PROFESSION in the
Secular Franciscan Order
Theological and Liturgical Foundations
Fr. Richard Trezza, O.F.M.
Pictures courtesy of Bob Stronach, SFO
Profession: A gift of the Spirit
The Spirit is in charge
During the rite of Profession, there is an
intense dialogue between the candidate and
God
The liturgical moment gives us a chance to
make a response to God
The Profession liturgy is a “confession of
faith”.
Encarnita del Pozo, SFO; Minister General
General Chapter – Hungary 2008
The Grace of Profession
We need God’s grace to “dedicate
ourselves to the service of His
Kingdom”.
One cannot serve the Kingdom
without recognizing the role of the
Spirit in life.
Benedetto Lino, SFO, General
Councillor and author of the
Syllabus for the New
Formation Manual
Profession: An Action of the
Church
Profession comes about through
God’s intervention, who …
Works through Jesus Christ, who …
Works through the Church
Profession is an ecclesial act … an
event In God’s eternal time – kairos
Fr. Felice Cangelosi, OFM Cap giving his
talk on Profession at the General
Chapter in Hungary, 2008.
Profession and Fraternity
The local fraternity makes the
action and the presence of the
Church visible.
Profession must be celebrated
in the presence of the
fraternity … the privileged
place.
As a result of Profession, the
fraternity receives a gift from
God in the persons of the
newly professed.
The newly elected General Council CIOFS –
General Chapter 2008
Ministries in the Celebration of Profession
The Candidates by their sacraments
of Initiation exercise their priestly
role in profession.
The local Minister invokes the Holy
Spirit and receives the Profession
The Fraternity makes the Church
visible
The priest witnesses the action of
the Church, guarantees the
suitability of the candidates and
ratifies the promises made in the
name of the Church
Fr. Felice Cangelosi, OFM Cap.
The Spirit in the Celebration of Profession
The Spirit accomplishes the
“sanctification” of the candidates
During the ceremony, the Minister
invokes the Spirit upon the
candidates
Profession is an “epiclesis” – a New
Pentecost
Some of the Chapter delegates at the
Esztergom Cathedral – Hungary 2008
Profession and the Eucharist
The priest associates the
promise of Profession with
the Eucharistic sacrifice
The candidates give
themselves as an oblation –
gift to the Lord
The candidates as priests
and victims make themselves
completely available to God
International, national and
regional Spiritual Assistants at
Mass in Budapest, Hungary 2008
Baptism and Profession
Baptism produces a consecration
Baptism configures a person to
the Paschal mystery of Christ …
dying and rising
Baptism makes one a living
member of the Church
Profession gives the grace to help
one live out this promise
Fr. Felice making a point in his talk
Consecration
To dedicate, to reserve something, to destine
a person for God and His exclusive service
In Profession, a person places him/herself
into the hands of God enabling Him to take
hold of them
The person no longer belongs to him or
herself but is at God’s total disposal
The professed becomes God’s property
The retired Franciscan Cardinal of
Esztergom celebrates the Mass
closing the year of St. Elizabeth of
Hungary - 2008
The Value of Profession in the SFO
The SFO Profession is a true and proper
profession according to the Church’s
understanding
The SFO Profession has the dignity of a
solemn and religious commitment and
cannot be considered inferior to that of
“religious” – although the two are
different in content due to the multiple
action of divine grace in a diversity of
charisms.
Encarnita del Pozo, SFO, Minister
General, distributes bread at end of
Mass closing out the celebratory year
of St. Elizabeth of Hungary
After the Manner of St. Francis
A Secular Franciscan promises to live
out the Gospel as mediated by St.
Francis by his example and instruction
Profession puts before you the radical,
light filled and joyful style in which
Francis listens to the Gospel and
commits himself to it.
Fr. Felice’s exclamation point!
Following Christ
For Francis, to follow Christ
meant; following Christ’s
poverty, humility, His very life,
His precepts, His doctrine, His
will, His goodness, following the
spirit of the Scriptures, following
the Good Shepherd and
following in the footsteps of
Christ.
Fr. Ivan Matic, OFM, General OFM Spiritual
Assistant; Fr. Richard Trezza, OFM,
Provincial Spiritual Assistant, Holy Name
Province; Fr. Trujillo Cano, TOR, General
TOR Spiritual Assistant at the Mass in
Esztergom, Hungary - 2008