TOLEDOBy Jennifer Sokol

For Renee Fox, the journey to her new vocation began three years ago following the death of her parents and grandparents, for whom she was the caregiver.

While speaking with her spiritual director at St. Frances Cabrini parish in Lakewood, he showed her a video about the consecrated virgin life. Afterward, Fox began praying and thinking about it. “But I kind of dragged my feet,” she said, “wondering what I should do. Then one day I just knew.”

Although she considered entering a religious community, “I had this desire to bring Jesus to the world as a layperson in the world,” Fox said. “So that’s what attracted me.”

On Aug. 22, Fox pledged her life to God as a consecrated virgin “living in the world” during a special Mass at her parish, St. Francis Xavier Mission in Toledo. Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo performed the solemn blessing of consecration. Father Tim Ilgen, pastor of St. Francis, was among the priests presiding.

“In this day and age of permissiveness in our society, it is good to have someone be a witness to purity and the steadfastness in her religious beliefs and values,” Father Ilgen said in an email.

Although not well-known, the vocation of consecrated virgin dates from apostolic times, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Consecrated virgins, it explains, “are betrothed mystically to Christ, the Son of God, and are dedicated to the service of the church. A consecrated virgin lives in the world “in prayer, penance, service of her brethren, and apostolic activity, according to the state of life and spiritual gifts given to her.”

That means Fox will continue her medical career and provide for her own living needs, but will pray the Liturgy of Hours, attend daily Mass as often as possible, and perform works of charity and service. She will pray for the archdiocese, her parish and the whole church, especially priests.

Two other women in the Seattle archdiocese are living as consecrated virgins and two others are discerning the call, according to Sister Joyce Cox, a member of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the archdiocese’s director for religious communities.

Dedicating her life to God on the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fox said she was inspired by the example of the Holy Family. “Mary’s love for God was so pure-hearted,” she said. “I ask St. Joseph to protect me as he protected the Blessed Virgin.”

Learn more about the vocation of consecrated virgin at www.usccb.org or www.consecratedvirgins.org.

September 3, 2013