Why are some women saints noted as virgins in the Church calendar? Today (April 29) is the feast of “Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church.” I don’t remember seeing male saints designated virgins, though I expect that many of them were, and for clergy and religious, I would suppose it mostly goes without saying (Mother Seton was an obvious exception, because she was married and widowed before she entered religious life). Are saints who remained virgins (particularly women saints) considered to have reached a higher level of sanctity than those who did not, and women more so than men?
This is a good question. If I had to guess, I would say it is because a women’s primary vocation is to be a mother and a man’s primary vocation is to be a provider/protector. When a man becomes a Priest or Bishop, his vocations is still that of provider/protector. And though you could argue that a woman who enters into Religious Life is that of a mother (or sister), is not bringing life into this world. That, and there is something beautiful and pure about a virgin. Men do not want to be seen as beautiful. Men naturally are a bit more rugged (generally speaking). St. Joseph and the Apostles, I view as being a bit more rugged. St. Mark, maybe not so much.