Congratulations, Guy!

Later this morning, Vatican astronomer Brother Guy Consolmagno will profess Final Vows in the Society of Jesus at the University Church on the campus of Fordham University. Unlike most religious orders, in which members take renewable temporary vows before they profess binding permanent ones, the First Vows that Jesuits profess at the end of the novitiate are intended to be permanent, representing the individual's commitment to life as a Jesuit for the rest of his life. Final Vows, taken after many more years of further probation and work as a Jesuit, are in some sense the Society's response to the choice an individual makes at First Vows. Just as the individual Jesuit makes a permanent commitment to the Society when he professes First Vows, the Society in some sense makes a permanent commitment to the individual Jesuit by calling him to Final Vows. Guy and the Jesuit community here at Fordham will celebrate that commitment today, and your prayers would be appreciated. If you'd like to learn more about Guy Consolmagno and his work, check out this profile published this past May in the Guardian. AMDG.