Issue 5 - April 2011 - Ampleforth College

04
FULL ABBEY CHURCH WITNESSES SOLEMN PROFESSION
After Br Cedd had taken his vows, and
signed the Profession Document, the
congregation sang the Litany of Saints as he
lay on the pall. This black cloth covers the
coffin at monastic funerals. Its use at
Solemn Profession symbolises one’s death
to the world and entry into a new way of
life. After the Litany, Fr Abbot said the
prayer of blessing over the solemnlyprofessed
monk, and Br Cedd received the
sign of peace from all the solemnlyprofessed
monks present.
A distinctive part of the rite is the three-fold
singing of the Suscipe by the newlyprofessed
monk, and its repetition by the
other monks. These words from Psalm
118: Suscipe me Domine, secundum
eloquium tuum et vivam. Et non confundas
me ab expectatione mea (Receive me Lord,
according to your word, and I shall live. Let
my hopes not be in vain) are also sung by
his brethren at a monk’s funeral as his coffin
is lowered into the grave.