tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782046657744472819.post768662798750215605..comments2014-06-24T16:41:03.401-07:00Comments on undoingthefall: Is single life a vocation?Anthem Priesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15061254729640537810noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782046657744472819.post-7794763108297266542010-11-01T15:55:26.373-07:002010-11-01T15:55:26.373-07:00I've been told by older and wiser Catholics th...I've been told by older and wiser Catholics than myself that not everyone is called to marriage. There are many faithful people who are never able to get married and yet are not called to the priesthood or religious life. I don't think most people choose to be single but find that Christ sees them fit to be. As a single 26 year old female, I have pondered and prayed on this topic for the past few years. Is there truth to what I've been told?LT Hortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10057328553496237374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782046657744472819.post-28817851768641979902010-10-31T11:23:12.831-07:002010-10-31T11:23:12.831-07:00In "Vita Consecrata," as he described th...In "Vita Consecrata," as he described the Order of Virgins, John Paul II was describing a particular form of Consecrated Life. The Order of Virgins include those who are consecrated at the hands of the diocesan Bishop according to the Rite of Consecration to a Life of Virginity for a Woman Living in the World. At the moment of her consecration, the virgin is set aside as a sacred person in the Church, imaging in a particular way the nature of the Church herself as Bride of Christ. She is no longer a lay woman - unless one considers as lay those living all of the other forms of consecrated life (monastic, contemplative, apostolic religious, members of secular institutes, diocesan hermits). I write this just in order to point out the distinctive nature of the Order of Virgins as a true form of Consecrated Life. Most of the forms of Consecrated Life are lived as religious (in community and apart from the world), but some forms of Consecrated Life are authentically lived in the world, and /or authentically lived individually under the diocesan Bishop.<br /><br />Intrinsic to the life of the spouse (the Church as Spouse of Christ, the consecrated man or woman, the married man or woman) is the giving of a complete gift of self! Within consecrated virginity, that gift of self is the giving of one's virginity in body, heart, and mind solely to Christ, forever, and the receiving of a consecration of that gift, making it spiritually fruitful in one's life.<br /><br />The two specific vocations of the laity include the married, and the dedicated single person. It is important for our Church to recognize and support the dedicated single person - that person who chooses to remain single, perhaps for the sake of a particularly demanding profession, or for the sake of caring for an infirmed or elderly relative. The dedicated single person has not been called to live a form of Consecrated Life, nor has the person been called to the Ordained Life. It is often a most difficult life to live because the person has not received the particular grace of a consecration or vow in order to live the life. Surely, our Church would support such individuals who generously live the dedicated single life.<br /><br />For more information on various vocations in the Catholic Church, and how they fit together, a person might visit www.vocationtree.com.<br /><br />I hope this is helpful!<br /><br />Judith M. Stegman, consecrated virgin<br />President, United States Association of Consecrated VirginsUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02347646929383061829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782046657744472819.post-38724582201871110782010-10-31T08:48:59.803-07:002010-10-31T08:48:59.803-07:00I really enjoyed this post-Thank you! I've th...I really enjoyed this post-Thank you! I've thought about this quite a bit as I often hear people refer to the vocation of the single life. While I never want those who feel called to being "single" to feel ostracized, I do think you make a wonderful point about making that internal commitment, external. At the heart of every vocation is the gift of self; being "unattached, single" has no authentic gift of self (through vows). I do hope that your explanation can enlighten!Meg @ True, Good and Beautifulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10507070127764766394noreply@blogger.com