'I DO': High school teacher marries Jesus in wedding ceremony

Jessica Hayes becomes a consecrated virgin.

Indiana high school teacher Jessica Hayes has joined an elite group of "consecrated virgins" when she "got married'" to the son of God in downtown Fort Wayne during the weekend.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) -The 38-year-old, who is a theology teacher at Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne, explained she decided to become a consecrated virgin after years of prayer and soul-searching.

"My students asked if they should call me Mrs. Hayes when I come back to school next week, and no, I'm still Ms.," stated Hayes. "But I am married to Jesus."

The consecrated virgins are similar to nuns, in that they live chaste lives. The difference, however, is they do not live in convents and they are not obliged to take on any particular work for the Catholic Church.

Hundreds of people attended the ceremony, most of whom were strangers to Hayes. She explained that people were "interested" and that she was happy with that. The service was not literally a marriage. However, it utilizes some of the symbols of marriage, including a dress, a veil and a ring.

"Now that I've made a public commitment, that's really an encouragement to me to live up to that because people know that this is who I am and my life needs to be lived in conformity with that," she expressed. "So, it's one more step in that direction that others expect this way of life from me and I need to live consistently in my words and actions that love for Jesus.

"I'm so happy to have had so many witnesses (at the wedding) because there may be others that the Lord is calling in this way that have now heard of this life and can consider it in their prayer."

Hayes is now one of only 3,500 consecrated virgins worldwide and the first consecrated virgin at the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese in 25 years.

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