Sisters Today - January 1966 Volume 37 Number 5 - The Virgin: An Ecumenical Figure

Sep 21, 2026

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Sisters Today, January 1966 (Volume 37, Number 5), explores the role of the religious woman within the Church through a featured article, “The Virgin: An Ecumenical Figure,” by Thomas Dubay, S.M. The text contrasts atheistic existentialism’s view of a godless universe with a theistic and ecumenical optimism expressed through consecrated virginity. It argues that consecrated chastity is sustained by faith, functioning as a living sign to both Christian and non-Christian worlds, while also critiquing internal failures to communicate its value.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

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Pages40

Reading Time1 h 41 min

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TO EXPLORE THE ROLE OF THE RELIGIOUS WOMANIN THE CHURCH IN OUR TIME

The Virgin: An Ecumenical Figure

VIRGINITY AND FAITH

SISTERS TODAY JANUARY,1966 THE PIETY OF SISTERS SHOULD BE NONEOTHER THAN THAT OF THE CHURCH SISTERS TODAY # TO EXPLORE THE ROLE OF THE RELIGIOUS WOMANIN THE CHURCH IN OUR TIME JANUARY 1966 VOLUME 37 NUMBER 5 The Virgin:An Ecumenical Figure 151Thomas Dubay,S.M. The Convent and the Liturgy Constitution 156Clifford Howell,S.]. "Blessed are the Peacemakers"168Sister Mary Virginia Micka,C.S.]. Bulletin Board 176 Poem 178 Gwendolyn Brooks Book Reviews 179 NIHIL OBSTAT:Reinold Theisen,O.S.B.,Censor Deputatus IMPRIMATUR:函Peter W.Bartholome,D.D.,Episcopus Sancti Clodoaldi Published monthly by monks of Saint John's Abbey,Collegeville,Minnesota.Editor:Rev.Ronald Roloff,O.S.B.Book Review Editor:Rev.Myron Kasprick,O.S.B.Poetry Editor:Rev.Raymond Roseliep.Cover Design:Fr.CajetanPalluck,O.S.B.Indexed in the Catholic Periodical Index. Address all correspondence except poetry to Sisters Today,Saint John's Abbey,Collegeville,Minnesota,56321.(Checks payable to Sisters Today.)Poetryshould be sent to Rev.Raymond Roseliep,Loras College,Dubuque,Iowa,52003.All manuscripts should be accompanied by self-addressed envelope and postage. 1 year $2.50;2 years $4.00;single copy 25 cents.Sterling area(exceptAustralia):1 year 18s;2 years 29s;single copy 1s 11d.Australia:1 year23s;2 years 37s;single copy 2s3d.Agent for India:Asian Trading Cor-poration,Post Box No.1505,Bombay-1.Printed by Sentinel Publishing Com-pany,413 East St.Germain Street,Saint Cloud,Minnesota.(Do not sendmail to this address.)Second Class postage paid at Saint Cloud,Minnesota. # The Virgin:An Ecumenical Figure THOMAS DUBAY,S.M. To the natural man,atheistic existentialism,if it is anything at all,is an eloquent and biting witness to the terrifying emptiness of agodless and therefore absurd universe.From the vantage point ofa purposeless cosmos the earth is empty and the person's positionin it pitiful.Human pleasures are preceded and followed by pain,friendships are terminated by separation and loss if not by conflictand bitterness,honors are fleeting and voracious.And loomingbehind it all is the always closer spectre of a death,final andblack and frustrating.The universe is icy. Even on the less terrifying level of the theistic but merelynatural man,the universe remains pitiful enough in demandinga plentiful share of wordly pleasure if it is to remain tolerableto the boundless desires of the strangely infinite seeking of man.Position,prestige,pleasure—these the natural man must have inabundance.If one doubts this,let him consult the unexpressedmajor premise of almost all contemporary advertising,advertisingwhich has an adept hand on the pulse of what men really want. Voluntary virginity to the natural man or woman is enigmaticat best,pitiful at worst.It is a negation of the scraps of delightavailable in an essentially hostile world.Human love and affec-tion,freedom of movement and decision,position through propertyand wealth,pleasure in sex and fruitfulness through it—these arethe sole consolations a man or woman can find in a life that mustinevitably be hemmed in by sorrow and terminated by death.Thata blossoming youth should with eyes open choose to decline whatalone makes life bearable is sheer nonsense to the natural manand woman.In this view virginity is a sterile negation—dull,im-personal,introspective,cheerless,loveless.¹It is anything butcommon sense to the common man. If we understand ecumenism as embracing all men,pagan aswell as Christian,a virginal life cheerfully and gladly and fruitfully 1 Incidently,one may not be blamed for wondering to what extentCatholic parental opposition to religious vocations is partially rooted in thisoutlook. embraced for a personal God cannot,once it is understood,fail toimpress us as ecumenical,as shouting to the world a remarkableoptimism irreducible to natural causes.Consecrated virginitycrowns a pole of thought diametrically opposed to that of thebitter,biting and black cosmos of the atheistic exi

FAQs

What does “The Virgin: An Ecumenical Figure” argue about the meaning of virginity?

It presents virginity as an ecumenical sign, expressing an optimism irreducible to natural causes. The article treats consecrated virginity as a living witness to the transcendent beauty of dedicated chastity.

How does the article connect consecrated chastity to faith?

It states that sacred virginity is a supernatural mystery stemming from faith and nourished by faith. Virginity is described as faith penetrated and understood within a framework of faith.

Why does the article say the Church must better communicate the value of virginity?

It claims that priests and religious who fail to love and esteem the traditional teaching cannot convincingly proclaim it. The article emphasizes the need to make the value of virginity known more clearly to the world.

Sep 21, 2026

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