Being Clothed in the Habit
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008After spending the most part of 2007 as a Postulant in Melbourne, I was received into the Congregation as a Novice on the 29th January 2008. My novitiate year will be spent in Sydney at our monastery in Marrickville, known as St Brigid’s.
Fr Tony Egar CP, is my novice master and spiritual companion for the year. He was primarily involved in the formation of the liturgy for my reception into the Congregation. The reception is a community based liturgy but there were some lay people who attended.
The Provincial, Fr Joachim Rego CP, presided at the liturgy and was the person who clothed me in the habit. Receiving the habit is an awesome experience! You feel part of the Congregation, you feel art of the brothers, in fact, from the moment you receive the habit, you become a brother in the Congregation, a PASSIONIST!
The habit is a black tunic - a hermit’s habit, which our founder, St Paul of the Cross, received. The belt is a black leather hermit’s belt onto which I received a rosary to wear. Finally, I wear sandals by choice as I have decided that this spiritual year is the one opportunity I have to relate more intensely with the Founder’s life and intentions.
The ceremony started with me wearing my own civilian clothes and removing my jacket. The removal of the jacket symbolises “taking off of the old” and being clothed in the habit symbolises “clothing myself in Jesus”. Both these symbols are very powerful symbols and ones that connect every Passionist with his vows and ministry as he shares in the ceremony with you.
