The future novices wear bridal gowns as they take this step toward becoming Brides of ChristOur Reverend Mother and the professed sisters are very glad to welcome His Eminence, Cardinal Willem Eijk, of UtrechtThe ceremonies begin with the vesting of the prelate in the Chapter Room of the conventThe clerics will process from the Chapter Room into the churchThe four future novices are ready with their fathersProcession into the convent churchThe future novices process into the church with their fathersMonsignor Gilles Wach, Prior General, asks the future novices to declare their intentionThey each respond: “I have asked of the Lord. . . . to live in His house and to serve His Royal and Divine Heart for all of my life.”His Eminence Cardinal Eijk gives an address to the future novicesThe celebrant prays before the ceremonial cutting of a lock of hair: “that in submitting to an exterior transformation, they be transformed likewise in spirit by the interior operation of the right of the Most High. . . ”“Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that Thy handmaids, who today divest themselves of their hair for love of Thee, equally renounce affection to vanities and rest affirmed forever in Thy love.”After the blessing of habits, each sister receives a lit candle: “Receive, my dear daughter, this corporal light, sign of the spiritual light, which we implore God to shed upon you. . . .”The white veil is imposed upon the head of each sister: “May the Lord clothe you with the new Man, created in the image of God in true Justice and true holiness.”The novices return to the church clothed in the holy habit.As the novices kneel before the sanctuary, they each receive their new religious nameAll stand for the chant of the Magnificat in thanksgiving.The new novices join the other sisters in the choir stalls behind the altarSolemn High Mass celebrated by Monsignor Wach with pontifical assistance at the throneThe schola sings the propers of the MassThe deacon is blessed before he chants the Holy GospelMonsignor chants the prefaceThe Elevation of the Body and Blood of Our Lord by the celebrant, as the cardinal kneels before Our LordThe new novices hold lit candles during the Canon of the MassEcce Agnus DeiHis Eminence Cardinal Eijk bestows the final blessingThe Cardinal gives his blessing to all of those he passes in the pewsAfter exiting by the public doors of the church, the procession continues down the street toward the convent entrywayThe sacred ministers and clergy in the chapter room after the morning’s grand liturgyThe new novices greet and thank His EminenceHis Eminence Cardinal Eijk with the Reverend Mother, the Novice Mistress, the new novices, and the newly professed sistersThe new novices happily greet our Reverend Mother and the novice mistress….….and each other!Deo gratias!
