Br. Edward Dailey CSC celebrates his 50 Anniversary of Profession of Vows

About 40 members of Lumen Christi Prayer Group residing in Rome gathered at St. Patrick’s Church in Via Boncompagni on 28 January to celebrate Br. Edward Dailey’s 50th Anniversary of Profession of Vows.  The Mass was celebrated by a number of Lumen Christi priests headed by Monsignor Michael Stewart. Br. Edward’s homily evidenced the amazing grace of the Lord in his life. He expressed his deep gratitude to the Community of Holy Cross where he found many footprints marked out by a great band of men who had made and lived by their vows. He also, recalled his coming to Lumen Christi way back around 1993 and added Lumen Christi was a particular gift to him from the Lord and has played its part in his religious growth.

He started his homily with the words «”Come, follow me.” It was the Lord Jesus calling me.» and went on with the pleasing account of his past and concluded with the following words:

Fifty years of religious life … they have been fifty wonderful and grace-filled years.  Yes, there were trials, challenges, tears and even pain, but the graces, the joys, the gifts and the blessings of these past fifty years far surpass any of the painful and difficult moments.  I am grateful, deeply grateful, to the Lord for having called me to religious life as a Brother of Holy Cross.  I am thankful for my religious family of Holy Cross that has supported and nurtured me in so many ways over these past fifty years.  I am deeply grateful for the many gifts the Lord has showered on me and right now, here in Rome, I am filled with gratitude for the gift that each one of you has been and still are in my life. 

So, for this reason, I wish to stand before you and state once again that

I, Brother Edward Dailey, in the presence of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and my Lord and in your presence, do hereby renew and confirm my vows of consecrated poverty, celibacy and obedience and the vow to go anywhere in the world my superior general may wish to send me.  May the God who allows and invites me to make this commitment strengthen and protect me so that I may be faithful to it.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

Lumen Christi Prayer Group, Rome10/2/2007