May a Repentant Non-Virgin Join a Religious Order?

In short, because God is rich in mercy and we thank him for it (Eph. 2:4ff.).

Thus, a woman who has committed the sin of fornication and repented may enter a religious order and thus become a consecrated “bride of Christ.” Consider that Mary Magdalene, out of whom Jesus cast seven demons (Mark 16:9), became a saint. If Jesus can forgive and lead a person to cooperate with his grace into becoming a great saint, we shouldn’t second-guess God, remember our own need for his mercy, and realize that all things work together for those who love the Lord (Rom. 8:28).

Similarly, among men, Bartolo Longo, who once served as a Satanic priest, repented and became a ministerial priest in the Dominican order and has been canonized a saint.

And so we thank God for his great mercy.

In addition, married women with children who became widows have subsequently become consecrated religious. They too were obviously not virgins, though for other reasons. Ditto with married men with children who joined religious orders or who became diocesan priests.