August 29, 2023
At noon on August 19, a Mass was celebrated in which Amanda Alves (Brazil) and Marta Romero (Spain) professed their temporal vows, after having completed two years of candidacy in the consecrated women’s formation center in Monterrey, Mexico.
Family and friends were gathered very joyfully to celebrate the consecration of Amanda and Marta who, in response to God’s voice, wanted to give a generous and loving “yes,” after having travelled a long path of discernment and opening their hearts to the Holy Spirit in order to say with Mary, “May it be done to me according to your word.”
Moments of deep reflection before profession.
Being consecrated means having your gaze fixed always on Christ, remaining at the foot of the cross, letting yourself be covered by his merciful love, and receiving from his side the treasures of the Kingdom in order to bring them to others as a fruitful spiritual mother.
They gave their lives to Christ with great joy.
During their profession, the candidates expressed their determination to embrace and follow the life of chastity, poverty, and obedience that Christ and Mary chose for themselves, as well as their decision to spend their lives generously at the service of Christ.
They also professed the promises proper to the society of apostolic life of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi: to live the mission of extending the Kingdom of Christ with an attitude of service, humility, and availability, as well as living the spirit of communion in the Regnum Christi family within the Church.
Bringing their gifts to the altar.
In the homily, Fr Ignacio Buisán, LC highlighted the Gospel they chose for such a meaningful and transcendent day of their lives, which ends with two words: “Follow me.” He alluded to the times when the Apostle Peter heard these words addressed to him by Jesus.
He recalled that the second time he was called to follow Christ, Peter passed the test of love; he first had to discover that his love for Jesus was sincere, authentic, and imperfect, and he had to learn to accept this imperfection taken on and embraced by Jesus, who now entrusts a mission to him: “Feed my lambs, tend my sheep.”
The celebrants accompanying the new consecrated women.
Fr Ignacio shared that by profession their vows with their sincere and authentic love, Marta and Amanda say to Jesus:
“You know everything; you know that I love you. You know that my imperfect but sincere love has brought me to accept your invitation and that this ‘follow me’ has brought us to the consecrated life, a life entirely dedicated to be yours so that, by means of my person, you may show forth your holiness in spite of my imperfection.”
Fr Ignacio Buisán, LC
Therefore, that “follow me” that Jesus addresses to them actually means “Let me bring about my work in you; let me shape that heart of stone so that it becomes a heart of flesh, a heart that has the same sentiments as Jesus.” The call to keep giving him everything is rather leaving oneself behind: It is dying to ourselves in order to be bearers of life and messengers of the words of eternal life to those sheep Jesus entrusts to them.
A great community of consecrated women sharing God’s love.
Sharing with their directors the joy of union with Christ.
The celebrant ended his homily by inviting everyone present to unite themselves in prayer, joy, and thanksgiving to this “yes,” to this “follow me” that Jesus gives, so that God, who began a good work in them, will continue to complete it.
Beautiful songs were sung in Spanish and Portuguese.
“Make them always faithful to Christ, their great love, that they love the Church with an active charity and that they serve all people with a supernatural love, being a witness to future goods for them.”
Fr. Ignacio Buisán, LC
The fullness of peace and happiness.
In the Prayer of the Faithful, a petition of thanksgiving to God was offered for everyone who has accompanied and supported Marta and Amanda on their journey: family members, friends, formators, and priests; by means of their prayers, presence, friendship, advice, and accompaniment.
Family and friends accompanied the new consecrated women.
“I am very happy; God calls me to love him more each day and to draw many souls closer to his love.”
Marta Romero
“The Mass was being in heaven; arriving here is a gift for my life. God calls me to continue being very faithful to him and to be that very beloved consecrated woman.”
Amanda Alves
Forever united at the feet of the Lord.
Let’s pray to God the Father for these sisters of ours, that they faithfully fulfill the duties of the consecrated life, which they just undertook, and serve him always with freedom of heart.
