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A new Vatican document angered consecrated virgins by stating that virginity is no longer a prerequisite to becoming a "Bride of Christ".
Document Ecclesiae Sponsae Imago, published by the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecration of the Vatican Life and Societies of Apostolic Life July 4, serves as a new instruction on consecrated virginity. The statement clarifies that while physical virginity and chastity are important aspects of the life of a "bride of Christ", they are not prerequisites that, if they are not satisfied, would completely disqualify a woman to be consecrated as such. (Associate: The bishop of Montana chastises priests for supporting Trump at a rally)
"The call to witness virginal love, The spousal and fruitful of the Church for Christ is not reducible to the symbol of physical integrity. Thus, having kept one's body in perfect continence or having practiced the virtue of chastity in an exemplary manner, while being of great importance as far as discernment is concerned, are not essential conditions in The absence of which admission to consecration is not possible. document reads
The wives of Christ are consecrated virgins who, like nuns, are unmarried and offer their physical virginity as a sign of the total surrender of their person to Christ. Unlike nuns, however, they do not live in convents and work and support their needs. According to the Guardian, there are about 5,000 virgins consecrated in 42 countries, most of them residing in Argentina, France and Italy.
The wives of Christ who led lives of physical virginity blasted the new Vatican instruction. "And" shocking. "
The Association of Consecrated Virgins of the United States declared Ecclesiae Imago Sponsae" deeply disappointing in its rejection of integral virginity as the essential and natural foundation of the vocation. "
" It's shocking to hear Mother's According to the Guardian, physical virginity can no longer be considered an essential prerequisite for consecration to a life of virginity, "adds The Guardian.
The USACV clarifies that some interpret the new teaching as meaning that rape victims are still eligible for consecrated virginity, this has been the case since before the publication of Ecclesiae Imago's Sponsorships. They also stated that if this were the intended message, the document could have dealt directly with this issue. With regard to women who voluntarily lose their virginity, USACV claims that these women can offer as a gift to Christ, but they can not be consecrated virgins.
"When a virgin offers her virginity to Christ, she offers her full virginity – physical and spiritual.A woman who does not have the gift of virginity to offer can offer a total gift of self to Christ, but she does not offer a gift of virginity, "writes the USACV." The gift of her integral virginity to Christ is a gift of the body and mind, and one can not offer to Christ what we do not have to offer. "
Vatican officials did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation's request at the time of publication.
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