Hermits and Consecrated Virgins, Ancient Vocations in the Contemporary Catholic Church: A Canonical-Pastoral Study of Canons 603 and 604 Individual Forms of Consecrated Life

by Christina Hip-Flores

Dr. Hip-Flores's book on hermits and consecrated virgins first describes the spiritual patrimony of these most ancient forms of consecrated life in the Catholic Church, highlighting the key charismatic elements of each vocation and briefly recounting their historic evolution. Then the book offers an exegetical analysis of the two canons that establish these forms of consecrated life in the Latin Catholic Church, canons 603 and 604 respectively. Finally, the study lists the questions most frequently posed by diocesan pastoral agents and candidates. The author offers practical, canonical responses and sound advice based on her experience working in diocesan ministry and with discerners. The study is grounded in the canonical discipline, but is eminently readable and pastoral in order to serve the needs of vicars and delegates for consecrated life, diocesan chancellors, and pastors. Most especially, the author hopes that this book proves useful to discerners considering these unique and sublime paths to heed the Lord’s call by offering concrete answers to very practical questions.

51 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2018

Reviews

[Fr. Nicholas Blackwell, O. Carm. · Rating 4 out of 5]

quite a helpful book

The author gives a great canonical picture to both the hermit and the consecrated version. She puts forth very practical things that would aid a bishop in helping people in the discernment process for these locations. This would be a great text for every diocese to have. I do see some issues with the notion of physical virginity and the consecrated virgin, because of what the right stipulates and I find a little disagreement with the physical virginity as a fundamental requirement, but other than that I think this was a great text text.

[Maximilian Nightingale]

Not bad, but unfortunately out of date even before it was published. It was published in May 2018, but the Vatican released “Ecclesiae Sponsae Imago” in April 2018, expanding on the Ordo virginum at probably even greater length than this entire book.

I was hoping for more information on can. 603, but there are at least some practical considerations here.

[Mick Maurer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The canonical background of Canons 603 and 604 on Hermits (solitary monastics) who take the vows of poverty, chastity & obedience. And for Consecrated Virgins who only do the promise of chastity & virginity.