“Mystically Espoused to Christ, the Son of God (c. 604 §1)”: The Basis for Proposing Juridic Principles to Guide the Development of Norms for the Ordo virginum
The 1970 revision of the rite of consecration to a life of virginity roused an ancient practice that had fallen into disuse over the centuries: the consecration of virgins who lived in the world, rather than in the enclosure of a monastery. Canon 604 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law juridically recognizes this restored Ordo virginum as “similar to” (accedit) other forms of consecrated life, defining members of the Ordo as those “who are mystically betrothed to Christ, the Son of God” through their consecration to God by the diocesan bishop. (Canon 604 §1: “Hisce vitae consecratae formis accedit ordo virginum quae, sanctum propositum emittentes Christum pressius sequendi, ab Episcopo dioecesano iuxta probatum ritum liturgicum Deo consecrantur, Christo Dei Filio mystice desponsantur et Ecclesiae servitio dedicantur.”)Drawing from analogous ecclesial law for both marriage and for institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life, and in response to the expansion of the Ordo virginum throughout the world since 1970, this study proposes juridic principles that may be applied in the development of norms to govern the Ordo. Chapter one probes the theological underpinning of mystical espousal to Christ by examining the mystery of virginal nuptial love in the Most Holy Trinity, in the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in God’s bond with created man, revealed in both the Old and New Testaments. Chapters two and three study ecclesial law and liturgy in the development of the Ordo virginum as a stable way of life, from the earliest days of the Church to today. Employing a canon-by-canon analysis, chapter four considers analogous application of marriage law in the 1983 code to the mystical espousal to Christ that characterizes the Ordo virginum, and chapter five follows by considering an analogous application of the law on consecrated life to the Ordo. The study concludes by proposing thirty-four principles to guide the development of norms for the Ordo virginum in the following areas: juridical/theological identity; validity of consecration; governance; admission and formation of candidates; obligations and rights of members; apostolate; and separation of members from the Ordo virginum. The theological-juridical approach of this canonical study contributes to the Church’s appreciation and safeguarding of the vocation of consecrated virginity as “among the most excellent gifts bequeathed by Our Lord to His Bride, the Church.” (Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship, decree Novus consecrationis virginum ritus promulgatur, May 31, 1970: AAS 62 (1970) 650: “Sacram enim virginitatem, donum in primis excelsum, Christus Iesus quasi hereditate Sponsae suae reliquit.”)
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