“To Adhere to the Word with all her Strength…”
Final and Temporary Vows in our Province
“When you shall see a soul leave all things to adhere to the Word with all her strength, live by Him, allow herself to be guided by Him, conceive what she should bring forth by Him; a soul, in short, who can say: for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain, then you can indubitably recognise her for a spouse of the Word.”
– St. Bernard of Clairvaux
In the past few weeks, our Province of the Immaculate Conception has had the joy of witnessing the profession of temporary vows of two sisters in our contemplative house of formation and final vows of one sister who has been a missionary in Iceland for the last several years.
In this article:
1. The Stages of the Profession of Religious Vows
2. A New Spouse of the Word: Final Profession of Vows in Kansas
3. Two Contemplative Sisters Profess First Vows
The Stages of the Profession of Religious Vows
Religious life progresses in stages whereby a religious commits herself to Jesus Christ through vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. After the very initial formation that takes place in the novitiate, a sister begins her life as a Bride of Christ with temporary vows. In this first temporary profession, she promises to live the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience for one year. As she moves through the years of formation, these vows are renewed each year. In our congregation, we add a fourth vow of Marian slavery according to the method of St. Louis de Montfort.
Finally, after about 6 or 7 years of these temporary vows, a sister can be admitted to the profession of perpetual vows; she binds herself to live the chastity, poverty and obedience of religious life forever as a Spouse of Jesus Christ. On this joyous occasion she is admitted permanently to the religious family and is given a ring as a sign of her complete commitment and surrender.
A New Spouse of the Word
On October 1, feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, Sister Mary Delight of the Holy Trinity made her final profession of vows in Topeka, Kansas. Sister Trinity is originally from Kansas, but she is now a missionary in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland.
She promised to live faithfully the vows of chastity, poverty, obedience and Marian slavery forever in a solemn Mass at Mater Dei Parish in Topeka. Fr. Andrew Whiting, IVE presided while Fr. Matt Nagle (pastor) and other local priests concelebrated. Several of our sisters were able to attend the solemn Mass and the celebration in the parish hall that followed.
It was a great grace for her to be able to profess her final vows among her family and friends at home. The spirit of joy among the local parishioners was notable – they were so proud that one of their own had embraced the religious life and was professing her vows in her home town.
Please pray for Sister Trinity and her family!
Two Contemplative Sisters Profess First Vows
Just one week later, on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, two of our contemplative novices, Sister Maria Sacratissimi Cordis Iesu and Sister Mary Blessed Mother, professed their first temporary vows in our monastery in Brooklyn, New York. For the first time, they professed to live the vows of chastity, poverty, obedience and Marian slavery for one year. As a sign of this profession, they exchanged their white veils for blue.
The Mass of First Profession was celebrated at our contemplative house of prayer in New York City. Fr. Andrew Whiting, IVE was the main celebrant of the Mass, along with other concelebrating priests. In attendance were family and friends as well as several sisters of our province. The Mass was followed by a festive celebration in one of the parlors of the monastery.
Please pray for these sisters as they embark on the adventure of following Christ their Bridegroom!
Our Lady of Lujan, pray for us!
