Pope says consecrated virgins are signs of God’s tender love
(May 15, 2008) Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday met some 500 consecrated virgins in
the Vatican and urged them to go beyond their appearances, welcoming the mystery of
the tenderness of the love of God in them and regarding one another as sisters despite
their diversity. He was talking to participants in the International Congress-Pilgrimage
for Consecrated Virgins in the Catholic Church, which is in session in Rome from May
14 to 20, on the theme, “Consecrated Virginity lived in the World: A Gift for the
Church and in the Church." Consecrated virgins are lay women who belong to the Order
of Virgins, one of the oldest forms of consecration in the Church. Unlike the religious
men and women who live in communities, women belonging to the Order of Virgins make
a promise of perpetual virginity, prayer and service to the church while living independently
in families and are at the service of their parishes and dioceses. Pope Benedict
told the consecrated virgins that their life does not have any specific features of
religious life, especially with regard to obedience, but for the Pope it is a total
gift to Christ… “To be with Christ requires interiority,” the Pope said, but at
the same time is open to others. “Herein,” he said, “lies your mission, where an
essential rule of life outlines the commitment which each one of you assume in agreement
with your bishop, both spiritually as well as in the way of living it.” Pope Benedict
whished that their life always radiate the dignity of the spouse of Christ and express
the newness of Christian life and the serene expectation of future life. He said
that the choice of the life of a virgin is a reminder to the world of the transitory
nature of earthly life and a foretaste of the future good.