Novices Invested with the Monastic Habit

From Left to Right: Br. Mark Liatti, Br. Ignatius Camello, Fr. Bonaventure (Vocation Director), Br. Matthew Hershey, and Br. Charles Hopkins

Before the Novices were Invested with the monastic habit they listened to a reading from 1 Samuel 3, the Lord's call to the young Samuel.  This reading reminds us that the Lord calls each of us in our own special way.  Sometimes we fail to recognize the voice of the Lord, but when the Lord's voice becomes clear, Samuel shows us that our only response should be one of complete obedience, receptivity, willingness, and Love.  May these new novices continue to be open to the Lord's voice and may they be given the grace to persevere.  Amen.    

1 Samuel 3: 1-10

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!" 5 and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. 6 The LORD called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."