Solemn Profession Photo Gallery
Dom Meinrad and Dom Gildas make their solemn profession
Dom Meinrad and Dom Gildas made their lifelong commitment to the Benedictine monastic life during Mass in a packed Abbey church, surrounded by their monastic community and by family and friends who had travelled from near and far, including Liverpool and Lithuania. They professed the traditional Benedictine vows of stability, obedience and conversatio morum — conversion of life.
Preliminaries at Vespers
On the eve of the profession, in a short ceremony, Dom Meinrad and Dom Gildas indicated their free wish to make their profession, choosing between a monastic habit and lay clothes.
Profession Mass
Abbot: My dear brothers, what do you ask of God and of his Holy Church?
Br Meinrad & Br Gildas: I ask for perseverance in God's service and in this monastic community all the days of my life.
Profession of Vows
"When he is to be received, he comes before the whole community in the oratory and promises stability, fidelity to the monastic life and obedience. This is done in the presence of God and his saints."
Rule of St Benedict, Chapter 58
Br Meinrad and Br Gildas read their profession documents. They then went to the altar and there sign the documents. They showed the document to the Monastic Community and the People of God before placing it at the centre of the altar where it remained throughout the Mass.
Litany of the Saints
The funeral pall is laid in front of the altar on which Br Meinrad and Br Gildas prostrate themselves as a sign of his death to the world. The Paschal candle burning nearby symbolises the promise of resurrection and new life in Christ. The Litany of the saints is sung, invoking the intercession of the saints in heaven..
The Kiss of Peace given by the Community
The Final Blessing
Lunch with monastic guests
