1st Prelude. Imagine the scene of your first vows—the ceremony is very simple, the meaning very solemn.
2nd Prelude. Ask a full appreciation of the meaning.
POINT I. Consider the choice made by Jesus.
1. While on earth Jesus chose His Apostles: “Come ye after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men” (St. Matth. iv, 19); meaning: I will make you my co-laborers in the grandest of all works; “I have chosen you, that you should go and that you should bring forth fruit, and your fruit should remain” (St. John xv, 16), fruit for eternity. The Apostles could not then realize the honor offered them.
2. Christ meant to make their hearts like to His own in holiness, filling them with love for God and men, generosity, humility, mildness, fidelity, etc.
3. He meant to make them ornaments of Heaven, the twelve great constellations of the celestial Paradise. Then consider that the same Blessed Saviour has chosen you for the same three purposes. Acts of thanks, self-abasement: “I, although most unworthy, prostrate before the feet of thy Divine majesty, etc.”
POINT II. Consider what were your sentiments at the time of your first vows. They were most earnest and sincere. You were of age, you knew the real meaning, you had been tried, you had full liberty to accept Christ’s offers or to refuse them, you were enlightened by the grace of God and supported by His aid.
Yours were solemn words: “I do vow before the most sacred Virgin Mary, and the whole court of Heaven, to Thy Divine Majesty, perpetual Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, etc.” These vows effected a solemn consecration of your person, made you sacred, like chalices, their violation a sacrilege. These days are to prepare in you proper sentiments to renew this pledge of a sacred Knighthood, like St. Ignatius’s night watch of arms at Mont Serrat, really espousals with the Son of God. The breaking of such a contract is horrible before God and men. An unfaithful religious is like a false coin—apparently gold, really brass.
POINT III. Have we been faithful? There can be no doubt of our original sincerity. Our self-immolation was sincere and generous; God supported us. Have we been living up to the lofty ideals with which we started out? Thousands before us have done so; thousands are doing so to-day; thousands are being prepared by the Holy Spirit to do the same.
These days are assigned us by our Society to examine carefully how we stand. If we find defects, we are now to correct them. We must begin the task by a careful self-examination. This is a visit, not of a Father Provincial or Father General, but of the Holy Ghost Himself to the hearts of all.