The Legionaries of Christ Miguel Herrera and Santiago Garc\u00eda Huerdo have made their first profession of vows after two years of novitiate in their preparation and studies towards the priesthood. The celebration took place at the Parish of Santo Tom\u00e1s Moro, in Majadahonda, on Saturday, September 12, and was presided over by Fr. Javier Cereceda, Territorial Director of the Legionaries of Christ in Spain. Miguel and Santiago were accompanied by their families and members of the Regnum Christi family. They now continue their vocational discernment journey: Brother Miguel, studying Humanities in Cheshire (United States), and Brother Santiago, who already holds a Law degree, will study Philosophy in Rome.<\/p>\n
During his homily, Fr. Javier Cereceda invited Brothers Miguel and Santiago, and all those present, to be prophetic signs through their authenticity of life.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis step involves total surrender to God of my entire being. It is proof that God never fails,\u201d explains Brother Miguel Herrera, who is from Seville and studied at Highlands School Sevilla. Additionally, he admits that his desire is to discover more about Jesus: \u201cI feel hope and excitement. I want to know Christ better and love Him more,\u201d so he adds, \u201cI am going to the United States to continue learning.\u201d<\/p>\n
For his part, Brother Santiago recognizes that this step is a \u201cmilestone\u201d in his life: \u201cIt is the start of a journey towards the priesthood, as a religious, to which God is calling me to serve others and to be happy,\u201d explains the young Mexican. He also notes that he feels restless: \u201cI am happy, although nervous, but very at peace with the decision to profess,\u201d he concludes. Regarding his future, he feels very confident: \u201cNew community, new language\u2026 But very calm in the hands of Mary.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his homily, Fr. Javier Cereceda emphasized that the profession of temporary vows is a response \u201cnot yet definitive, but powerful enough to say: Here I am, Lord,\u201d and thus the coming years will reveal the challenging task of, like the consecrated and the laity, \u201cgetting up every morning saying Yes, Lord, here I am to try to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to my brothers,\u201d on this path towards the priesthood.<\/p>\n
As he did in the previous delivery of the Legionary habit to Brother Marcos Caras<\/a>, Fr. Javier revisited some parts of the Constitutions of the Legionaries of Christ and texts from the Church to unveil the deep and essential meaning of the act. He highlighted some key characteristics of what the profession of vows is and what happens in it: First, that the call is an initiative of God, and that it is the Church that calls: \u201cWe have called you by your name and you have responded \u2018present\u2019. Life is listening to the word of God, and responding not with words, but with one\u2019s own life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe profession involves \u2018a transformative relationship,\u2019\u201d he said, which means recognizing that one is not perfect, does not embody what God expects, \u201cso life is asking the Lord \u2018make me as You want me to be,\u2019 love others with Christ\u2019s love, and strive to live the commandment of love perfectly,\u201d he explained. \u201cVows are the path that God offers you to live fully what He has called you to be,\u201d he said, especially for those called to the priesthood. \u201cAnd that coherence between what you profess and sincerely wish to live, and what you embody in daily life, is what we call authenticity.\u201d<\/p>\n Father Javier recalled the three values outlined in the 2020 General Chapter<\/a>: \u201cAuthenticity, communion\u2014 we must work united\u2014, and apostolic zeal\u2014the desire that the love of Jesus Christ not be lost,\u201d he reminded. \u201cThat is what the Lord invites you to today,\u201d he told Brothers Miguel and Santiago. He also emphasized the testimonial strength of an authentic life: \u201cThis authenticity, if truly lived despite the difficulties and limitations we have, becomes a prophetic sign,\u201d he said, \u201cand this is what I, as your brother, want to tell you: commit to Jesus Christ that your life will be prophetic.\u201d<\/p>\n He encouraged them not to take this step \u201cto be a mediocre religious who fulfills his duties halfway,\u201d but to say \u201cI want to be an instrument that disappears so that You may be in me the light for others.\u201d And he reiterated: \u201cIt is the only thing that truly makes this step worthwhile: that your coherence, joy, struggle, getting up when you fall and face difficulties, become a prophetic sign for this world. May you be faithful joyfully, coherently, and authentically.\u201d<\/p>\n Father Javier, Territorial Director of the Legionaries of Christ, participates as such in the Territorial Governing Board of Regnum Christi<\/a> alongside the territorial directors of the Consecrated Women<\/a>\u2014 Betty Rivera\u2014, the Laity<\/a>\u2014 Emilio Mart\u00ednez\u2014, and two laypeople who attend the College\u2014 Marieta Rubio and Jos\u00e9 M. Mohedano. He wished to thank the entire Regnum Christi family \u2013 the Legionaries of Christ, consecrated women, laity, and lay consecrated members \u2013 for their participation in the celebration because \u201cwe live externally and make real this commitment of unity that we want to live.\u201d And he told them: \u201cMay the Lord grant us all here that our lives be prophetic, that we be signs that Christ, who does not lie, does not disappoint, and that He can truly fill the life of the Christian even though it is not free of difficulties.\u201d<\/p>\n He thanked the blood family \u201cwho said yes to the Lord who asked for a child,\u201d and urged everyone to know how to accompany Brothers Miguel and Santiago.<\/p>\n Once the novitiate is completed, Brothers Miguel Herrera and Santiago Huerdo begin a new stage on their path to the priesthood. During this time, as indicated in the Ratio Institutionis<\/em><\/a> of the Legionaries of Christ, which is the document that outlines the key elements of the formation itinerary in the Congregation, \u201cthe step from the simplicity of novitiate life to an intense dedication to studies is taken. It is the moment to learn in these new conditions to find God in interior life, in community, in the way of facing studies with responsibility and seriousness, as an approach to the mystery of God and man\u201d (n. 759).<\/p>\nAuthenticity: if lived truly, it becomes a prophetic sign; commit to Jesus Christ that your life will be prophetic<\/h4>\n
\u201cLive and make real this commitment of unity that we want to live\u201d<\/h4>\n
In the Ratio Institutionis<\/h4>\n