Name:  Marcia

Age:  25

Corpus Christi, TX 

Date you joined the convent: 7/11/2007

Years of virginity: 25

What is your definition of sexual purity?

Sexual purity to me is maintaining a distance from the things that you know could cause you to fall into sexual sin.  It's being aware of your boundaries and abiding by them.

What's your sexual story?  

I was raised in a conservative Christian family that went to super-conservative Christian churches.  Abstinence was pounded into me from about age 12.  So I was pretty paranoid about sex and relationships and have stayed away from both.  As I'm getting older I'm beginning to understand sex and relationships a little bit more.  I'm trying to get over the fear and paranoia (b/c it's just not that healthy) and I'm understanding that neither is inherently evil.  Since I'm pursuing a career in psychology and have already spent a year working in a residential facility for adults with schizophrenia (otherwise known as working with institutionalized males) sex has become a part of my life and will always be a part of my life.  So I'm trying to become comfortable around it, enlarging my boundaries so I won't be so traumatized when I'm put in sexual situations, but still maintaining my limits.  I value my virginity.  I'm also very stubborn, so once I made this decision I was determined to stick to it.  As someone who's trying to change the world I've discovered that the most radical thing you can do is not have sex.  Yes, it feels good, yes, it is a healthy part of marriages, but for me, right now, it's not an issue.  Overall, I don't think our society actually understands sex.  I don't consider all the half-naked women and horny men portrayed in the media images of a healthy sexuality.  They lack depth and sincerity.  Sex should between two people who respect and honor each other, who are open to each other to the extent that they can be comfortable really saying what they want (especially in bed).  People don't understand sex and desire and can really hurt each other without intending to or even realizing it.  Just because someone is having sex does not mean that they have a healthier view of sex than I do.  It's important to me that if I have sex that it's with someone I love and trust and I'm not going to give that up for anyone other than my future husband.  And if I die single and a virgin I still won't regret my decision.  I lived my life according to my values, to what I thought was important, and that's more honorable to me than making sure I have sex before I die.

Why do you want to join the convent?

Because it's a fun way to make a public statement about my commitment to chastity and abstinence.

Email:  [email protected]