Ave Maria!
On Sunday 23 Jan, 2011, during a Missa Cantata Mass held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel in Griswold, CT, two Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate, Sr Maria Lydwine Pia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Sr Maria Consolatrice Stefania of the Immaculate Conception and of the Most Holy Eucharist, made their Solemn Profession of Vows. The Chapel was filled to near capacity as family and friends gathered to witness this moving ceremony where these two religious sisters vowed for the rest of their lives to live the evangelical councils of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and totally consecrated themselves to Our Blessed Mother by the Marian Vow.
Kneeling on the steps of the Altar is Fr. Angelo Geiger flanked by his two MCs, Friar Isaac and Friar Augustine. In the foreground, the two sisters lie prostrate covered with a Pall during the Litany of the Seraphic Order. The Cantor, Friar David, can be seen in the Pulpit. PHOTOS BY JACQUELINE GIRARD
This was the first time that a Solemn Profession by the Franciscans of the Immaculate has been done in the United States during the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. The friars combined the new with the old as they used high-tech equipment with the 1500 year old form of the Mass. There was a camera set up in the Choir loft covering the whole of the Sanctuary which was wired into the vestibule where one friar stood in front of a television set monitoring the progress of the ceremony and directing the two MC’s who were wearing concealed earpieces and listening to the instructions and directions so as to be able to choreograph the various intricate movements of the servers during the Mass. Friar Isaac commented afterward that the communications had worked brilliantly. When he first arrived at the Foot of the Altar, his mind went blank as to what was going to happen next when he heard over his earpiece, “The Priest and MC’s genuflect in plano, ascend the Altar steps, and turn towards the Congregation while the Cross Bearer brings over the chair to the Predella”. Thanks be to God for modern technology!
Sr Maria Lydwine Pia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (closest to camera) and Sr Maria Consolatrice Stefania of the Immaculate Conception and of the Most Holy Eucharist, kneeling during the ceremony.
Congratulations to Srs. Ludwina and Consolatrice, and to the entire Institute!
Will video of the ceremony be posted?
Ave Maria!
It was a privilage to be able to attend, witness and participate in such a special Mass with professions. It was an undeniably beautiful atmosphere, punctuated by the sister’s solemn vows, a litany in beautiful latin and, ultimately, reception of the Eucharist… which always seems to be delivered and received at the rail of the chapel in Griswold with the utmost reverence.
(Interesting to discover, after the fact, that the friars had been wired!)
Congratulations to Sister Ludwina Pia and Sister Consolatrice Stefania! Thank you for your professions, and also for allowing us to be a part of it in Griswold.
If you want to leave the state , you can travel to another, leave the country, similar. But if you want to leave this world, you will have to enter a religious life. And a very good one.