private vows
Unwitnessed solemn pledges
Private vows are solemn promises made to God without the formal recognition of a religious institution.
Unlike public vows taken by members of religious orders, private vows are personal commitments—often involving chastity, poverty, or obedience—made individually and witnessed only by God or a spiritual director.
She took private vows of celibacy after her husband died.
The practice allows lay Catholics and others to embrace a religious discipline without entering a monastery or convent.
- sacredWorthy of reverence
- holy ordersSacrament conferring clergy status
- solemnSerious and dignified
- oathFormal binding promise
- wedding dayDay of marriage
promise · commitment · secret · sworn secrecy · whispered · devotion · celibacy · chastity · poverty · obedience · monastery · cloister · inner sanctum · religious · religious life · personal · binding · covenant
private vowschurch wedding
Marriage ceremony in religious building
wedding reception · civil ceremony · marriage ceremony · white wedding · royal wedding
private vowssolemn vows
Serious formal promises
religious vows · holy matrimony · perpetual vows · monastic vows
private, privately, privateness, privacy, privation, privative, privy, privilege, privileged