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Question
If a woman wants to convert to catholicism and is denied baptism, take a personal vow of perpetual virginity, can this vow make her a bride of Christ? I mean does the lack of baptism make her vow useless?
Thank you Father!
Hi, Farnaz:
Thanks for the question.
A personal vow perpetual virginity cannot make her a bride of Christ; but this is not because the person is worthless or useless.
It is about the realities of the working of God's Grace through Christ, and the saving relationship one has in God the Father's Plan in Christ. Catholic teaching states that the vows (evangelical vows) are intensifications of the Baptismal promises, common to all Christian people. Obviously an unbaptized person is not intensifying a baptism that she does not have; nevertheless, there are probably numerous reasons for which one could take such a vow, though such a vow would certainly not be common.
Vowed virginity existed among the Hebrew People, from what I understand, where certain ones in the household of the King who were among multiple wives or concubines did not have their ratified marriages "consummated" physically. In a certain sense they were "sealed" to the household of the King as chaste virginal spouses. But even this, in Catholic understanding, only made sense because they were foreshadowing the relationship of the Christian to Christ as a chaste Bride; and in the practice of religious nuns who took solemn and perpetual vows, they were signifiying in this world, in a special way, a reflection of the life of the world to come: being bridal members of Christ's household of the Faith, where in the resurrection of the dead, "...they will neither be married, nor given in marriage."
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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