The United Kingdom-based Catholic Herald reported that consecrated virgins have existed since the founding of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis leads the Pallium Mass in front of the new Cardinals for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican on June 29, 2018. The entire tradition of the Church has firmly upheld that a woman must have received the gift of virginity-that is, both material and formal (physical and spiritual)-in order to receive the consecration of virgins," the statement read. "It is shocking to hear from Mother Church that physical virginity may no longer be considered an essential prerequisite for consecration to a life of virginity. The United States Association of Consecrated Virgins ( USACV) strongly disagreed with the Vatican's ruling in an online statement. Instead, it says "they experience the spiritual fertility of an intimate relationship with him and offer the fruits of this relationship to the Church and to the world."
It says that consecrated virgins "are dedicated to the Lord Jesus in virginity," but it does not define virginity as physical virginity. The ruling followed requests by bishops to clarify the prerequisites and role of consecrated virgins. The ruling, Ecclesiae Sponsae Imago, was released on July 4, surprising consecrated virgins who view devotion of their physical virginity to Christ as an indication of their piety. The Vatican issued new instructions earlier this month, dictating that women who dedicate themselves to being "brides of Christ" do not have to be literal virgins.
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