Today, on the feast of our father St Aelred, our Sr Rosemarie professed monastic vows for one year.
The community gathered in the Chapter Room for this solemn and joyful event. Sr Rosemarie was called to make her petition: "What do you ask?" She very eloquently included all present to receive or to witness her vows as may be the case. She spoke of her love for St Aelred's writings, especially Jesus at the Age of Twelve, and compared the stages he described in the young life of Jesus with her experience in formation. The Novitiate was her Bethlehem (infancy) , the Monasticate will be her Nazareth (beginning at the spiritual age of seven), and at last she hopes to reach adulthood in Solemn Profession (at the spiritual age of twelve).
The profession and signing of the vows written in her own hand.(see above).
The Promise of Obedience made in the hands of the abbess (below).
The change from the white novice's scapular to the black scapular of the professed fastened with a leather belt (below).
We are so happy to see our sister move forward in her spiritual journey with us and take this step deeper into the life of the community and the life with Christ.