| Private Vows | |
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To the various forms of commitment by the lay persons who belong to the
groups called Friends, Misericorde et Vie, Prayer Network whose members
have been annually committing themselves for many years, was added in
September 1995, a new form which allows some persons to make private vows,
while the Sisters make public vows. That does illustrate the diversity of
the calls within the Church.
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To whom do we make a vow?
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A vow, whether it is public or private, is made to God.
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Who can make private vows?
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Any Christian can make private vows.
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Private vow
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The person who makes a private vow defines the matter of the vow and determines
herself its object.
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Matter
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A vow may concern chastity, poverty and obedience. One may make one, two or
three vows. A fourth one may be added which is to let oneself be inspired by
the spirituality of mercy and/or to devote oneself to the mission of the Institute
of the Misericordia Sisters.
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Object
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The person determines herself the object of the vow she intends to pronounce.
As concerns chastity, the person may commit herself to live chastity in celibacy
or in married life. As regards poverty, the important aspect is the notion of
dependence. For example, the person may commit herself to having her budget
approved, or to give a percentage of her salary to the poor, etc. As concerns
obedience, the person commits herself to not disposing of her time as she wishes,
but to have her apostolic activities approved.
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Duration
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At the beginning, the vow may be made for one or three years.
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Commitment
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Once the object of the vow is determined, the details are not all mentioned in
the commitment form which should be clear, according to the spirituality of
the Institute and mention that there is no canonical or civil bond with the
Institute.
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Witness person
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The witness person (priest, superior or other) is the intermediary between God
and the person making a vow. It verifies the content and the authenticity of
the gesture that is made.
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Private vows in the Misericordia Family
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In order to make vows in the Misericordia Family, the person must have her
call verified besides having journeyed for a certain length of time with a person
designated by the Superior General.
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Commitment
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In a profound spirit of adoration to the Father of mercies, I,_________________
commit myself through private vows to live (the person names the vow or the
vows that she wishes to pronounce)for(one or three years, at the
beginning), according to the object that I have determined for each
one of these vows, without, however, establishing a canonical or civil bond
with the Institute of the Misericordia Sisters. If the person so wishes, she may add the following: Moreover, I make the vow to live according to the spirituality of the Institute.
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