Fiat. Magnificat: A gift received and a gift given. These words characterize the first profession of Sr. Benedicta Marie Timmermeyer, IHM, which took place on Saturday, March 21, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Andale.
Sr. Benedicta Marie is the daughter of Robert and Kathleen Timmermeyer. She grew up in Wichita, where she and her family attended St. Francis Parish. During the entrance hymn, Sr. Benedicta Marie processed toward the sanctuary, carrying the scapular and black veil that would signify her new identity as a bride of Christ.
In his homily, Fr. John Hay boldly stated that since God is the origin and sustainer of all life, commitments such as that of Sr. Benedicta Marie, to return one’s whole life to Christ, is actually the most fitting response. The world sees the vows of chastity, poverty, obedience as a series of “no’s,” of privations, but in reality, they are free and joyful “yeses,” all of which point to God being our ultimate end and goal.
Sr. Benedicta Marie then professed her vows in the hands of Mother Cecilia Marie Hammersley. In doing so, she offered herself as a gift to Jesus Christ who first gave himself to her and set her apart through baptism. Now, through her religious consecration, this gift was radically deepened. She was clothed with the scapular, complete with the badge of the sorrowful and immaculate heart of Mary, and her white veil that had symbolized newness was exchanged for a black veil symbolizing consecration.
The previous night, in a private ceremony with her community, Sister had received the IHM habit, crucifix, cincture, and rosary of the seven dolors. The Mass continued with the Liturgy of the Eucharist, through which Christ offered his gift of self in a particularly intimate way through the paschal sacrifice.
After the Mass, Sr. Benedicta Marie indicated that she particularly cherished the moment of receiving her Savior and now Spouse in the most Holy Eucharist in the silent and total exchange of self-gift, further solemnized through her religious profession. Having taken the “longer route” of discernment, Sr. Benedicta Marie is joyfully and gratefully embarking on the adventure as a vowed religious, following Jesus wherever he leads and accompanying him as his bride with an undivided heart. Sr. Benedicta Marie summarized all of her desires by saying, “I hope to live and die a bride of Christ and a faithful daughter of the Church."