Solemn Professions of Brs Luuk and Colm
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- Category: Professions
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- Written by Conor McDonough OP
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Yesterday (Sunday) was a day of great celebration for the Irish Province of Dominicans, as it was the occasion for the solemn profession (taking vows for life) of Br Luuk Jansen OP and Br Colm Mannion OP. The ceremony of profession is simple and powerful: it includes a full prostration, when those to be professed ask for 'God's mercy and yours'.
The moment of profession itself involves a centuries-old ritual of swearing obedience: the brother kneels before the Prior Provincial, and places his hands in those of the Provincial. The book of the Constitutions (which governs our life together as brothers) is placed in the hands of the one to be professed, and he pronounces the following formula of profession: 'I, brother N.N., make profession and promise obedience to God, to blessed Mary, and to blessed Dominic, and to you, brother Patrick Lucey, prior provincial of the province of Ireland in place of brother Bruno Cadore, Master of the Order of Friars Preachers and his successors, according to the rule of blessed Augustine and the institutions of the Friars Preachers, that I will be obedient to you and your successors until death'.
A solemn profession is an emotional event, tying, as it does, the life of an individual man to the greater life and mission of the Order of Preachers. We ask your prayers for Br Luuk and Br Colm, and for Br Matthew Martinez, who made solemn profession in Trinidad several weeks ago. May their life in the vows be long, happy and fruitful!
(For more pictures of the event, please visit Irish Dominican Vocations).