THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA “Mystically Espoused to Christ, the Son of God (c. 604 §1)”: The Basis for Proposing Juridic Principles to Guide the Development of Norms for the Ordo virginum A DISSERTATION Submitted to the Faculty of the School of Canon Law Of The Catholic University of America In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree Doctor of Canon Law © Copyright All Rights Reserved By Judith M. Stegman Washington, D.C. 2019 ABSTRACT “Mystically Espoused to Christ, the Son of God (c. 604 §1)”: The Basis for Proposing Juridic Principles to Guide the Development of Norms for the Ordo virginum Judith M. Stegman, JCD Director: Nancy Bauer, OSB, JCD The 1970 revision of the rite of consecration to a life of virginity roused an ancient practice that had fallen into disuse over the centuries: the consecration of virgins who lived in the world, rather than in the enclosure of a monastery. Canon 604 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law juridically recognizes this restored Ordo virginum as “similar to” (accedit) other forms of consecrated life, defining members of the Ordo as those “who are mystically betrothed to Christ, the Son of God” through their consecration to God by the diocesan bishop.1 Drawing from analogous ecclesial law for both marriage and for institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life, and in response to the expansion of the Ordo virginum throughout the world since 1970, this study proposes juridic principles that may be applied in the development of norms to govern the Ordo. Chapter one probes the theological underpinning of mystical espousal to Christ by examining the mystery of virginal nuptial love in the Most Holy Trinity, in the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in God’s bond with created man, revealed in both the Old and New Testaments. Chapters two and three study ecclesial law and liturgy in the development of the Ordo virginum as a stable way of life, from the earliest days of the Church to today. Employing a canon-by-canon analysis, chapter four considers analogous application of marriage law in the 1983 code to the mystical espousal to Christ that characterizes the Ordo virginum, and chapter five follows by considering an analogous application of the law on consecrated life to the Ordo. The study concludes by proposing thirty-four principles to guide the development of norms for the Ordo virginum in the following areas: juridical/theological identity; validity of consecration; governance; admission and formation of candidates; obligations and rights of members; apostolate; and separation of members from the Ordo virginum. The theological-juridical approach of this canonical study contributes to the Church’s appreciation and safeguarding of the vocation of consecrated virginity as “among the most excellent 2 gifts bequeathed by Our Lord to His Bride, the Church.” 1 Canon 604 §1: “Hisce vitae consecratae formis accedit ordo virginum quae, sanctum propositum emittentes Christum pressius sequendi, ab Episcopo dioecesano iuxta probatum ritum liturgicum Deo consecrantur, Christo Dei Filio mystice desponsantur et Ecclesiae servitio dedicantur.” 2 Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship, decree Novus consecrationis virginum ritus promulgatur, May 31, 1970: AAS 62 (1970) 650: “Sacram enim virginitatem, donum in primis excelsum, Christus Iesus quasi hereditate Sponsae suae reliquit.” This dissertation by Judith M. Stegman fulfills the dissertation requirement for the doctoral degree in canon law approved by Nancy Bauer, JCD, as Director, and by Ronny E. Jenkins, JCD, Kurt Martens, JCD, and J. Brian Bransfield, STD, as Readers. ______________________________ Nancy Bauer, OSB, JCD, Director ______________________________ Ronny E. Jenkins, JCD, Reader ______________________________ Kurt Martens, JCD, Reader ______________________________ J. Brian Bransfield, STD, Reader ii To: The Most Holy Virgin Mary of Nazareth, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, Queen of Virgins, whose tender maternal and virginal love is the font of virginal chastity for all generations “All glorious is the king’s daughter, glorious as she enters. Her raiment is threaded with spun gold. In embroidered apparel she is led into the king; Behind her the virgins of her train are brought to you.” (Ps. 45: 13–14) iii Table of Contents ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................... xiii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ……………………………………………………………….. xvi INTRODUCTION ..…………………………………………………………………………….…………. 1 A. The Ordo virginum …….…...……………………………………………………….…… 1 B. Statement of the Objective of this Dissertation …………………...……………….. 6 C. Methodology of this Dissertation …………………………………………………….. 7 D. “Ecclesiae sponsae imago,” Instruction on the Ordo virginum ………………… 11 PART I. MYSTICAL ESPOUSAL TO CHRIST IN THE ORDO VIRGINUM … 13 CHAPTER I. “Mystically Espoused to Christ, the Son of God”: Theological Underpinning of Virginal Espousal to Christ ……………………………………………………...……..… 13 A. The Eternal Wedding Feast: The Nuptial Relationship of God with His People. 14 1. The Nuptial Mystery and the Most Holy Trinity ……………..…...…………..… 14 2. Old Testament Nuptiality: The Covenant of God with His People …….....… 17 3. The Incarnation as a Nuptial Event ……………….…………...…………………... 22 4. Jesus Christ, Bridegroom …………………………..…………………....…………… 22 5. The Church as Bride …….………………………………...……………………….…. 23 6. Eschatological Signs of the Heavenly Marriage Banquet ….………….….. 23 B. Human Marriage as Reflection of the Spousal Bond Between Christ and the Church …………………………………………………………………….. 26 C. The State of Virginity as Reflection of the Spousal Bond Between Christ and the Church …………………………………………………….…………. 29 1. Virginal Mystical Betrothal, Image of the All-Holy God ………..…....… 31 2. Virginal Nuptiality in Mary of Nazareth Before, During, and After the Birth of Christ ……………………….…………..………………………. 34 3. Jesus as Virgin Bridegroom of the Virgin Church ...……..……………... 40 iv 4. Jesus Links Marriage and Lifelong Virginity ………...…………………. 41 5. Consecrated Virginity per se …………………………………………..... 47 D. The Consecrated Virgin Belongs to the Mystery of Christ’s Nuptials with the Church ……………………………………………………………………….. 59 II. Virginal Espousal to Christ as a Stable Way of Life in the Church: Ecclesial Law and Liturgy to 1917 ……………..…………………………………. 61 A. Ecclesial Law Places the Origins of the Ordo virginum in Apostolic Times … 61 1. Introduction: Sources of Ecclesial Law Governing the Ordo virginum ….. 61 2. “Natura et vi” of Consecration to Virginity is Rooted in the Early Church ………………………..…………………………….…………….. 64 B. Early Church to 1917 Code: Ecclesial Law Regarding Virginal Espousal to Christ ………………………………………………………………………….. 66 1. Ecclesial Law in the First Millennium: Consecration of Virgins Bestowed Primarily on Women Living in the World …………...………... 66 a. Virginity Recognized as a Particular State in the Church ……….. 66 b. Sponsae Christi (Brides of Christ) ………………………………. 69 c. Who is the “Ordo virginum”? ……………………………………. 79 d. Admission to the Ordo virginum ………………………………… 81 e. Liturgical Rite of Consecration ………………………………….. 85 f. From Private Homes to Cenobitic Life ……………………..…… 86 2. Ecclesial Law in the Second Millennium to 1917: Consecration of Virgins Primarily Reserved to Nuns ……………………………………… 89 a. Liturgical Rite of Consecration of Virgins (Distinct from Widows): Admission Criteria …………………………………… 89 b. Middle Ages Legislation: Gratian and the Decretalists on the Binding Nature of Vows of Chastity …………………………….. 95 C. Development of Forms of Non-Monastic Religious Life, without Consecration of Virgins …………………………...………………………….. 107 D. 1917 Code of Canon Law: Treatment of Religious Law and the Ordo virginum ……………………………………………………………………... 107 v III. The Ordo virginum: Ecclesial Law and Liturgy 1917 to Today ………………….. 110 A. 1917 to 1970 Revision of Rite of Consecration with Restoration of the Ancient Ordo virginum …………………………………………………...….. 110 1. After WWI: New Requests for Consecration of Women Living in the World …………………………………………………….. 110 2. Explanations for the 1927 Denial …………………………………….… 111 3. The Rite of Consecration: Pre-Conciliar Period to 1970 Revision …….. 115 4. 1970 Revision of the Rite of Consecration …………………………….. 119 a. The First Criterion for Admission to the Consecration of Virgins ………………………………………………………… 122 b. Promulgation of the Revised Rite of Consecration …………….. 125 c. Symbols Used in the Rite Speak of the Virgin's Mystical Espousal ………………………………………………………… 126 B. 1983 Code of Canon Law: Inclusion of Canon 604 …………………………. 128 1. Theological/Juridical Thrust of Canons on Consecrated Life in the 1983 Code (Post Vatican II) ……………………………...……………… 128 2. Code Revision Process ………………………………………………….. 133 3. Virginal Mystical Espousal to Christ: A Good to be Protected in Law …. 134 4. Canon 604: Development and Placement of Canon ……………………. 136 a. Development of Canon 604 ………………………………...….. 136 b. Placement of Canon 604 ……………………………………….. 138 c. Code Revision Principles for Law on Religious: Applicability to the Ordo virginum …………………………….. 143 C. Theological/Juridical Implications of Mystical Espousal to Christ in the Rite of Consecration, Prescribed in Canon 604 …………………………….. 145 1. “Similar to these forms of consecrated life is the order of virgins” ……. 146 2. “who, expressing the holy resolution of following Christ more closely”.. 147 a. Sanctum Propositum of the Virgin ..……………………………. 149 b. Understanding the Concepts: Propositum, Vow, Solemn, Simple …………………………………………………………. 152 c. Effect of the Sanctum Propositum