Consecrated Virginity from an Inter-generational Perspective

Growth-stages, Shades of Charism, or Generation gap between consecrated virgins ?!

The Order of Virgins is both  ancient and new,since its charism originated on the cross of Jesus Christ, went through several challenges, and was revived after the Second Vatican Council.

Since then,thousands of women around the world have received the special consecration. There are three categories of consecrated virgins- 

1. those who were born before the Second Vatican Council which was held from 1962-1965  and have seen life before and after it,
2. those who were born after the Council  between1965-1977 or the Generation X and have not personally experienced the church before it, and
3. the Millennial generation of those born approx. between 1977-1998. 

It is interesting to note the differences between these generations to see how this can help us understand the Order of Virgins  and each other better,and be able to respect  different approaches to the vocation and discern in which direction it should journey.

Each generation has different list of motivations for seeking the consecration of virgins. Most consecrated virgins born before the Second Vatican Council  are ex-religious who asked for the consecration  due to the need of a ceremony or rite so that they could continue with their commitment on their own, without rigid regimentation of religious life which had left a wound on their lives. They could not join secular institutes for various reasons. Some of these ex-religious were drawn towards solitude or individual and independent life-style  as a ‘reaction’ to their negative experiences with religious life.  They have definitely influenced the way consecrated virginity is being lived and understood in the  church today.

The charism, identity and mission of the Ordo Virginum as it originated on the Cross and during the first four centuries of  Christianity,was not revived with the revival of the Rite of consecration to a life of virginity as per canon 604  #1 and #2. Even after receiving this consecration, most of these ex-religious  continued to live the spirituality of the institutes they had left. Some followed the spirituality of  Solitaries / Hermits, Single Lay women or Secular Institutes under the veil of consecrated virginity.

The Post-Vatican II and the Millennial generations are not much influenced by religious life. They tend to see the charism of the Ordo Virginum from the perspective of Early Church. They are not drawn towards an individualistic interpretation of the vocation but see it as communitarian, where the community is the diocese / parish  and also the possibility of several consecrated virgins supporting each other concretely or  living together in association,  as it was with consecrated virgins in the Early Church, who lived together in households, without the regimentation of a religious community. [not the charisms but the lifestyle of movements like the Focolarini, the Teresian Association, etc. ]

An area of concern is the emphasis by some bishops' conferences and even associations of consecrated virgins, on the spousal dimension of the vocation, to the extent that dedication to the service of the Church is suppressed, to mean service only in the form of prayer. This could be because most of the consecrated virgins are of the pre-Vatican II generation and cannot commit themselves to active service in the Church.

Psychological theories mention that healthy development of sexuality  leads to intimacy and solidarity in the age group 18 to 35 yrs  while an unhealthy outcome is isolation. Also, in the age group 35 to 55 a healthy ego development focuses on generativity or care for others. Unhealthy development leads to self absorption and stagnation. There is no understanding of these factors in the living out of celibacy. To expect a celibate to lead a Single life in isolation without community and spend most of her energies focused on prayer, is the antithesis of Christian and  human vocation to relate and to love. 

YOUNG CONSECRATED VIRGINS NEED THE SOLIDARITY OF AN ASSOCIATION THAT IS CONCRETELY SUPPORTIVE AND FORMATIVE  AND ALSO NEED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SERVICES. OLDER CONSECRATED VIRGINS CAN CHOOSE TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT BUT WOULD STILL NEED TO EXPRESS THEIR MATERNAL INSTINCT THROUGH CONCRETELY EXPRESSED  CARE FOR OTHERS. 

It may be justified for contemplative religious who live in community to focus only on  prayer. But the same can be detrimental to the health of a consecrated virgin if she lives alone. A balance of prayer and work, spousal  spirituality and service of the Church is the ideal.

For young consecrated virgins it is psychologically important to have a strong point of reference or some sense of accountability to a person of authority, e.g., the diocesan bishop or a senior consecrated virgin who acts as a mentor or the co ordinator of an association of consecrated virgins [Similar to some sort of support which young couples need in the beginning of married life]. They should not be left to fend for themselves or left high and dry after the consecration ceremony.  A young consecrated virgin needs the tenderness, understanding, and support from seasoned  women in the same vocation if the Ordo Virginum is to survive and grow.

Perhaps there is need of some universal level formative institute that can offer in-depth preparatory and on-going formation and assistance to consecrated virgins and associations, also keeping in mind their cultures, inculturation etc.