September 24: “Forever”.
On September 24, we remember the anniversary of the perpetual vows of St. Candida and the first Daughters of Jesus. In 1903, the Daughters of Jesus lived a moment that would forever mark their history. On that day, Candida Maria de Jesus, along with a first group of 42 sisters, made their perpetual vows, definitively giving their lives to the Lord and to the service of the mission, a “forever” of fidelity.
A path of preparation
The Constitutions of 1873 had clearly stated that perpetual vows could be made once the Congregation had been approved by the Holy See and after a period of ten years in religious life. Thirty-two years had already passed since the foundation of the Congregation when, in 1902, the official approval came, and a year later, in 1903, the great day arrived.
Mother Foundress, with the delicacy and depth that characterized her, prepared the Sisters for this transcendental experience. During two months of preparation with ten days of spiritual exercises, how the questions of St. Ignatius in the colloquy of the first week would resound in their hearts, precisely at that juncture: what have I done…, what am I doing…, what am I going to do for Christ…? Each one would respond according to the demands of God and in conformity with her personal determination. Guided by the breath of the Spirit with the means of Ignatian spirituality, those days came to an end. They were filled with fruitful experiences, which would be so necessary for their daily commitment: “Contemplation to attain love” was the best way to prepare them for the definitive covenant.
A memorable event
On September 24, feast of Our Lady of Mercy, the first perpetual profession was celebrated in Salamanca. The chronicle of the house records the solemn and festive atmosphere that surrounded the day:
- St. Candida was the first to pronounce her vows, in the hands of Mr. Manuel Garcia Boisa, who came as delegate of the Bishop.
- Then each one of the Sisters did the same by the hand of M. Candida. Candida.
- A solemn Te Deum was loudly sung.
- The celebration culminated with the presentation of the rings, which the Mother Foundress wanted to be engraved with the name of Jesus.
- After mass they all went to the chapter hall and gave each other a hug.
On that Marian day, 43 Daughters of Jesus sealed their consecration with a “forever”, trusting that God’s fidelity would sustain the dedication of a lifetime. You can read Letter 263, where Sr. Candida shares in first person what she lived.
Today we continue to say “yes”.
Since that September 24, many other Daughters of Jesus have also pronounced their perpetual vows, joining the same chain of fidelity and hope that began with St. Candida and the first sisters.
This anniversary invites us to remember with gratitude and, at the same time, to renew our own fidelity and availability to live “in the style of Jesus” in our daily mission.
Voices of today
We invite you to continue discovering this living memory through two installments: first, the testimonies of postulants, novices and juniors who, with freshness and hope, share the joy of their first steps; and then, the voices of sisters in perpetual vows who, from different ages and cultures, show us how the “forever” continues to be current, fruitful and full of life.
