Vocation, a mystery of love
“I’m so happy, but I can’t explain it. I only know that vocation is a mystery of love and faith, and that it entered my life like a wonderful call, an inner voice that made me feel like leaving my beloved homeland (Madagascar), my family, my work, and now I’m here to give my life, to say ‘yes’ to Him who called me.” With these words, a deeply moved Sister Maria Erminia thanked everyone present for participating in her Temporary Profession.
Last January 25, Sunday of the Word of God, the monastery of Sant’Agata de’ Goti, founded in 1766 by St. Alphonsus M. de’ Liguori, witnessed the Temporary Profession of Sister Erminia Raveloarimanana. After her novitiate, she consecrated her life to God in the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer, professing the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Sister Erminia comes from Madagascar, the world’s fourth-largest island, whose Church is young and vibrant. Vocations are plentiful, and every family that receives this gift considers it the greatest honor they could receive and is grateful and proud.
The Profession took place in the Cathedral of Sant’Agata de Goti, within the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by the diocesan Bishop Monsignor Giuseppe Mazzafaro with the participation of Redemptorist and diocesan priests.
The great gift for the newly professed nun and for the monastic community of Sant’Agata was the participation of the Italian Redemptorist monasteries: Scala, Foggia, and Magliano Sabina. A large group of nuns and young postulants gathered to accompany and support Erminia with their prayers. The event was enriched by the presence of Sister Imma Di Stefano, President of the “Beata Maria Celeste” Federation, which brings together 21 monasteries of the Order located throughout Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
The celebration began with the Rite of Investiture, during which Erminia donned the religious habit, its distinctive dark red color symbolizing God’s immense love for humanity and her desire to follow Christ with a new life. This was followed by the Mistress’s call, to which the candidate promptly responded: ” You called me; here I am, Lord!”
The Rite of Temporary Profession took place after the homily when the Bishop questioned her. She pronounced a formula of acceptance, saying: “I want it.” Sister Maria Erminia pledged to observe the evangelical counsels, which express the three ways in which from now on she will follow Christ “more closely” to be a “new creature” in Him. The candidate set forth all of this in the Profession she made into the hands of the Superior, who accepted her desire to live the Redemptorist religious life. Finally, she was entrusted with the signs of the veil that covered her head, an outward sign of change and of a radical belonging to God, and the book of the Liturgy of the Hours , that is, the book with which the newly professed is delegated by the Church to pray, praising God and interceding for the entire world . Furthermore, she was given the Crucifix, which is the center of life, which reminds her that love must be total to the point of self-giving. Finally, she was given the Constitutions, which indicate the concrete path of the Redemptorist charism: a guide that will help Erminia to faithfully live the Gospel in the way of life proper to our Order.
A garland of flowers then crowned her forehead, happy and proud to have become the bride of Christ.
At the conclusion of these rites, Sister Maria Erminia addressed the assembly: her face was radiant and relaxed. The emotion spread throughout the assembly, expressing enthusiasm and joy with thunderous applause. Finally, a Bride of Christ!
The beauty and solemnity of the service was enhanced by the touch of Malagasy culture, which manifests its faith through expressive songs and dances. For the occasion, our Malagasy sisters donned their characteristic traditional attire, the lamba (The traditional garment worn by people in Madagascar), a colorful stole draped over the body. They danced their thanksgiving in their own language, praying and singing joyfully.
Erminia, grateful to the Lord, concluded her brief speech: “Today, the time has come for me to give my answer to my Beloved. As I said before, I can’t explain it, but I feel transformed. It is no longer I who live; from now on, I am Sister Maria Erminia, a Redemptoristine, the bride of Christ the Redeemer. Therefore, with a heart full of joy, I thank you and promise you my prayers. May you all be blessed!”
Sr. Anna Maria Ceneri, OSsR.
Photo: Michele Nuzzo
