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July 13, 2018On July 11th, the Solemnity of St Benedict, we rejoiced in our Sr Jennifer's profession of simple vows.
The ceremony took place in the Chapter Room, witnessed by the gathered community. Sr Jennifer was invited to make a petition, in which she described her long standing sense of being called by God to intimacy with him. This desire took particular shape at the moment when she heard the verses from the prophet Hosea:
“Behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her…I will betroth you in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to myself in faithfulness; and you shall know the Lord” (Hos 2:14, 19-20). Mother Maureen then gave a talk based on these words of Hosea.
Mother Maureen's Chapter talk here >
The ceremony continued with a period of silent prayer, following which Mother invited Sr Jennifer to profess her vows and make her promise of obedience.
After this we prayed Psalm 39 (40), which includes: "Then I said, 'Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.'” (Ps 39(40):8).
Finally comes the change of attire, with the novice's white scapular and cloth belt exchanged for the black scapular and leather belt of the professed Cistercian.
After Mass and a warm greeting from each sister in the community, we have one more ceremony, in which the newly professed leaves the novitiate, carrying her bible and notebook to her new place in the Scriptorium.
The novitiate presented her with a special staff for her ongoing journey, painted in shocking pink and emblazoned with her verse from Hosea "I will espouse you..." and other ferverinos. They also put up a sign announcing that the Novitiate Shipping Department does not accept returns or give refunds! So, duly shipped out, Sr Jennifer is now one among the professed. Ad multos annos!
More photos here >
