Christianity Commons^™

Jerome On Virginity: An Analysis Of St. Jerome's Position On Consecrated Virginity And Celibacy And Their Relation To Marriage, Daniel Kempin

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

How and why Jerome came to be a champion of this cause is a story in itself, and his own accounts of his personal experience are often emotional and dramatic. Of greater significance, however, is the theological legacy to which Jerome contributed by his strong emphasis on Christian celibacy, particularly consecrated virginity. In this paper I will investigate Jerome's position on Christian celibacy and virginity, including the influences that contributed to his position, in order to identify the theological implications that were a part of his position, and to discuss briefly the exegesis with which he supported his position.