Six novices of the Province of Saint Ezekiel Moreno make their simple profession as Augustinian Recollects, in the hands of Friar Bernard C. Amparado, Provincial Prior of the Saint Ezekiel Moreno Province, at the Saint Ezekiel Moreno Novitiate, in Antipolo City (Philippines). During the celebration they publicly made the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, taking a new step in their path of following Christ according to the Augustinian Recollect charism.
The newly professed are Friar Bonnie R. De Guzman, Friar John Reynan C. Rosie, Friar Christian Joseph T. Codilla, Friar Roque James G. Sabas, Friar Jiego Louis H. Bautista and Friar Sean Cass L. Alvarez.
“Simple profession marks the beginning of a path of fidelity”
In the homily, the provincial prior of the Province of Saint Ezekiel Moreno, Friar Bernard C. Amparado, OAR, invited the six newly professed to contemplate religious profession not as a goal achieved, but as the beginning of a path that must be renewed each day.
“It is simple not because it lacks brilliance or importance, but because it marks the beginning of a path of fidelity for life,” he explained. “It is a humble, yet courageous ‘yes’ that must be renewed each morning, strengthened in moments of joy and tested in times of difficulty.”
The religious reminded them that, although in the language of the Church we speak of “simple profession,” in reality there is nothing simple about consecrated life. On the contrary, it is the foundation upon which a progressive configuration with Jesus Christ begins.
More than a set of promises, he affirmed, religious profession is above all a relationship with Christ. “Yes, we make promises to God, but, above all, we deepen our relationship with Him. The religious allows God to embrace him with His faithful love.”
From that relationship are born the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, which he defined as “signs of a heart that has discovered a treasure greater than all that the world can offer.” Poverty proclaims that Christ is the true wealth; chastity manifests an open and universal love, capable of welcoming all; and obedience expresses the desire to make Jesus’ prayer one’s own: “Not my will, but yours be done.”
“Do not look at your weakness; look at the Crucified One”
Addressing the six newly professed directly, Friar Bernard reminded them that vocation is not sustained by one’s own abilities, but by the grace of God.
“There will be days of dryness, moments of doubt and difficult questions. But the one who called you remains always faithful. God does not ask you for perfection, but for perseverance, humility and a heart that always returns to Him.”
He also reminded them that they are entering a community formed by fragile people, not by perfect saints. However, he assured them that precisely there, sustained by grace, religious learn to rise after each fall and to walk together toward holiness.
In one of the most significant moments of the homily, the provincial prior invited them not to focus on their own limitations as they approached the altar to sign their vows.
“Do not look at your weakness. Like Peter, when he wanted to approach the Lord relying solely on his own strength, he began to sink. Keep your eyes fixed on the Crucified One and on the Eucharist. The same Christ who called you will be the one who sustains you from today and throughout your life.”
Finally, he recalled that temporary profession constitutes a time to deepen one’s vocation and fall more in love with it, before encouraging families, friends and the entire Augustinian Recollect Family to continue accompanying with prayer those who have responded to God’s call, because “no vocation is lived in solitude.”
“Not because we are worthy, but by His infinite mercy”
On behalf of the six newly professed, Friar Bonnie R. De Guzman offered words of gratitude. The phrase that articulated his entire speech was a constant profession of faith:
“Not because we are worthy, but by His infinite mercy and compassion.”
The newly professed explained that religious profession cannot be understood as a graduation or a prize, but as the beginning of a path of self-giving that must be renewed throughout life.
“There is no graduation when it comes to religious profession,” he affirmed. “Rather than congratulating us by saying ‘Happy graduation,’ perhaps the best congratulation would be: ‘Persevere in your vocation.'”
He recalled that loving God and neighbor, the first teaching of Saint Augustine, is a demanding task: renouncing riches for the Kingdom, setting aside one’s own interests for the common good and learning to obey even in the midst of fear. However, he pointed out that Saint Augustine himself offers the way to make it possible: begin everything from love and always sustain it with prayer.
A request to the entire Augustinian Recollect Family
The most emotional moment came at the end of his intervention, when, on behalf of the six new religious, he directed a request to the entire Augustinian Recollect Family and to those who accompany their vocation.
“After this celebration, we ask you to continue praying for us. May God grant us the grace of fidelity, of perseverance and of constancy in the vocation we have chosen to love.”
He entrusted this path to the intercession of Saint Augustine, of Saint Joseph—protector of the Order—of Our Lady of the Way, patroness of the novitiate, of Saint Ezekiel Moreno and of all the Augustinian Recollect saints, so that each day they may remember that their vocation is not born of their own merits, but of “the infinite mercy, compassion and love of God.”
The celebration concluded with a shared thanksgiving together with families, formators, religious, religious women, benefactors and members of the Augustinian Recollect Family, who accompanied this new vocational step with prayer and joy.
With these first vows, the six young men officially begin a new stage of formation and consecration, responding to God’s call to live “with one heart and one soul directed toward God,” as Saint Augustine proposes.
