A month ago, I professed to live my life as a Franciscan Friar.
In the 30 days which have past the music still lofts through my ears, faces of
those present still warm my heart and cards still arrive in mailbox. I’m still
coming down the mountain of this life moment as the reality of life and
ministry takes shape. As this happens, I consider a key moment in the
celebration of Solemn Vows.
One of the key moments of the celebration was the actually
profession of vows. I knelt before our Provincial Pierre (Provincial is the
Friar which is the leader of a certain country or area where Friars live) and
placed my hands into his. There was complete calm in me in this moment. My
heart seemed to beat with this sense of “yes Lord.” I remember looking at
Pierre and being met with his look of joy, affirmation and fraternal support. I
was ready to declare to everyone that I was willing to do this; desiring to
profess my life. As I think back to that moment I feel that if my hands were
not in Pierre’s I may have been hard to hold down – there was this sense of bubbling
up; almost like a desire to dance as I professed to live the rest of my life in
obedience, without anything of my own and in chastity. My hands secure in the
hands of our Province, my Friar brothers, and family and friends at my back
supporting me. I am taken how our Provincial was seated in line below the cross
and all the rest of us had it in our gaze. For me it is a sign of our oneness
in Christ and how Christ enfolds each of us calling us to be brothers and
sisters.
In preparation for Solemn Vows I had prayed the formula for
our vows each day for the last six months and on the 23 of each of
those months I spent extended time in prayer and reflection with certain words
and phrases. In the last few days before vows I read back what I had written in
those months previous and was again in awe of how God was at work in my life. My
heart was declaring again and again “I am ready, I hold God’s light at my core,
this is the dwelling place for God in the good and the bad, in the sorrows and
the joys.”
Each Friar makes their vow to God, to live this life and to
acknowledge that it the Lord who “inspired me to follow more closely the Gospel
and the footprints of Our Lord Jesus Christ.” As each of my Brothers before me,
I too vowed to “give myself to this fraternity with all my heart.” It is the
action of the Holy Spirit which leads me to strive to serve in love not only
God but also the Church and all people. Those are powerful words that I have reflected
on. Giving myself with all my heart binds me to Christ. As Christ washed the
feet of his disciples so I am called to serve – whether that is scrubbing toilets,
leading a retreat, praying with someone one, being a listening ear, clearing
tables, quiet prayer, reading scripture, writing, sitting in a meeting, helping at Mass or putting flowers in a vase.
“My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready” was not just a nice catch phrase for
the programs at Solemn Vows, it truly is a daily prayer which reminds me of the
gift of my vows and the giving of my heart.
In this final reflection on my Solemn Vows I close with my
journal entry from August 26 (3 days later), it seems to summarize well the
gift that was, the gift that is and the gift that will be as I continue on my
journey as Solemnly Professed Franciscan Friar.
God of Life,
My God and My All,
I give you praise and thanks for the gift of these days
surrounding my Solemn Vows. They have been but a taste of your goodness, love,
generosity and richness.
I am so grateful and so filled with awe. Thank you! Thank
you for being present in the fullness of these days and for being the life
breath of these celebrations. I am so grateful for joy in the set up,
rehearsals and final details. I am so grateful for the music (such good music –
thank you choir!!), to be able to greet guests as they arrived, for the vows, the
Eucharist and just being present in it all. I am so grateful for the energy and
excitement at the reception and the stories and laughter at the bonfire, for
the early next morning, breakfast visits, guest visiting the Mount, more visiting,
and fond “see you soons”, and to this moment… pure wonder and awe and your
goodness.
Thank you for calling me to this life – to lie the gospel
and embrace the demands it calls me to.
Thank you for good people – family, friends, friars,
neighbours and so on who have been a gift and who support me and call me to see
life rooted in you.
I give you thanks and praise for my vows and the blessings which
surround these sacred days and bonds.Thank you, my God and My All! Thank you.
I humbly ask for your continued prayers for the Franciscans
in Canada and for myself as we strive to be bearers of the gospel.
God’s richest
blessings of peace and all good for each of you.
St. Francis and St. Clare… pray for us.
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