In the Book of Jesus of Nazareth, Joseph Ratzinger asks himself: what moved the apostles to preach with the strength and courage they did? How did they not fear accusing, to their face, the authorities of the death of an innocent? How did they not disperse if He was no longer among them?

On June 27, eleven Legionaries of Christ took their perpetual vows and eighteen renewed their vows at the International College of the Congregation. On Sunday 28, two brothers made their perpetual profession of vows at the General Directorate. Like in marriage, the profession is to take the commitment to fully dedicate oneself in the final seal of what has already been promised years ago, with the certainty of not being alone, for without Christ it is impossible.

Some brothers who made their perpetual vows share their life experience with us:

“Recently I asked myself: what really happens in a perpetual profession? I started this path ten years ago, and it seemed that this moment was just an ‘official’ renewal or confirmation of a previous decision.

At the Mass of the profession, we thanked God for having made the consecration bloom from our baptism, because it would be impossible to give our lives to God if it were not for Him giving His first: the Holy Spirit. More than a confirmation, the point is that God wants to make history in our history. That is why the Mass, which makes the History with a capital H present; in a specific place, time, and date of our history. Therefore, at the end of the ceremony, we signed some acts: He wants to appear in our biography and weave the mystery of His History with ours.

To make this event more real, we see that it happens in family; we are consecrated to God perpetually, and He makes us perpetually brothers of so many dear people whom He has gathered us with in the Legion and throughout the Regnum Christi.

It is from the joy of this communion that we can launch ourselves into the mission. Today I thank the Lord for allowing me to return His call, and I place my perpetual consecration in the hands of the Virgin of Perpetual Help, which is celebrated today,” shared Brother Jesús-Raziel Guerrero, LC.

“These years of formation have been a path of deep encounters: with the truth of the Catholic faith, with the truth of myself as a sinful man in need of salvation, and above all with the love of Jesus Christ that drives me to give my life for the Church.

Professing my vows was a moment full of peace and freedom. I have placed my trust in Christ,” commented Brother Peter Fagan, LC.

“My religious life has been a path of conversion, where I have experienced the creativity of grace that tries to place me, despite my resistances, within the Heart of Jesus. From the first steps, I have lived in a Congregation and Regnum Christi in renewal, to which God called me. Many times I have fallen into fear of the future, into pain for my brothers’ suffering, into shame for very sad events… Other times, I have experienced the joy of belonging to a family, of being cared for by the Church, and of being sustained by so many good souls.

I am very grateful to God, because all those moments have been spectacles of God’s perennial novelty, of His strength and His love, which works despite our human misery and always has projects of healing, not of destruction. I look back and around me… and I discover a simple story that He has wanted to share closely with me. I hope that my perpetual vows will help me to be more open to grace to be a good brother and member of the Church in service to all,” shared Brother César Pérez, LC.

“I made my perpetual profession and experienced great joy in taking this definitive step. Since my candidacy in 2009, I have found in the Legion a Congregation that welcomes me as I am, inspires me in the pursuit of holiness, and with whom I share an exciting mission to which each contributes with their talents to establish the Kingdom of Christ.

Being a Legionary today excites me more than ever, and I consider myself very blessed by God to have received the call to be a brother and eventually a priest in this great work of God,” commented Brother Luke Rawicki, LC.

Thirty-one young people from Poland, Mexico, Colombia, the United States, Venezuela, and Brazil said “yes” to Christ, taking a step of trust knowing that the path will be arduous and beautiful because they have the certainty, like the apostles, that Christ will always be by their side as the “Divine Lover.”

Joseph Ratzinger, in the book cited at the beginning, concludes that the strength and joy of the apostles come from the certainty of knowing that Jesus Christ is with them. They do not feel abandoned. “They are sure that the Resurrected is present among them, precisely now, in a new and powerful way.”