2003 2nd August Sr Yolanda’s Solemn Profession
THE SOLEMN PROFESSION
of Sr Marie Yolanda of the Transfiguration
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In praise and thanksgiving we welcome you all to this celebration. May it be an experience of the Lord's nearness and of his gift of love and joy to each one of us.
We welcome those of you who have known Sr Yolanda, but who have not before visited Ty Mam Duw, may you carry away with you a happy awareness of lives lived alongside your own, in praise of God and intercession for the world
We welcome those of you who, though you share our gladness on this day, may not fully share our faith - in the words of St Clare, may the Son of God become your way.
At The beginning of the service Sr Yolanda leaves the Portiuncula shrine chapel of Our Lady and is led by her brother-in-law, Roy, to the Sanctuary gates.
You have put your hand to the plough
and from this day forward there can be no looking back.
Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests
but the Son of Man, your Spouse, had nowhere to lay His head.
Are you prepared to follow Him completely until the end?
I am, with the grace of God.
Sister prostrates before the altar while we pray the Litany of the Franciscan Saints.
......Our Holy Mother St. Clare Pray for us.
Our Holy Mother St. Colette Pray for us.....
Blessed Yolanda Pray for us.....
...grant to your handmaid
the high poverty and humility
of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and His most Holy Mother.
Christ hear us,
Lord Jesus hear our prayer.
You can see who is the proud mother! Sister Yolanda professes her vows, her hands between Dear Mother's hands. Sr Damian (our Vicaress) is to the right.
I, little Sister Marie Yolanda of the Transfiguration
wish to follow the life and poverty of our most high Lord Jesus Christ,
and to persevere to the end.
And I vow to God, before the Blessed Virgin Mary,
and I promise you, dear Mother,
to observe for the whole time of my life
the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by living in obedience, without property and in chastity,
in the form of life which the blessed Francis gave to our Blessed Mother Clare
and Pope Innocent IV confirmed,
after the example of our Holy Mother Colette.
And I vow to observe enclosure.
Mother: I receive these vows on behalf of the Church and the Order.
What you have vowed to God render to Him faithfully
and he shall reward you.
Look up to heaven, dear one, which beckons us on,
and take up your cross and follow Christ
who walks ahead of us.
For whatever tribulations we may have here
we shall enter through Him into His glory.
Sister receives the ring of Solemn Profession.
...Lord of eternal faithfulness
bless this ring
the symbol of your covenant
with your sister and bride, Marie Yolanda.
As a circle has no beginning or end,
so too, your love is endless and complete.
Fashioned in silver,
it is a sign of the poverty you have chosen for your bride.
May she wear it in trust until the day she is united to you in heaven.
Mother: as she places the ring on sister's finger.
I espouse you to Jesus Christ
the Son of the most High Father
who will protect you.
Receive the ring of faith,
the seal of the Holy Spirit,
that you may be called the spouse of Christ.
Love him totally who gave himself totally for your love.
Sister receives the Crown of Thorns symbolic of Christ's suffering and resurrection.
Receive, dearest sister,
the crown which your spouse, the only begotten son of God, offers you,
that you may deserve to share in his passion on earth
and in his glory in heaven.
If you suffer with him you shall reign with him
If you weep with him you shall rejoice with him,
if you die with him on the cross of tribulation
you shall possess a home in heaven
amid the splendour of the saints,
and your name shall be called glorious.
We share our joy in a danced song of meditation.
I will never be the same again,
I can never return, I've closed the door.
I will walk the path, I'll run the race,
and I will never be the same again.
Fall like fire, soak like rain,
flow like mighty waters again and again.
Sweep away the darkness,
burn away the chaff,
and let a flame burn to glorify Your name.
There are higher heights,
there are deeper seas,
whatever You need to do, Lord - do in me.
The glory of God fills my life
and I will never be the same again...
(Geoff Bullock)
At the end of Mass, just before the final blessing Sister Yolanda receives her profession candle. The Celebrant is Father Francis Press Sister's former parish priest in North London.
Receive this lighted candle,
may you be a lofty candlestick of holiness in the house of the Lord
all the days of you life,
and may we, together, one family in love
reflect the fire of love that Christ came to enkindle on earth.
Amen