not present themselves for Communion, receive the sacrament of anointing of the sick or have a Catholic funeral unless they “have given some signs of repentance”.
The bishop’s decree said that no clergy or diocesan employee “is to assist or participate in the solemnisation or blessing of same-sex marriages, including providing services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges for such events”.
Bishop Paprocki said: “The Church has not only the authority, but the serious obligation, to affirm its authentic teaching on marriage and to preserve and foster the sacred value of the married state.”
The decree was sent to priests, deacons, seminarians and diocesan staff.
Bishop Paprocki also advised priests who were aware of someone in a same-sex marriage to address the issue privately, “calling them to conversion and advising them not to present themselves for Holy Communion until they have been restored to communion with the Church through the sacrament of reconciliation”.
Vietnam jails Catholic blogger
A Vietnamese court has sentenced a Catholic blogger to 10 years in prison for “propaganda” against the communist government.
Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, 37, also known as “Mother Mushroom”, was accused of “criticising and deforming the Communist Party’s policies”.
Mrs Quynh said in court: “Every person has only one life. If I had to replay mine, I would still have done the same thing. I believe my mother and children will never feel sorry for me but be proud.”
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