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| Spirit of the Garden Butchart Gardens, BC |
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
Mary represents all the fascinating beauty of God’s call to holiness. She is what every Christian is destined by grace to become; she is Virginity Restored.
The early church was clearly fascinated by virginity. Our first Eucharistic Prayer names several of the Roman virgin-martyrs: Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, and Anastasia. The Roman church and the Roman mobs were fascinated by the young women who preferred death to any compromise of their sexual integrity.
The Catholic Church has honored virginity throughout the centuries with its religious institutions for men and women. Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, have embraced chaste celibacy as they dedicated their lives to prayer and service. Priests found celibacy no obstacle as they too embraced a life of service and leadership. They found satisfaction, meaning and purpose in their consecration to God.
But the twentieth century demanded a rethinking of Christian attitudes about sexuality. Recognizing God’s call to holiness for all people, not just the elite, the Church is more willing to honor the sacrament of marriage, with its graces of integrity, courage, affection, patience and persistence – to name a few. Indeed God requires the virtue of chastity of married as well as single, consecrated and baptized alike. If we once regarded celibacy as the more difficult calling, we have come to recognize at least the equality of the two vocations.
But the twentieth century also revealed a deep unease about sexuality in general. Neither single nor married persons, neither straight nor gay, feel altogether comfortable with the mystery. Even as we struggle to honor the equal dignity of men and women, sexual violence threatens to undermine every bond of affection or friendship. Lust takes from others what we cannot find in ourselves.
Until we reclaim a deep appreciation and affection for virginity, (call it chastity or purity) we cannot expect to live peacefully with our sexuality. A Catholic married couple (Joseph and Lois Bird: The Freedom of Sexual Love, 1979) reminded us that those who cannot abide in solitude should not marry. They will find no satisfaction, contentment or peace of mind until they stop trying to wrest it from someone else.
As we celebrate Mary’s title, The Immaculate Conception, we honor her virginity. As Saint Maximilian Kolbe said, "She was the Immaculate Conception because she was the Mother of God; and she was the Mother of God because she was the Immaculate Conception." Her purity in heart, body, mind and soul invited God to live among us.
The Church today prays that we might rediscover the precious gift of chastity for married, single and celibate persons. Approaching Christmas we will find Jerusalem’s Virginity Restored in Bethlehem, lying in a manger, with Jesus.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.