Christ calls certain women to live “for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19,12) as consecrated virgins. This has been so ever since the earliest days of the Church, when such women, along with widows, could serve the Lord with a great freedom of heart, body and spirit.

The Consecration of Virgins living in the world has its origins in Apostolic times. From the earliest centuries, the Church recognised the call given to the virgin to offer her virginity to Christ forever, in imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A liturgical rite of consecration to a life of virginity was established so the Church could consecrate the virgin. This rite was restored by the Decree of the Sacred Congregation of Divine Worship on 31st May 1970.