Q & A with Father Anthony

Hi Father I'm in my mid 20s and strongly feel called to consecrated virginity. But the priests I've come across seem to discourage me from this vocation and don't seem to know much about it. I don't want to be a nun or join a secular institute, and I really love the theology and history of virgins such as St Agnes dedicating themself to God. All the consecrated ladies I know are really old, and it seems that nowadays people treat it like the fall-back option for those too old to be nuns or have children. What do I do to move this forward? Should I just petition the bishop ?

Also a related question, I love the extra-ordinary form of the mass, and traditional catholicism. Can I request to assist in another diocease that has regular access to these things, or would I need to move into that diocese?

Dear Maggie,

There is a website that I am sure will help you and open doors for you: www.ordovirginum.info The Contacts tab will give you a list of national representatives plus two alternate contacts for those countries not listed. They will give you first-hand information that will be more useful than all I could say. 

I'm also attaching the link to the address Pope Benedict gave to their international congress and pilgrimage to Rome in 2008.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2008/may/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20080515_ordo-virginum_en.html

Be sure of my prayers,