As St. Catherine of Siena says, “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” Following this saintly virgin, University of Dallas Campus Minister Karen Bless took up the torch this past June in her consecration to the Ordo Virginum, or ‘Order of Holy Virgins.’
For those of you who are unfamiliar with this Order, canon 604 in the Code of Canon Law expresses, “The order of virgins. . .expressing the holy resolution of following Christ more closely, are consecrated to God by the diocesan bishop according to the approved liturgical rite, are mystically betrothed to Christ, the Son of God, and are dedicated to the service of the Church.” St. Catherine of Siena, a Third Order Dominican, is high in the ranks of these holy virgins, and is part of a rich tradition of laywomen who, being mystically betrothed to Christ, continue to serve the Church in an ordinary way.
It’s hard to find anyone at UD who has not met or been helped by Bless in some way. “Karen’s great. She’s always there and willing to help me with anything,” said Junior Angela Vu. When asked about Bless’s effect on UD, senior Alice Forget said “She has such a powerful impact on fostering and growing the Catholic community at UD… I’m so grateful to have her here.”
Bless’s presence on campus as a spiritual mentor, prayer warrior and loving friend has spread far beyond the Campus Ministry office on the second floor of SB, where you can go to find reprieve during a hectic day, grab a snack before class, or simply bathe in the sea of smiles and warm greetings that await you.
Her service at the Church of the Incarnation and her experience as a UD alumna were important catalysts in discerning her vocation. Bless said, “Working at UD and getting to know a lot of the Dominican priests and hearing good homilies, seeing good examples of reverent liturgy, good examples of priests living out their celibate life–that was a huge inspiration to me, and helped me really,] find this path.”
It is fitting that Bless was received into this holy order at the Church of the Incarnation, where she has served faithfully for years.
“It was just a very human moment to feel the coldness and hardness of the ground,” Said Bless, recollecting part of the consecration, where the mystical bride-to-be lies prostrate before the altar while the Litany of the Saints is sung.
“And about 10 seconds after I laid down on the ground and put my hands up above my head, my arms fell asleep. And I was just thinking, ‘I really hope I can get up at the end.’” Karen’s remarks make me chuckle even now as I write them. I especially appreciated her humble description of such a momentous spiritual milestone in her already colorful life as a Catholic role model here on campus.
Through her consecration and work as a Campus Minister, Bless hopes not only to spread awareness of the many unique and beautiful forms of Catholic spirituality but also to establish better resources for students who are actively discerning. With this as Bless’s goal, her impact on our UD community’s Catholicity can only continue to grow, and her example of holiness will renew our universal call to set the world aflame. Please keep Karen in your prayers!