ABSTRACT

Young female religious face difficulties in comprehending, feeling, and experiencing the vow of chastity in the digital age.  Changes in social media relationship patterns disrupt the way female religious people perceive their bodies and sexuality, unrestricted access to pornography, permissive culture, and gender redefinition.  As stressed by the Council of Nicaea, holiness is one of the core attributes of the Church. As stressed by the Council of Nicaea, holiness is one of the core attributes of the Church.  The following important questions are brought up by recent sexual scandals inside the Church.  How can we see the Holy Church, particularly in light of women's dignity and the chaste vows taken by religious women in the digital age?

Holiness was confirmed as continuous sanctification by the Second Vatican Council, particularly in Lumen Gentium.  Nonetheless, women are frequently required to take the vow of chastity in the Church tradition.  Instead of seeing women's bodies as a component of the mystery of salvation, we instead see them as a source of temptation. The fact that women are sacred figures in the home and in the religious community has been underlined by Pope Francis on numerous occasions.  Paradoxically, even though a sizable portion of Catholic religious women adhere to the vow of chastity, it is frequently taboo to address sexuality from a female perspective within the Church.  Pope Francis has admitted that there are significant issues with sexual abuse of female clergy in several of our parishes.

With a review of the literature and in-depth interviews with several female religious, this study employs a qualitative methodology.  According to the study's findings, female religious companions need to focus on "credere in Deum," or faith that is based on an active relationship with God. To build a more comprehensive vow of chastity encompassing intellectual, psychological, and communal aspects, female religious formation must recognize and include their distinct spirituality.  In this way, female religious might live the vow of chastity as a liberating calling and serve as a new testament to the holy Church in the digital age.