A Vow Made Forever is Eternal

by Admin · April 17, 2016

When religious profess their vows “forever”, they mean it, as Moses Chanda OP explains. In today’s society, one rarely hears the word “forever”, but when one uses it, some big decisions are being made.

Three Montebello Dominican Sisters of the Holy Rosary make their final profession.

There are several reasons for why the word “forever”, in its true sense, is hardly heard.

In our age everything is moving at a faster rate. Hence, making promises that are binding with the permanence of “forever” is frightening. What if things change, as they quickly do?

And so enjoying what is in the here-and-now serves as a substitute for making a life-long commitment. It also demonstrates a fear of taking up responsibility.

But sometimes “forever” manifests itself. I’m looking back at two such occasions in January 2016.

The year dawned with a colourful spectacle of a guided encounter which foresaw the new “forever” resolution among the Montebello Dominican Sisters in KwaZulu-Natal and the Dominican friars of the Southern African vicariate.

At the beginning of every new year, people make their resolutions — be it for the short or long term — to guide them towards a hoped-for personal achievements. But a resolution is not a vow.

In contrast, religious women showing their willingness to give their lives and their work for the Church in serving God forever is a resolution to permanence.

In our modern society, this can seem unusual to many. Just being a religious person is seen to be counter-cultural.

Sisters or brothers who make “forever” vows of poverty, chastity and obedience show their dedication to what God calls them to do. In this way they conform not to the short-lived things of the world but to the eternal will of God.

In making their vows, they use the word “forever” to signify that no matter what comes their way, the focus will be to live out their permanent resolution.

It is amazing to see how each of our stories of vocation—be it in the religious life, priesthood, marriage or single life—are different, and yet they all eventually bring us together.

The profession of religious final vows is a breathtaking event that can be fully taken in only by being there in person. It is one of those things you have to see to believe.

Things that last forever never come to an end, they continue endlessly. An experience that changes you forever alters you in ways that will last for the rest of your life.

Forever literally means “eternally”. So when we promise, “I will serve you, Lord, forever” or “I will love you, my wife or husband, forever”, we must mean it, because eternity does not cease when we leave this earthly life.

At final professions, ordinations or marriages, God makes himself present in the ceremony, and he continually makes himself known through the actions that people make in their lives.

God calls us all in one way or another, and we should say “yes” and also be willing to become “fishers of men and women”.

On Vocations Sunday, this is our challenge.