When I
reflect on issues faced by consecrated virgins which need canonical
protection, I feel that canon law has not yet clearly indicated which
canons can be applied to safeguard the rights and duties of consecrated
virgins.
When canon 604
was formulated, it was open-ended, to allow the ancient vocation to develop in
today’s Church and world, to allow the Holy Spirit and the lives of consecrated
virgins to indicate what identity and mission it will take in the near future. I
think it is time that canon-lawyers and consecrated virgins should
get together to discuss these issues.
e.g.[ Q
.1].
a. Does the OrdoVirginum or Order of Consecrated
Virgins consist of all women who have received the consecration to a life of
virginity, whether they live in a monastery with the spirituality of its founder[s] or
remain in the world ?
b. Or is the OrdoVirginum
strictly of women consecrated as per canon 604 and linked to the diocese, with
or without an association, with a clearly defined vocational identity and
mission [I don't mean same works] at the diocesan level or perhaps universal level ?
c. Or is the OrdoVirginum in general
inclusive of all women who have received the particular consecration
through the same liturgical ceremony -whether they belong to / are legally
linked to the Diocese or a Secular institute or Lay association or Third Order
of religious institutes, or leading a Single life or a Solitary life like a
hermit or a Quasi-religious or New
community discerning its identity or those who ask for transfer from religious
vows to individual status ?
Are the vocations according to canon 604 and the liturgical Rite in the Roman Pontifical,
identified with each other? Is canon 604 speaking about a
definite vocation with a strict diocesan identity and mission, with the
possibility of further canons being introduced, whereas the liturgical Rite is a ceremony or formula that is being mis-used for women who wish to
lead a different vocation as Secular Institute, Single Life, Solitary Life,
Quasi-religious or New communities, Third orders or Transfer from communitarian religious vows to individual status, etc. without belonging to the
OrdoVirginum ?
AS WE HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSING ON VARIOUS BLOGS OF CONSECRATED VIRGINS, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF
CONFUSION ABOUT THIS. HENCE IT IS MY EARNEST REQUEST TO CANON LAWYERS,
AUTHORITIES, AND CONSECRATED VIRGINS, TO DISCUSS THESE POINTS.
[Q .2]
I’m
wondering whether the Ordo Virginum is a public juridical person, both
at the universal level and at the diocesan level.
Canon
113 #1 The catholic Church and the Apostolic See have the status of a
moral person by divine disposition.
2# In the
Church , besides physical persons, there are also juridical persons, that is,
in canon law subjects of obligations and rights which accord with their nature. see other canons
In the Early
Church, it was a definite socio-liturgical category in the Christian community. If it is a public juridical person, then does this indicate a strong sense of
belonging every consecrated virgin can have in the OrdoVirginum [which
I’m sure consecrated virgins desperately need ]? This would link consecrated
virgins to each other in a special way .
Every
consecrated virgin is identified with the local and universal church which by
Divine Institution is a group/community. Hence the OrdoVirginum
should have the status of a juridical person and
seeing Jesus’ purpose for the Church, the OrdoVirginum should have the
status of a community even if consecrated virgins may not live together
. see
more
 |
| Christ among doctors of the law |
My very brief canonical opinion on the questions:
ReplyDeleteQ.1 a) Any female virgin (whether nun, sister, member of secular institute, virgin in the world, hermit, etc.) who has received the consecration from the competent ecclesiastical authority to a life of virginity belongs to the Ordo Virginum.
b) No. See above. Plus, virgins living in the world have a clearly defined mission and identity (see Rite itself, particularly the Praenotanda, homily, and most importantly, the consecration prayer itself).
c) Yes if by "same ceremony" you mean both forms of the Rite in the Pontifical (one for religious and the other for women in the world).
The Liturgical Rite, is divided into two forms. One for vowed religious and the others for those living in the world. Canon 604 refers to those who have received the form for those living in the world - or who have received it as a religious but have left their community through the dispensation of vows. The Rite can be misused in the sense that it is used only as a "stepping stone" to a communal form of life. The Vatican has already said that the consecration may be conferred on members of secular institutes, etc.
Q. 2. No. The Ordo Virginum is not a public juridical person, no more than the Order of Priests or the Order of Deacons are public juridical persons. I would hope that the married Deacons, who belong to the Order of Deacons do not all of a sudden find themselves in a community even if they might not live together!