Like a wedding, but different. Joyful, yet solemn. So simple, and at the same time, extravagant. A first profession of vows.
Last Sunday, three of our sisters knelt at the foot of the altar in St. Adalbert Church in the South Bronx, and placing their hands into the hands of Sister Lucille, our Community Servant, pronounced their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience with clear, steady, and determined voices.
The familiar story of the woman anointing Jesus comes to mind. Saint Mark describes the scene: “A woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil, costly genuine spikenard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it on his head.” Breaking the jar was reckless and perhaps impetuous. Her oil had one purpose and she was holding none of it back for herself. It was courageous and it was criticized. The next line in Mark’s Gospel is “There were some who were indignant. ‘Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil?’”
A consecrated life? No husband, no children, no material things? Young, gifted, beautiful women throwing their lives away. It is not only a few who think this way. And Jesus responds, “Let her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for me.”
Would that more were ready to break the jar and pour their lives out! How can it ever be wrong to strive to imitate our Lord Jesus who allowed Himself to be broken, to be pierced and poured out?
Please pray for our Sisters as they strive to live what they have professed!
Sr. Clare Matthiass, CFR |
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Sr. Catherine receives the black veil, which shows that she is totally given to Christ the Lord and dedicated to the service of His church. |
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(l-r) The joyful faces of our three newly professed Sisters: Sr. Catherine Mary of the Holy Trinity, Sr. Elizabeth Marie of the Child Jesus, and Sr. Mairead Marie of the Good Shepherd. After receiving the black veil, the sisters receive the Crown of Flowers and the Rule of Life (Rule of the Order). |
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Sr. Elizabeth places her hands into those of Sr. Lucille Cutrone, Community Servant, as she professes her first vows. |
Sr. Mairead, who is originally from Ireland, receives the black veil, one of the symbols of profession. |
Fr. Benedict congratulates the newly professed sisters. |
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