Sister Mary Michael’s Final Profession of Vows

Last First Saturday, September 7th, anticipating the feast of our Blessed Mother’s Birth, we had the joy of witnessing Sister Mary Michael’s Perpetual Profession! It was a great and joyous celebration, in which we were joined by many family and friends.

Sister Mary Michael of the Incarnate Word reflected on her profession in light of Jesus’ presence among us in the Incarnation, “Perpetual vows are amazing, but it is not easy. Jesus never promised easy. He did promise the hundred fold in this life though. What is easy is to miss the fact that the greatest part of the hundred fold is simply that God became Emmanuel, meaning God-with-us. God is always with us. He is with us in the Eucharist, in the Scriptures, wherever two or three are gathered, just to name a few. And in an extraordinarily profound way that goes beyond words, God is always with me as a perpetually professed member of this religious community.”

Four days before final vows, a friend of mine very matter of factly asked me, “Why are you doing this?” As I lay prostrate on the chapel floor that Saturday, on the eve of the Nativity of Our Lady, I realized my full answer to her is, “Because Jesus is worth it, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

In the nine days leading up to final profession, I prayed for all of your intentions, whether you were here physically or spiritually. And for myself, I prayed that God will continue to increase and I decrease, so that I may one day say, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

Bishop Raica gave a very inspiring homily, and we include a small portion here:

The first reading from the Song of Songs notes the burning ardor of love. It is strong, it is powerful; it cannot be quenched. It does not dissipate easily. It is something which cannot be purchased but discovered as a gift already within. It reveals itself in subtle ways. Yet, it is described as “stern as death”, “relentless”, and a “blazing fire”. How amazing is this gift that, once we stumble upon it, we don’t want it to leave. Rather we become more fascinated, more curious, more attracted, more taken by love because it does not seem to have a beginning or end, but finds its source and summit, its fountain of expression in Jesus, who is love incarnate. So, this first word is “love” – not a tawdry or romanticized or maudlin version of it – but one whose power warms and purifies and is often beyond our intellectual conceptualizations.

The second reading from St Paul’s letter from his letter to the Philippians reminds us that this love can only be realized when it is confirmed with faith and conformed to the heart of Christ Himself. Your mind and heart must vibrate in unison with Jesus to make a symphonic, harmonic sound. Often times, our imperfections mar the pristine tone that we were meant to create in the Lord. This short but magnificent letter suggests that we should look after the other as more important than ourselves with compassion and mercy. Only then will the note we play have the right timbre, a sweet quality and authenticity. It brings our love to life.

Today, you present yourself, Sr Mary Michael – before God, before Mother Louise Marie and before the sisters of this convent – and all of us – to make your final profession. Be bold. Be strong. Rely on God’s grace and the tender encouragement of our Blessed Mother.