Did the Church just marry three women to the same spouse in Detroit cathedral?

Women have become consecrated virgins.

Three women, dressed in gorgeous, white gowns, processed down the aisle at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Detroit on Saturday. Before a packed crowd, they professed their wedding vows and received rings, but this was no ordinary wedding.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- Three women from Detroit have taken wedding vows at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Detroit. What makes their wedding unique is their spouse, who is Jesus Christ. These three women, under Canon Law, are now "mystically betrothed to Christ."

The women are all from Detroit and they all desired a wedding day, but have chosen to remain consecrated virgins for the rest of their lives. This is not a new practice, but an ancient one, although it is rarely seen today in a society that discounts chastity.

Nuns make a similar commitment, but in Saturday's case, the three women are not joining an order but instead will continue to lead secular lives. The women are: Laurie Malashanko of Plymouth, Karen Ervin of Northville, and Theresa Jordan of Dearborn Heights.

The decision to live as a consecrated virgin is not an easy one, nor is it simple. There is a period of formation through which all people seeking to lead such a life must go. It requires study, regular meetings with a qualified spiritual advisor, and a lot of prayer. These are quite the same things that ought to go into any marriage, except most people do not take marriage as seriously as they should.

According to the United States Association of Consecrated Virgins president, Judith Stegman, there are about 250 consecrated virgins in the U.S. and about 4,000 worldwide.

We congratulate these women on their wedding and their commitment to Christ, as well as their continued mission to serve others in the secular world.