Final Profession

“Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whom no one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin. Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will, for the second death shall do them no harm.”

The Secular Franciscan final profession is a solemn, lifelong commitment made publicly within the Catholic Church to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS), following the example of St. Francis of Assisi.

It is the culmination of a period of formation and discernment, and it deepens and intensifies the promises made at Baptism and Confirmation. 

Key Aspects of the Profession

A Lifelong Commitment: The profession is a permanent and public commitment, not temporary. It is made within a local fraternity and involves ongoing, lifelong formation.

Not Religious Vows: Unlike the Franciscan friars (First Order) and Poor Clares (Second Order) who take public religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, Secular Franciscans make a promise or profession to live a specific Rule of Life in their secular circumstances. They live in the world, not in a convent or friary, and can be married or single, with jobs and families.

Rooted in Baptism: The profession is not a new sacrament, but rather a way of living one’s existing baptismal consecration with greater intensity and diligence. It is a renewal of baptismal promises and a consecration of one’s life to the service of God’s kingdom.

Gospel-Centered Life: The core of the commitment is to observe the Gospel of Jesus Christ by “going from Gospel to life and life to the Gospel”. This involves making Christ the inspiration and center of one’s life, striving for continual conversion, and living in the spirit of the Beatitudes, especially poverty of spirit.

Fraternity Life: Profession incorporates the individual into the Secular Franciscan Order and the local fraternity, which is a community of love and the primary place for spiritual growth and support.

Mission in the World: Professed Secular Franciscans are called to be witnesses and instruments of the Church’s mission in all areas of public and private life, including family, work, and society. They are particularly committed to promoting justice, peace, and the integrity of creation, and serving the marginalized. 

The Rite of Profession

The final profession is a solemn liturgical act, usually celebrated during a Mass, where the candidate publicly makes their commitment to the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order in the presence of the fraternity and a priest or spiritual assistant representing the Church.

It marks the end of a formal formation period, which typically lasts a minimum of 2 years through stages of Orientation, Inquiry, and Candidacy.

The following illustrate how the Rite of Profession is conducted within the celebration of the Eucharist. There may be some variations at each profession on how the proceeding takes place. Regardless, the Rite proper follows from Admonition through to the Presentation of Symbols.

The promotion to the Secular Franciscan vocation may sometimes be included at the end of the eucharistic celebration, followed by the send off and phototaking.

To view some of the photos taken at the recent final professions, do check out the following:

Brother Angelo, Brother Jeremy, Sister Pauline, Sister Ritcheil, and Sister Gaily’s final profession photos (they are all from St. Margaret of Cortona Fraternity), click here.

Final profession photos of Sister Lillian, from St. Joseph Fraternity; and Brother Nicholas, Sister Geraldine, Sister Martina and Sister Florence, from St. Elizabeth of Hungary Fraternity, click here.

For Brother Kerry, Brother Anand and Sister Beatrice’s final profession photos, please click here. Three of them are from St. Elizabeth of Hungary Fraternity.

Do visit our Facebook Page and follow us to view more photos and receive updates from us.

To read a published story of a Final Profession on Catholic News, click below.

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The Story of Sister Bodily Death

When Sister Bodily Death approaches, she opens up something in our mind. She shows us who are the people that matter in our lives. She reveals what is important and what is less important. She urges us to forgive and to seek forgiveness. She invites us to be stripped of everything we thought we were, and to come to God as who we really are – naked, just like how St. Francis wanted to die in nakedness, which was also how we all came into the world.

Sister Bodily Death can teach us how to live. For we know, what is scary is all the unknowns waiting for us. When she finally comes to us, what will happen? Where wilI we go? What if…? Too many questions to be answered, and there is no way to get the answer. There is something to be revealed. There is something we cannot see.

What we know is God’s promise that we will be healed. We will be led to be with God in heaven, where everyone will be in the pink of health. Do we trust in this promise? As St. Francis said, no one living can escape, and she is not to be feared, but to be embraced because Bodily Death is a Sister.

Reflection

• What are the things you are afraid of? Is your fear real or just a result of overthinking things that may not be true or happen?

• Have you ever meditated on Sister Bodily Death? Take this time to reflect on the possibility of encountering her. Ask her to show us what realy maters in our life, how we should live our bodily life on earth.