Ecclesiae Sponsae Imago Instruction on the Ordo virginum

This Instruction establishes the normative principles and guiding criteria that the Pastors of each Diocese and particular Church integrated to the Diocese must apply  in  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Ordo  virginum.  After  outlining  the  biblical foundation  and  the  typical  elements  of  the  vocation  and  testimony  of  the consecrated virgins (First par t), the Instruction deals with the specific configuration of the Ordo virginum within the par ticular Church and the universal Church (Par t Two), and then dwells on vocational discernment and the schedules for formation towards a consecration and ongoing formation (part three).