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Rector
Rector
Rector
Archbishop: Dearly beloved sons, what do yo as!" Seminarians: #e h mbly as! from yo , yo r $%cellency, the clerical &arments. Archbishop: #hy do yo as! for them" Seminarians: #e want to be e%ternally identified as candidates to the ministerial priesthood of 'es s (hrist, sincerely willin& to be formed as f t re ministers of His (h rch, and serio sly resolved to live a life becomin& of o r holy vocation, symboli)ed by these clerical &arments.
The Archbishop asks the Rector:
Archbishop: *ather Rector, do yo + d&e these seminarians to be worthy of donnin& the clerical &arments" Rector: ,pon the recommendation of all those concerned with their seminary formation, I testify that they have been fo nd worthy.
Archbishop: -y dear seminarians, may .od confirm yo r holy resol tion and fill yo with his &races. Seminarians: /lessed be .od forever.
The candidates sit down. The Archbishop delivers his homily
After the homily, the Archbishop sits down. The candidates stand up.
THE SEMINARIANS PLEDGE Archbishop: /eloved sons, before yo receive the clerical &arments, e%pressly say yo r pled&e before .od and his assembly. Seminarian: I, N0000000000000
Each one says his name aloud, one after the other, before all of them proceed with the rest of the pledge.
for the &reater &lory of Almi&hty .od, thro &h whom and in whom all thin&s are, f lly reco&ni)e my total dependence on Him, and most willin&ly s rrender my whole self to Him whom I confess I am bo nd by all means on acco nt on His infinite ma+esty. In order that I may better here witness to my &reat love of 'es s (hrist, behold, I &ive my self willin&ly and f lly to the discipline pertainin& to candidates to the priesthood, so that I may become worthy of bein& chosen by (hrist, to be consecrated as His minister, as servant of His (h rch, and as a dispenser of His &races. Amen. THE BLESSING OF THE CASSOCKS AND SURPLICES
The Archbishop pauses for some moments, and then recites the following prayer.
Archbishop: 1mnipotent and eternal .od, yo decreed for yo r honor and &lory thro &h yo r servant -oses the se of pontifical, sacerdotal, and levitical &arments. Hear o r prayer. Dei&n to bless, sanctify, consecrate, and p rify these cassoc!s and s rplices with yo r overflowin& &race, so that they can be saved by yo r
servants in worshippin& yo . -ay those who will wear them be protected from the attac!s of the mali&nant enemy, Satan, and be drawn ever closer to yo , adhere to yo , serve yo faithf lly, persevere in yo r love, and edify yo r people. #e as! this thro &h (hrist o r 2ord. 3eople: Amen.
THE BLESSING OF THE CANDLES Archbishop: /lessed are yo 1 .od, *ather of o r 2ord 'es s (hrist. 4o sent yo r Son to be the li&ht of the world and to ma!e s yo r people in li&ht. /less these candles. 2et them remind yo r servants who bear it of 'es s (hrist as they strive to follow Him faithf lly as candidates to the ministerial priesthood. -ay yo r servants be always pleasin& to yo ntil they will en+oy the everlastin& li&ht with yo r saints in heaven. #e as! this thro &h the same (hrist o r 2ord. 3eople: Amen.
The Archbishop puts on the miter and sprinkles holy water on the cassocks, surplices, and candles, and then incenses them.
Archbishop: Dearly beloved sons, receive the cassoc! and the s rplice, symbols of heavenly protection, of yo r detachment from the world, and of yo r consecration as seminarians of 'es s (hrist.
At the end of the "itany, all will stand. The Archbishop puts on his miter and faces the people. "ed by the Rector, the newly invested seminarians process one by one into the chapel and take their place before the sanctuary. The choir sings:
Archbishop: Dearly beloved sons, receive the li&ht of (hrist. 2et it ill mine yo r life and the lives of those to whom yo are sent. Seminarian: I accept and serve Him.
Each newly invested seminarian approaches the Arcbishop and kneels down to receive a lighted candle. After receiving the lighted candle, the seminarian proceeds to his place and remains standing until all of them have returned to their respective places. &nce seated, the candles are to be put off.