At a March 25 liturgy on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord celebrating the Blessed Virgin Mary’s “fiat” to become the mother of God, four women at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis gave their “yes” to serve Christ their bridegroom and his Church as consecrated virgins.
For the first time in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, four women in the same ceremony were consecrated for life as virgins in the world by Archbishop Bernard Hebda.
Dressed in white and processing into the Mass with candles reminiscent of the Scripture parable of the bridesmaids carrying lamps and oil, were Rosalynn Graf, 85, of Transfiguration in Oakdale; Lynn Kemmetmueller, Epiphany in Coon Rapids; Pam Schleicher, 54, of St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony; and Jan Terhaar, 75, of St. John Neumann in Eagan.
Attending the ceremony and liturgy were more than 400 family members and friends, as well as consecrated virgins and women preparing for consecration. About 18 priests concelebrated the Mass.
Recalling Our Lady’s response at the Annunciation, Archbishop Hebda said the women were making a total gift of self and will serve others as an image of God’s love.
“The Holy Spirit through baptism has already made each of you a temple of God’s mercy and a child of the Father,” he told the women in his homily. “Today he is anointing you with new grace and consecrated you to God by a new title. He gives each of you the dignity of being a bride of Christ and binds you to the Son of God in a covenant that will last forever.”
Consecrated virgins live out a virginal, spousal relationship with Christ, dedicating themselves to serving the Church in the world. Consecrated virginity dates back to the early Church but fell into disuse for centuries before it was restored in 1970. There are now 14 consecrated virgins serving in the archdiocese.
As part of the consecration rite, the women offered themselves to God at the hands of the archbishop, who consecrated them as sacred persons. He presented each with a veil and ring symbolizing their new, permanent status in the Church.
Calling the rite “beautiful,” Terhaar said before her consecration that she feels called to serve through prayer and wherever God sends her. “I don’t know where opportunities will occur, (only) that I’m available according to God’s will.”
