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

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

  - "Do you know what it means 'to make oneself a virgin?'"
  - "It means not to know love of man, but only of God. It means to have thought only for the Lord. It means to remain child in one's flesh and angel in one's Heart. It means to have eyes only to look at God, ears only to listen to Him, mouth only to praise Him, hands only to offer oneself as host, feet only to follow Him quickly, heart and life only to give them to Him."

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

  "It is living like the Angels. Like your Mother, my Lord... like you live... like your John... The three lilies, the three white flames, the three beatitudes of the earth, Lord. Yes, because I think it is a beatitude to possess God and that God is in possession of the pure. He who is pure is a Heaven with God at the center, and all around Him the Angels... Oh! my Lord! That is what I would want!... I have heard little of you, little from your Mother, and the disciple and Isaac. I have not frequented others who tell me your words, but it seems that my spirit always hears you and that you are a Master for him."

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

  - "What does your Call consist of?"
  - "To bring the lilies consecrated by a virginal love into the garden of Christ. There will be so many in the centuries to come!... So many!... Beds perfumed with incense to counterbalance the nastiness of vices. Souls of prayer to counterbalance the blasphemers and the atheists. Help to all human misfortunes, and joy of God."

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

  "They will be the virgins who will support the Apostles, who will wash the weary world by clothing it and perfuming it with their purity. They will be the Angels who will sing the praises of Angels to cover the blasphemies. And Jesus will be happy about it, and he will give Graces to the world, and he will give his mercies to these lambs scattered among the 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 of Maria Valtorta

The Notebooks of 1943

Catechesis of June 15

"I said I would make you think about the needs of persons consecrated by special vows, but who are not priests, that is, the virgins enclosed in monasteries and convents scattered throughout the world.

In the founders' spirit, these places were to be as many houses of Bethany where, tired, disgusted, offended, persecuted, I would find refuge and love. And, always in their spirit, they were to be summits where, in solitude and gathering, pure souls would continue to pray for the inhabitants of the Earth, who struggle and often do not pray. Chastity, not only of the flesh but of thoughts and soul, very lively charity, prayer, or rather continuous oraison uninterrupted by occupations, love of poverty, respect of obedience, outward silence to hear the voice of God within, vocation to sacrifice, spirit of true penance, these are the Virtues that hearts of all women who have given themselves to me by special vows should be imbued with.

If this were so, each day there would be a burning cloud of spiritual incense and a bath of spiritual aromas that would purify the Earth, then rise up to my throne. And the sad weeds of sin would gradually be destroyed. For he who prays obtains Grace, and if one truly prayed strongly for the sinners, one would obtain their conversion."

Gift conferred by divine Grace for the common good.