2006 June, TMD Sr Seraphina’s First Profession
One thing I have asked of the Lord this I seek;
to dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life.
(Psalm 27)
They said unto him: Where do you live?
He said: Come and see.
John 1:38
"If, by divine inspiration, someone comes to us desiring to accept this life, the Abbess is bound to seek the consent of all the sisters... let the words of the Holy Gospel be said to her. Sell what you have and give it to the poor."
Form of Life of St. Clare.
"You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord "
Isaiah 62:3
"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater so the word that goes forth from my mouth does not return to me empty, but does my will and prospers that for which I sent it."
Isaiah 55:10
Sr Maria Seraphina of our Heavenly Father
Simple & Temporary Profession of Religious Vows
Celebrated by Archbishop Ward OFM Cap
6th May 2006
A loving welcome to all of you who have come here today to join us for this happy and blest celebration. We welcome in spirit, those who are not able to be with us today, particularly Sister Seraphina's family, whom we remember with great love.
We especially welcome those of you who, though you share our joy, may not share faith in its fulness. May it be for all of us an occasion of thanksgiving and gladness.
Let us pray,
In the power of your Spirit
you have inspired our little Sister Seraphina
with the resolve to follow Jesus your Son, who has become our way.
Grant that the journey upon which she sets out today
may lead her to the perfect happiness of heaven
where you live Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Amen.
We sit now to listen to the readings.
A reading from the Prophet Hosea.
Hosea. 2:12-23)
"I will betroth you to me for ever; I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness; and you shall know the Lord. And in that day", says the Lord, "I will answer the heavens and they shall answer the earth; and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine and the oil, and they shall answer Jezreel; and I will sow him for myself in the land. I will have pity on Not Pitied, and I will say to Not My People, "You are my people"; and he shall say, "You are my God".
The word of the Lord
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians
Ephesians 1:3-14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us. For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In him, according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will, we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
This is the word of the Lord.
We stand now for the singing of the Alleluia and the proclamation of the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
I called you and chose you,
to bear fruit that will last.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John
John 15:9-17
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. This I command you, to love one another.
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
After the homily, Mother Francesca comes forward. Our sister, who is to profess her vows now witnesses to her free choice to do so.
Mother:
Sister Maria Seraphina of Our Heavenly Father.
Sister:
Lord, you have called me by my name.
Behold, I come to do your holy will.
Mother:
Dear daughter, what do you desire?
Sister:
One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I seek, to dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life.
Mother:
Have you pondered well and really understood what you wish to commit yourself to do?
Sister:
I have, with the grace of God.
Mother:
Have you the courage to trust in God completely, that he will provide for all your needs, especially that he will give you the grace to live out faithfully what you desire to promise to him?
Sister:
I have, with the grace of God.
Dear Mother is now joined by the two witnesses, the Vicaress, with the Vow Card, and the Novice Mistress, with Sister¹s unknotted cord.
Mother:
Be faithful unto death, most dear one,
to what you are about to promise,
and you will be crowned by Christ
with the wreath of eternal life.
Our labour here below is short,
the glory is infinite.
The sisters kneel and the celebrant and congregation stand. As our little Sister professes her vows she makes the four knots that symbolise the vows in the Franciscan cord which she wears round her waist.
Unique amongst religious women, Poor Clare Colettines profess four vows. Alongside the Gospel counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience they also vow enclosure - a commitment made to a life lived in community in adoration of God and intercession for the needs of the Church and the world.
Today, Sister makes these vows for three years, in preparation for subsequently making her life commitment in Solemn Vows.
Sister:
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
All:
Amen.
Sister:
I, little Sister Maria Seraphina of Our Heavenly Father
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 a period of three years
the most Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
by living in obedience,
Sister ties the first knot in cord her cord
without property,
Second knot
and in chastity
Third knot
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.
Fourth knot
Mother:
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.
The community sing while the vow card is signed. The Celebrant then comes forward and blesses the veil of profession.
Celebrant:
Let us pray.
Lord Jesus Christ,
you saw fit to robe yourself in the garment of our mortality.
We ask, of your abundant generosity
that, as you caused our Father Francis and his brothers
to bless veils such as these,
you may, for the sake of your handmaid
who has left the world behind her
so as to live with her sisters
a life restored to innocence and humility,
bless this veil + and make it holy,
that wearing it your handmaid may
be made worthy to meet you
her Bridegroom, who lives and reigns
for ever and ever.
All:
Amen.
Mother:
Receive, handmaid of Christ, the blessed veil
designating your profession,
the sign for ever holy;
that you may have the courage to arrive blissfully
at the heavenly kingdom.
Community:
You are all beautiful, my love.
Love is strong as death.
You are all beautiful, my love.
Set me as a seal upon your heart.
Sr Seraphina:
The Lord has set his seal upon my face
that I may admit no other lover but him.
Mother:
Receive, O Bride of Christ, this crown of flowers,
a symbol of that crown of gold graven with holiness,
that Christ offers you.
If you suffer with him, you shall reign with him.
If you weep with him, you shall rejoice with him,
and the King of heaven will take you to himself
in the celestial bridal chamber
where he is enthroned in glory among the stars.
Rejoice and be glad,
for you have been offered a throne of light amongst all these.
Community:
Be faithful unto death
and I will give you the crown of life.
Sr Seraphina:
I am betrothed to him whom the angels serve,
whose beauty the sun and moon adore.
He has adorned me with the bridal crown.
Mother:
Receive this candle,
which is a symbol of your baptism.
Let it be the sign of a life completely consumed by the love of Christ Jesus,
that, hidden, radiates his light to the world
until that day when the Bridegroom comes
to call you to the wedding feast of heaven.
Sr Seraphina:
Behold, O Lord, I come.
Dear Mother now leads Sister to the Celebrant and then to the community so that they may exchange a sign of peace, and the celebration of Mass follows.
May the Father in his mercy,
and the Son by his Passion
and the Holy Spirit,
the fountain of peace and sweetness and love.
come down upon you
and remain with you always.
Amen.
Blessing of St Colette