January 28, 2011

Novice professes first vows at Saint Meinrad Archabbey

Benedictine Novice Michael LuckettBenedictine Novice Michael Luckett professed temporary vows as a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad during a liturgy on Jan. 20 at the Archabbey Church of Our Lady of Einsiedeln.

He completed his novitiate, a year of prayer and study of the Benedictine way of life. As is the custom during the profession of vows, he was assigned a religious name.

Novice Michael will now be known as Brother Elijah. Temporary vows are typically for three years.

Brother Elijah, 22, was born in Louisville, Ky. He grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., where he was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Parish. He attended Damien High School in La Verne, Calif. In 2009, he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif., before becoming a novice at Saint Meinrad.

The period of temporary vows provides a continuing opportunity for the monk and the monastic community to determine whether monastic life is the right vocation for him. †

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