The Consecrated Virgins

See also: Virgins, Virginity.

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Canonesses of Mother of God Azille

If one excepts the Virgin Mary, the first consecrated virgin is Annaleah. Her example generates other vocations. The work of Maria Valtorta enumerates five:

• Annaleah, the first of the consecrated virgins
• Marianne and her sister, the daughters of the apostle Philip
• Miryam, the resurrected daughter of Jairus
• Sarah of Jerusalem, a relative of Annaleah

What is a Consecration of Virginity

• GRM 7.4 – The young Mary defines her desire for virginity to her mother:

  «Then I will pray and I shall be a virgin for this.» «But do you know what that means?» «It means that one does not know human love, but only the love of God. It means that one has no other thought but for the Lord. It means to remain children in the flesh and angels in the heart. It means that one has no eyes but to look at God, and ears to listen to Him, and a mouth to praise Him, hands to offer oneself as a victim, feet to follow Him fast, and a heart and a life to be given to Him.»

• GRM 156.5 – The young Annaleah describes her desire for virginity:

  «Which is to live like angels. As Your Mother, my Lord… as You live… as Your John lives… The three lilies, the three white flames, the three beatitudes of the earth, my Lord. Yes. Because I think that it is a beatitude to possess God and God is possessed by the pure. I believe that he who is pure is a Heaven with God in its centre and the angels around… Oh! My Lord! That is what I would like… Little have I heard of what You, Your Mother, the disciple and Isaac have said. Neither have I approached anyone else who could tell me Your words. But I feel as if my soul heard You all the time and You were its Master… [...]»

• GRM 241.3 – Jesus clarifies the role of the consecrated virgins to the apostle Philip:

  «But I wish to know, also to help her, in what her call consists…» «In bringing the lilies of a virginal love into the garden of Christ. There will be so many such virgins in future centuries!… So many!… Scented flowerbeds to counterbalance the sinks of vice. Praying souls counterbalancing blasphemers and atheists. They assist mankind in all its misfortunes and are the joy of God.»

• GRM 370.13 – The Virgin Mary speaks of the consecrated virgins whose vocations she inspires:

  "“It will be the virgins who will support the apostles and will purify the foul world, clothing and scenting it with their purity; they will be the angels singing praises to cover up the blasphemy of the world. And Jesus will be happy, and will grant graces to the world and will have mercy on it, thanks to these lambs spread among wolves…”

History

Notice according to http://vierge.consacree.free.fr/

"In ancient Greek and Roman times, the absolute gift of a woman to God in celibacy is considered abnormal and incomprehensible. There are the Roman Vestal Virgins, but this is a counter-example because they are kept by force in this state until the age of 40. In the Jewish world, a woman must be married and have children, especially boys, to perpetuate the family. It is unthinkable that a woman remains single and, for a married woman, to have no children is considered not only a dishonor but a curse from God. Everything changes with Christ and the Virgin Mary. Jesus remained celibate in an absolute gift to the Father on one hand and to men on the other. His mother, Mary, even before the Annunciation, received a call from God to consecrate herself to him in virginity. That is why, when the angel appears to her and announces that she will give birth to the Savior, she objects: 'How will this be since I am a virgin?' This implies that Mary wishes to remain so since this request was made to her previously by God. Virginity is constitutive of Mary; it is the manifestation of her complete gift to the Lord. Now, from the first Christian generation, as we see in Saint Paul, young girls desire to live this state of virginity. They do so certainly because, at first, they expect the imminent arrival of the Kingdom, but also because the example of Mary's gift encourages them. And thus consecrated virginity is born in the early Church. This is immediately recognized by the Church. It is protected, honored, for example by giving it a place of honor in liturgical ceremonies; treatises are dedicated to it, the best known of which are those of Tertullian and Saint Ambrose. Men, called "continents," soon live the same charism. Their example will later inspire priestly celibacy."

In other works by Maria Valtorta

Notebooks 1943

Catechesis of June 15

"In the lesson on priests I said I would have you reflect on the needs of persons consecrated by special vows, but who are not priests-that is, the virgins enclosed in the monasteries and convents scattered around the world.

In the mind of the founders, these places were to be as many houses in Bethany where I-weary, disgusted, offended, and persecuted-was to find shelter and love. And they were to be-also in the mind of the founders-many summits where, in solitude and prayer, pure souls would continue to pray for the world's inhabitants, who struggle and often do not pray.

Chastity, not just of the flesh, but of thought and of the soul, most lively charity, prayer-indeed, continuous prayer undisturbed by occupations-love for poverty, respect for obedience, exterior silenceto hear the voice of God internally, the vocation to sacrifice, a spirit of true penance-these are the virtues which should pervade the hearts of all the women who have given themselves to Me by special vows.

If it were so, every day there would be a burning of spiritual incense and a lavacre of spiritual aromas which would purify the earth, rising, then, to my throne. And the sad darnel of sin would gradually be destroyed. For whoever prays obtains, and if there were really intense prayer for sinners, their conversion would be obtained."

Gift conferred by divine Grace for the common good.