Michelle Samartino | The Michigan Catholic

DETROIT — Judith Stegman, president of the U.S. Association of Consecrated Virgins, says the vocation was lived by several saints throughout the Church’s history, including St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Maria Goretti, St. Lucy, St. Agnes and St. Agatha.

“These virgins lived courageous lives in defense of their virginity, which they would only offer to Christ alone,” she said. “It sounds odd to the ears of today, I think — this putting of an emphasis on virginity. I think the lives of these virgin saints witness to what the Church describes as the essence of the consecrated virgin, that is, to be a ‘surpassing sign of the Church’s love for Christ and an eschatological image of the world to come and the glory of the heavenly Bride of Christ’ (Rite of Consecration to a Life of Virginity, 1).

“In heaven there will be no giving or taking in marriage (Mt. 22:30), and the consecrated virgin witnesses in her life now to what all will live in eternity,” Stegman said.

The vocation has its own distinctive qualities, said Karen Ervin, who hopes to enter formation as a consecrated virgin. “Because the vocation is so unique and the consecrated virgin is under the care and guidance of the local bishop, it is important for each diocese, and bishop, to develop the formation and protocol for consecrated virgins.

“Consecrated virgins are atypical in the realm of religious vocations for women because they do not live in community or have a ‘mother superior’ who oversees their growth and formation. Instead they live in the world as the spouse of Christ, responsible to their bishop,” she added.

For more information on consecrated virgins, visit www.consecratedvirgins.org, where you can also find information on the book, “An Introduction to the Vocation of Consecrated Virginity.”