Brother Joseph Matthew Emeric professes his vows

One of my former students, Steven McIver, made his first profession of vows this evening with the Canons Regular of St. Thomas Aquinas at St. Josaphat Church in Detroit in the presence of Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Francis Reese and other clergy.

The Canons Regular of St. Thomas Aquinas, according to the bulletin distributed for the occasion, "are a Catholic association of men living a life of common prayer and charity according the the rule of St. Augustine and the more ancient liturgical expression of the Catholic faith. Members take private vows of the three evangelical councils to be lived according to the Statutes of their community, presently under ecclesiastical review. First vows mark a progression in one's membership in the community past the stage of the novitiate."

The evening began with solemn Vespers (five psalms coupled with antiphons, a short reading from Sirach, the hymns Iste Confessor and Magnificat, prayer for the dead and Angelus, all chanted in Latin). After the singing of the hymn, Veni Creator Spiritus, a greeting and explanation of the vows was made by the pastor. This was followed by the profession of vows in Latin by Brother Steven McIver, who adopted the religious name, Brother Joseph Matthew Emeric.

The rite was concluded by the solemn chanting of the Te Deum. The religious community asks that we keep their newly professed and members in our prayers. God bless you, Brother Joseph Matthew Emeric.