RENEWAL OF PROFESSIONBesides making a public renewal of profession on or around April 16, the anniversary of the profession of St. Francis, professed should frequently renew their profession privately, for instance, on First Fridays, the anniversary of their own profession, at a retreat, on the feast of All Saints or the Three Orders (November 29), etc. Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God in three persons, I present myself before you, to give you thanks for all the blessings and mercies you have bestowed on me with so much bounty since the moment I came into the world. I thank you in particular, O my God, for having made me a member of the Secular Franciscan Order of your servant St. Francis. I confess that the yoke of the order is not heavy, that its obligations are not difficult, and that its blessings are many and great. I embrace anew the holy rule of our glorious father St. Francis. I ratify my profession and renew it with all my heart, promising again in the presence of your Divine majesty, in honor of the immaculate Virgin Mary, of blessed father Francis, and of all the saints, to observe all the time of my life the commandments of God and the rule of the Secular Franciscans, as also to fulfill the penance imposed on me by my superiors for any transgressions against the rule. O my God, with the assistance of your grace, I will, from this day forth, be more exact in the fulfillment of my duties as a Secular Franciscan. Deign to bless this my resolution. Kindle in my heart the fire of
your love, that, glowing with the warmth of your charity, I may be
a true child of our seraphic father, and never cease to serve and love
you. Amen. |