On Saturday, September 8th, 2012, on the birthday of Our Blessed Mother, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel in Griswold, CT, two novices: Friar John Paul Marie and Friar Alphonsus Mary, make their first profession of vows. Giving their lives with the  evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, they profess a fourth public vow: the Marian vow of unlimited consecration to the Immaculate – a first in the history of the Church – a gift for God and for the Church – a gift from Mary, a gift for Mary.

“You have called me Lord, here I am.”

“In your desire to follow Christ perfectly, are you resolved to love the Immaculate unlimitedly, to live in chastity for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, to embrace voluntary poverty, and to offer the sacrifice of obedience?”

“I am.“

“In the presence of my brothers, I, Friar John Paul Marie of Our Lady of Grace, desiring to give praise to God, with the firm will to observe more perfectly the Gospel of Christ, and perceiving that the Lord has given me this grace, vow in your hands, Father Ignatius Mary of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts, for one year, to observe the Rule of St. Francis of Assisi confirmed by Pope Honorius, the Traccia, A Marian Plan of Franciscan Life, and the Constitutions of the Institute of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, living in total consecration to the Immaculate, in obedience, without anything of my own, and in chastity…

Therefore, I entrust myself with all my heart to this fraternity, to put into effect my total consecration to the service of God and neighbor, through the enabling action of the Holy Spirit, the intercession of the Blessed and Immaculate Virgin Mary, our Father St. Francis, St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, and all the saints, and with your fraternal help.”

“And I, in the name of the Church and our brotherhood, receive your vows, and on the part of almighty God, if you observe them, I promise you life everlasting.”

(Signing the formula of profession at the altar.)

“Lord God, † bless these capuches as a sign of the protection of the Immaculate. May it enable these your servants to serve you in ardent love, holy purity, and modesty, in imitation of Her who is pure and ever Virgin, through Christ Our Lord.”

“May the Lord place on your head the capuche of salvation to fight and conquer the snares of the devil, with the maternal protection of the Immaculate which you bear in your heart and over your heart.”

“Receive, brother, the Rule of our Order, the book of Life, the marrow of the Gospel, the way of perfection, that by observing it you may attain to perfect charity.”

“Amen.”

(Friar Camillo Mary of the Passion makes his first renewal of vows.)

Friar John Paul Marie of Our Lady of Grace and Friar Alphonsus Mary of Our Lady of Sorrows

Congratulations to our newly professed and renewed brothers! Through the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary,  we pray that you daily “fulfill your vows to the LORD before all His people” (Ps.116:14) until your very last breath! Ave Maria!

“O Friars and Sons forever blest,
hear the voice of your father:
Great things we have promised,
greater have been promised us;
let us observe the former,
let us aspire to the latter;
pleasure is short,
punishment, everlasting;
suffering is slight, glory, infinite;
many are called, few are chosen;
retribution to all.
Brethren, while we have time,
let us do good.”

-Holy Father St. Francis

Marian Vow of Unlimited Consecration to the Immaculate

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