A Brother’s Reflection on His Solemn Vows

At approximately 7:50pm that evening, I professed obedience to God, Blessed Mary, Saint Dominic, and the Master of the Order of Preachers usque ad mortem, until my death. From that moment on, I am consecrated to God for life. What was once a tentative promise, for a few years, to live in obedience and community according to the rule of St. Augustine and the Constitutions of the Friars Preacher, became a lifetime commitment. And so my life did change.

But really, it didn't. A wise friar has said before, on numerous occasions, that the question every friar preacher in formation should ask himself is: "Does being a Dominican tell the truth about me?" On the surface, perhaps, according to the government of our Order, my life changed. I am now a full, voting member of the Order. Yet, in reality, what happened that night was only the culmination of what has been happening in my life for many years now. The vocation God has called me to, life as a friar preacher, certainly reached an important milestone. On the other hand, it only confirmed the truth that Dominican life has been telling about me for four years now.

I've heard solemn vows spoken of in a few different ways. One image was a ship finally sailing into port, or a boat gently landing on a beach. For me, I imagined retiring after vows and breathing a deep and refreshing sigh in a chair in the recreation room of our Dominican priory. Whatever the image, vows do not seem to come abruptly or unexpectedly; rather, they are the peaceful fulfilment of a promise long-awaited. Those vows told the truth about me. But they also told the truth about us.

If there is anything I will remember from that night--it was brief, and much a blur--it will be the sign of peace shared between us and the other solemnly professed friars. As bodily creatures, we often vividly remember what we do with our bodies. The embrace of my brothers left a lasting impression. I will never forget the powerful sign of peace we shared, as brothers united by our common vows before God. That embrace was a lasting sign of our common commitment to each other: for the sake of the holy preaching and the salvation of souls.