The Common of Virgins

The Common of Virgins is a part of the Roman Catholic lectionary used for celebrating the feast days of women saints who lived lives of consecrated virginity. These women gave themselves wholly to Christ, choosing a life of chastity and devotion. While some saints have unique readings for their feast days, many do not. In these cases, the Church provides a set of readings to be used from the Common of Virgins.

This Common highlights themes of love, purity, and spiritual union with Christ. The readings often draw from Scripture that portrays God as a loving spouse and the Church—or the individual soul—as His bride. These passages help the faithful reflect on the deep spiritual meaning of virginity, not just as the absence of marriage, but as a sign of complete dedication to the Lord.

The chosen texts come from both the Old and New Testaments and vary slightly depending on the liturgical season. Each reading invites the Church to remember the witness of these holy women, whose lives reflect the beauty of spiritual simplicity, fidelity, and hope in eternal life. They are reminders that the Christian life is ultimately about love—love given and received in freedom.

By using the Common of Virgins, the Church honors a long tradition of female saints who chose a life set apart for God. Their example continues to inspire many, not only those in religious life but all who seek to live with undivided hearts for Christ. Through Scripture, the Church lifts up their testimony and encourages the faithful to find joy in spiritual intimacy with Jesus.

These are the choices for the first reading at Mass when we celebrate a virgin saint. The readings speak about love, commitment, and God’s closeness to His people. They show how God invites us to be with Him in a deep and lasting way. Some readings are used during the Easter season, and others are used outside of it.

• When it is not the Easter season:
  • Song of Songs 8:6-7: Love is described as powerful and enduring, impossible to extinguish even by the greatest waters. It’s so valuable that wealth cannot buy it; such an attempt would be scorned.
  • Hosea 2:16b, 17b, 21-22: God promises to lead Israel into a place of solitude, speaking tenderly to her, evoking the devotion of her youth. He commits to an eternal relationship based on righteousness, justice, love, compassion, and faithfulness, deepening her knowledge of Him.
• During the Easter season:
  • Revelation 19:1, 5-9a: John describes a celestial celebration with shouts of “Hallelujah” praising God’s salvation, power, and reign. The scene shifts to the Lamb’s marriage, symbolizing unity and purity, and concludes with a blessing for those invited to this divine feast.
  • Revelation 21:1-5a: John describes the revelation of a new heaven and earth, and the descent of the New Jerusalem, symbolizing God’s eternal dwelling with humanity. God promises to end sorrow and pain, offering renewal and eternal life to the faithful.

Each of these readings helps us understand what it means to belong to God. They remind us that God loves us and wants a close and faithful relationship with us. When we hear these words, we remember the love and devotion of the virgin saints who gave their lives to Jesus.

These are the psalms that can be sung or read after the first reading on the feast of a virgin saint. The psalms help us pray and praise God. They show joy, love, and faith in God. They remind us of the beauty of giving our lives to Him.

• Psalm 45: Heeding the call to leave her past, the bride is adorned for the king, her beauty and loyalty captivating him. Joyfully entering the palace, she paves the way for a legacy of leadership.
• Psalm 148: From the heavens to the earth, all creation—angels, leaders, and people of every age—unites in praising the Lord’s majestic name. His glory and strength inspire a song of honor among His faithful.

These psalms help us think about the joy of being close to God. They show how the whole world praises Him. They also help us see the virgin saints as joyful brides, full of love for the Lord.

These readings are used as the second reading at Mass for virgin saints. They are taken from Saint Paul’s letters. Paul talks about living for the Lord with a full heart. He speaks about the gift of being single and how it helps a person stay focused on God.

• 1 Corinthians 7:25-35: Paul offers counsel on marriage and singleness, not as a command from the Lord but as advice. He suggests that given the present challenges, one should stay in their current state, whether married or single, to avoid added hardships. Emphasizing the fleeting nature of the world, Paul encourages undistracted devotion to the Lord, highlighting how marital status can influence one’s focus and concerns.
• 2 Corinthians 10:17-11:2: Paul encourages believers to find their pride in the Lord, not in self-commendation. Expressing a divine jealousy, he aims to present them as pure to Christ, seeking their indulgence in his protective concern.

These readings help us understand why many saints chose not to marry. They wanted to give all their love and time to Jesus. Paul reminds us that loving God with our whole heart is a good and holy path.

These Gospel readings are used at Mass when we honor a virgin saint. In each one, Jesus teaches something important about love, faith, and being close to Him. These stories help us see what it means to follow Jesus with a heart that is free and full of trust.

• Matthew 19:3-12: Jesus addressed the Pharisees’ query about divorce by emphasizing the sacredness of marriage as intended from creation, underscoring the inseparable union between husband and wife established by God. He clarified Moses’ allowance for divorce as a concession to human stubbornness, not the original intent. Jesus further highlighted the gravity of divorce and remarriage as adultery, except in cases of sexual immorality, and acknowledged celibacy as a valid, though not universal, calling for those committed to heavenly pursuits.
• Matthew 25:1-13: Jesus likened the Kingdom of heaven to ten virgins awaiting a bridegroom; half were wise, bringing extra oil, while the others were not. The bridegroom’s delay led to all sleeping; upon his arrival, only the prepared entered the feast. The unprepared were unrecognized, emphasizing vigilance for we know not the time of coming.
• Luke 10:38-42: In a village, Martha hosted Jesus but became frustrated as her sister Mary listened to him, neglecting to help. Jesus told Martha that while she worried about many things, Mary chose the essential part by focusing on his words, a choice that would not be denied to her.

These readings show that living for God is a special calling. Some are called to marriage, and some to a life of celibacy. All are called to stay ready, to listen to Jesus, and to give Him first place in their hearts. The virgin saints did this, and we are called to do the same in our own way.

More About the Lectionary

The Bible and the Lectionary are both made up of Scripture, but they are used in different ways. The Bible contains all the books of the Old and New Testaments. It can be read in any order for prayer, study, or reflection. The Lectionary is a selection of Bible readings that are arranged for Mass. It follows a schedule based on the Church’s calendar. Each Mass has a set of readings with a lectionary number. This helps Catholics hear important parts of the Bible throughout the year.

The Lectionary is divided into readings for Sundays, weekdays, and feast days. It follows a three-year cycle for Sundays and a two-year cycle for weekdays. The readings match the Church seasons like Advent, Lent, and Easter. The Lectionary uses Bible translations approved for Mass. One special group of readings is the Common of Virgins. These readings are used for feast days of women saints who lived lives of virginity and devotion to Christ.

What is the Common of Virgins?

The Common of Virgins is a set of Bible readings used at Mass for female saints who lived lives of virginity and devotion to Christ. These women chose to remain unmarried to give their whole hearts to God.

When is the Common of Virgins used?

It is used on the feast days of virgin saints who do not have their own special readings. The priest selects readings from this Common for the Mass.

What kind of readings are in the Common of Virgins?

The readings focus on themes like love for Christ, purity, faithfulness, and spiritual union with God. They help us reflect on the lives of these saints and their closeness to Jesus.

Where do these readings come from?

The readings are taken from the Bible and are part of the Roman Catholic Lectionary. Each reading has a lectionary number, which helps find and organize them.

Why does the Church honor virgin saints?

The Church honors them because they gave everything to Christ. Their lives are signs of deep love, trust, and commitment to God.

The Common of Virgins reminds us of the beauty of a life given fully to Jesus. These readings are not only for religious sisters or consecrated women. They help all of us think about how we give our lives to God in love and service.

Each reading in the Common of Virgins speaks of love, faith, and loyalty to Christ. The lives of the virgin saints show us that holiness can be lived with courage and joy. Their choice to remain close to Jesus was a gift to the Church and a witness to the world.

This part of the lectionary is more than a group of readings. It is a path to grow in faith. It helps us stay rooted in the life of the Church. It also teaches us how to listen to God with a quiet and faithful heart.

When we hear these readings at Mass, we are reminded that God calls each of us to love Him deeply. The virgin saints answered that call. Their example invites us to do the same in our own lives, no matter our state in life.

If you haven’t looked at the Common of Virgins before, now is a good time to start. You can find the readings and reflect on them at home. They are simple but full of meaning. Try reading one passage each day and think about what it tells you about living for Jesus.

Have you ever been moved by one of these readings at Mass? Have you learned something from the life of a virgin saint? We’d love to hear from you. Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. Let’s learn from one another and grow in faith together.