The monks of Ealing Abbey renewed their vows at the Monastic Conventual Mass at 9.15 on Saturday 27th August. This ceremony is the culmination of the Community Retreat, which ran from Monday 22nd August to Saturday 27th August. Each year the monks have a community retreat and renew their commitment to the service of God.
After the homily, Abbot Dominic made a public renewal of his abbatial vow. The monks then made a public renewal of their vows of stability, conversatio morum, and obedience. We do this every year at the end of the retreat.
The renewal of vows has symbolic significance. Once a monk has made his Solemn Profession (perpetual vows) he is already bound by them for life. However, the renewal of vows is both a reminder of the commitment we have made and a refreshing of that commitment. Having spiritually refreshed ourselves on the annual retreat we renew our vows to continue forward for the next year.