CATHOLIC today’s
A monthly publication of the Archdiocese of Kuching, Sarawak
Permit No PPK 148/01/2013(031378)
Vol 33 No 5 August 2021
Professio ad hostiam
Solemn Perpetual Vows of Fathers Alvin Ng, SJ and Francis Lim, SJ KUCHING — On 31 July 2021 which was the feast day of St Ignatius of Loyola, due to the restrictions caused by COVID-19, a limited number of persons attended the Mass of the Solemn Perpetual Vows of Jesuit Fathers, Alvin Ng and Francis Lim. A large number of viewers however, participated in the live stream Mass. The presider, Fr Stanley Goh, SJ received the vows. He was delegated by the Regional Superior of Malaysia-Singapore Region (MAS), Fr Chris Soh, SJ who in turn represented Father General of the Society of Jesus. Fr Chris Soh was not able to be in Kuching due to the travel restrictions of the current pandemic. As with all Jesuit vow profession, it was done professio ad hostiam (profession before the Eucharistic host). The vows were made by Fr Alvin and Fr Francis, one after the other, after the showing of the host by the presider just before he took communion. Then only they received communion. Professio ad hostiam When Ignatius and his companions made their final profession in the Basilica of St Paul-Outside-the-Walls on 22 April 1541, they used a completely different rite which later passed into the Constitutions
of the Society of Jesus. This rite is used for both the profession of first vows and final vows. The rite was contrary to the customary vow ceremonies of that time until even today. It is not the professio super altare or professio in manus, but professio ad hostiam to signify it is neither a stable monastic order nor a mendicant one. It is an apostolic order with a contemplative aspect.
Fr Alvin pronouncing his vows as Fr Stanley, who stood in for the Regional Superior, held up the Eucharistic host just before communion.
Professio super altare The profession on the altar is the monastic rite. During the offertory, the novice first pronounces verbally his promise by committing himself to monastic stability, to reform of life and to the observance of obedience, then he places on the altar his request which is a document written in his own hand which would serve as proof of his promise and of his desire to enter and form part of that monastery. At the end of Mass, the abbot picks up the request from the altar and carries it away with him as a sign of accepting the promise of the newly-professed.
Fr Francis kneeling before the Eucharistic host pronouncing his vows.
Professio in manus The profession into the hands was inspired by the offering of the homage of a vassal to his lord in early feudal Europe. It was adopted by the mendicant orders in the 13th century, for example the Dominicans and the Franciscans. The profession on the altar is abandoned by the
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mendicants because they do not vow to monastic stability. Instead, they are known as mendicants, that is, religious who go about begging. Kneeling before the superior, the novice joins his hands and the superior takes them between his own. In this posture of submission, he pronounces the words of
profession and then the superior gives him the kiss of peace. The central element here is the joining of the subject’s hands with that of the superior, signifying commitment of personal submission to the master general. Continued on p4
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