Preparation for Profession

On October 4, 2014 I will make my lifelong profession in the Order of Franciscans Secular. I will publicly profess my purpose to live the life of the Gospel of Christ, following in the footsteps of St Francis of Assisi. I will profess to live my life in continual conversion so that I may be conformed to that perfect image of Christ relying on the promise of God relayed by St Peter to us

2 Peter 1:2-11

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,  by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.  For if these things are yours and abound,  you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This profession is the culmination of a lifelong journey starting when I was nine years old. At 33 years old I came into the Catholic Faith after reading the life of St Francis. My previous preparation in the Baptist and Assembly of God protestant traditions was valuable in leading me to a faith in Christ and a love of scripture which in turn led me to a love of truth and a constant hunger to go deeper into the things of God.

With the help of my Franciscan fraternity, I will be strengthened to live my life going from the gospel to life and from life to the gospel. I covet your prayers and thoughts as I make this final step.