Meaning of the Virgin Church's First experience of her Spouse

I have noted discussions on my reflections from this post  Here  by another blogger on her own blog [which to me seem out of context ] and wish to elaborate on what I've written regarding the Virgin Church's first experience of her Spouse.

The consecrated virgin is called to be a sign of the CHURCH’s virginity  which  keeps the FAITH whole and entire [Ref : Homily in the Rite ].  This vocation  has its origin in the early Christian community when the Church was young. Her faith was a totally new experience of the Paschal mystery and love of Jesus Christ, her treasure.

This  ancient vocation  is called to be  a reminder even today of the Church’s  new and first experience of the Risen Lord – Jesus Christ who loved the  Church and gave Himself for her salvation on the Cross.

SO WHEN I TAKE THE ANALOGY OF A VIRGIN BEING ABLE TO TREASURE HER FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH HER SPOUSE IN A UNIQUE WAY, it implies the following :

1] The ancient ceremony of the consecration of virgins is the theological locus of  the sacrament of marriage which developed several centuries later  [ Read This  ]

2] According to the rite, the virgin is espoused to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The Church teaches that our Lord is truly Human and Divine. The consecration of virgins is also analogous to the Annunciation and Incarnation experienced by the Virgin Mary when the Divine Word was united with her human flesh. An ontological change is said to take place according to some theologians.

3] This can also be understood from a Eucharistic perspective. St Augustine said," Behold who you are, become what you receive ! "

See the previous post   Here

Ephesians 5

31 Scripture says: Because of this a man shall leave his father and mother to be united with his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.

32 This is a very great mystery, and I refer to Christ and the Church.

4] The Church as Bride of Christ was born when Jesus' heart was pierced and blood and water flowed signifying the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. 

For every Christian, the first experience of being an adopted son / daughter of God the Father and Jesus Christ as ‘Spouse’ occurs through Baptism when  immersed in the Paschal mystery and this is said to be consummated at the reception of Eucharist. Adult converts receive Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil [ RCIA], while cradle catholics receive Confirmation and Eucharist at later age.

In the ceremony of the consecration of virgins, the virgin BECOMES an image of the CHURCH as virgin, bride, and mother. Then onward the experience of the Paschal mystery that is the treasure of the virginal Faith of the entire Church, becomes her own treasure. It is an EASTER Church that shares the faith [kerygmatic experience ].

Over the centuries this virginal faith of the Church has experienced many attacks with her own members watering down the Paschal mystery  through moral relativism, religious relativism, or seeing Jesus merely as a Guru or Self-enlightened one, etc.

He  is THE Chris. He died to save the world, to reconcile all humanity with God the Father.

Christians who give in to moral and religious relativism or dilute the faith  living it in a lukewarm manner, do not give witness as those who treasure the Church's first experience of Christ as Spouse on the Cross. They give in to a form of  Idolatry or adultery.

CONSECRATED VIRGINITY IS CALLED TO BE A SIGN OF THE  VIRGINITY OF FAITH THAT TREASURES THE PASCHAL MYSTERY WHICH IS THE FIRST EXPERIENCE OF THE CHURCH WITH  HER SPOUSE JESUS  THE CHRIST !

5 ] The virginity of  Mary, Mother and first disciple of Jesus Christ, became ‘Christian’ virginity only at the Cross. The Incarnation got its fullest meaning only with the Paschal Mystery. 

Similarly, after the consecration as bride of our Lord Jesus Christ,  that happens during the rite of consecration to a life of virginity, the virgin’s first experience of Jesus as Spouse which happened when she received the Sacraments of Initiation, acquires the fullest meaning. The grace of  Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist are deepened.

She is called to SHARE HER TREASURE, to remind  all  the baptized of their spousal relationship with Jesus Christ, of the virginity of Faith, and to   be a mother through evangelisation and the spiritual growth of the Church.

THE PURPOSE OF CONSECRATED VIRGINITY IN THE CHURCH IS TO BE AN EFFECTIVE SIGN THAT ANIMATES AND INSPIRES CHRISTIANS TO TREASURE  BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION, AND EUCHARIST in their own lives, and to treasure the vocation and call to holiness, of every member of the Church.