Virgin Chimes are the first chimes rung after twelve o'clock on Christmas-eve; also the first chimes rung on a peal of bells newly consecrated.
Virgin Mary. See Mary.
Virgines Dki orCiiRisxi is a common name forvvns (<\. v.). As early as the 2d century bfidily mortification and a contemplative life were regarded by many persons as indications and means of extraordinary piety. In the age of Cyprian and TertuUian the Sacred \'irf/ins of the Church, or Ciinoiiiccd Virr/iiis, were recognised as a dis- tinct class, and celibacy was extolled as a piece of super- eminent piety. Such superstition made rapid progress, and continues to hold its place in the minds of many to the present time. See Virginity.
Virginiensis Dea. in Kotnan mythology, seems to be identical with the (Grecian Lisozona (girdle-looser). She loosed the girdle of the bride on entering the mar- riage chamber.
Virginity, in an ecclesiastical sense, is the unmar- ried or celibate state, voluntarily accepted as a means of holiness. The pre-eminence of the virgin state is very generally taught by the Christian fathers from the apostoliQ, age. Virginity was from the first a lifelong (irofession; but virgins did not, at first, live in commu- nity, but with parents or relatives. In some cases tViey ::dopted a peculiar dress: but such was not the general usage. The vow was in many instances secretly made, and dill not require ecclesiastical sanction. Early in the od century, however, the Church gave direct sanction to the vow of virginity, and made regulations for the <onduct of those who took the vow. It was during the same century that community life among celibates orig- inated, by the association of tliose under the vow in one liome for prayer and works of charity. Since that time, in the churches which encourage the monastic life, nu- merous orders of celibates have sprung up, and are to- day exercising a considerable influence in the world. See Monasticis.m; Nun; Sisterhoods.
VIR(iINITY. Penetkativk. such an extraordinary (ir perfect gift of chastity, to which some have pretend- ed, that it overpowered those by whom thev have been surrounded, and created in them an insensibility to the jileasures of the ficsh. The Virgin Alary ((). v.), accord- ing to some Komanists. was possessed of this gift, which mode those who beheld her, notwithstanding her beau-
ty, to have no sentiments but such as were consistent with chastity. — Buck.
VIH(;INITY, Perpeti-al, is ascribed to the mother of our Lord by the Eastern or (Jreek Church, which calls her utinapSuvoc, and by the Konian, which calls her Semper Vin/o. In every age of the Church, however, there have been those who have maintained that she only contiinied a virgin till the nativity of Christ. Epi- phanius, and after him Augustine, give such the name t}f AittidicoMdridintfp. Bislio)) Pearson maintains the affirmative on the following very unsatisfactory grounds: Her peculiar eminency and unparalleled privilege; the special honor and reverence due to her son and ever paid by her; the regard of the Holy (ihost that came upon her, and the power of the Highest which over- shadowctl her; and the singular goodness and iiicty of Joseph, her husband. By an accommodation of Ezek. xliv, 2, he and manj' others are inclined to supiiort the same side of the question. With respect to Matt. i. 25, where it is said "Joseph knew her not until she had brought forth her first-born son," it has generallv been considered equivocal; but Campbell, Whitby, IJlddm- field, and other critics regard the phrase as favoring the contrary opinion, that she did not contimie a virgin. See, especially, Whitby's Note, and we may well acqui- esce in the sentiment of Basil there quoted: "What she was afterwards (after the birth of our Saviour) let us leave undiscussed, as being of small concern to the mys- tery."— Buck. See the monographs cited by Volbeding, Index Prorjrammatum, p. 118. See I'erpetual Vir- ginity OF jMary.
VIIUilNITY, Tokens of (C^lpiirs, hethulim, masc. plur. of nb^ira, a viryin; Sept. ra irap&iviia; Vulg. siff7ia virginitatis ; Deut. xxii, 14, 15, 17, 20; elsewhere " virginity" simply ). The Mosaic laws concerning "virginity" are recorded in Deut. xxii, 13-29; comp. Matt, i, 18-20. The proofs of maidenhood there referred to are thought to have been the bedclothing stained with blood on the wedding-night. See Marriage.
Virginius, Andreas, a Lutheran theologian of Germany, was born Nov. '.', loUfi, in Pomerania. He studied at Kostock and (ireil'swalde, and died as bishop of Esthonia and president of the lleval Consistory, Dec. 20. 1GG4. He wrote, Disput. Johanititicce de Pi'cecipitiis lieligionis Christ. Capitih.: — De Deo in Essentia Una et in Personis Trino, ex Deuteron. vi. 4; Psa. xxxiii, 6 ; Matt, xxviii, 19; e^ 2 Corinth, xiii, 13, etc. See Witte, Mtmo- rice Theologorum. ; Kollii Bihliotheca Nohilium Thcolo- goi'uiii; Jcichcr, Al/ge?n. Gekhiien-Lexiko7i, s. v. (B. P.)
Virgins, Giant, The, in Norse mythology, was a name given to the daughters of each Jot, but specifical- ly applied to the nine daughters of the giant Ceirrod, named respectively Gial]), Creip, Elgia, Angela, Aiiergi- afa, Ulfrun, Sindur, Atla, and Jarnaxa. Once, while sleeping beside the sea, they were visited by Odin; and, in consequence, the entire nine became mothers of the single son Heimdal. — Volliner, Wurterb. d. Mythol. s. v.
Virgins of Love is a benevolent society of the Ro- man Catholic Cluirch, founded by a noble Erench lady, Louise de Marillac le (iras,and approved by Clement IX in IGGO. They are under the counsel and patronage of the Priests of the Missions, and it is their duty to minis- ter to the indigent in sickness. They are also called J)avghtc7-s of Charity, See Gobillon, Vie de Madame le Gras (Paris, 1676) ; Mosheim. llist. of the Church, bk. iv, cent, xvii, § ii, pt. i, ch. i.