Abbey of Regina Laudis: Consecration Ceremonies & Celebrations

Father, in your loving wisdom you have singled out many of your daughters to be disciples espoused to Christ and to receive the honour of his love. Holy Church shines with their rich variety, a bride adorned with jewels, a queen robed in grace, a mother rejoicing in her children.

From the Solemn Prayer of Monastic Consecration

On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 2022, Mother Judith Elsen made Perpetual Profession and received the Blessing of Monastic Consecration at the hands of His Excellency The Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, S.T.D., Archbishop of Hartford. Monsignor Robert Tucker was concelebrant of the Mass.

Mother Judith (Mary Grayce) Elsen, a native of Michigan, entered Regina Laudis on the Feast of St. Scholastica in 2007, after a successful career as an accountant. She held the position of Financial Reporting Manager for the Oil and Gas Exploration and Production sector of BP's North America business based in Houston. On the Feast of St. Benedict in 2008 Mary was clothed with the monastic habit and received the name "Judith", after the courageous heroine of the Old Testament about whom Pope Francis reflected:

With the strength of a prophet, Judith rebukes the men of her people to restore their faith in God; with the gaze of a prophet, she sees beyond the narrow horizon proposed by the leaders, and which fear limits. She is courageous in faith and in deeds. Judith had her own plan, carried it out successfully, and led the people to victory, but always with the attitude of faith of those who accept everything from the hand of God, certain of his goodness.

Archbishop Blair — Mother Abbess Lucia's Abbatial Blessing Book
Bound and Decorated by Mother Judith

Throughout her monastic life Mother Judith has selflessly placed her professional gift at the service of the community—in her financial and administrative work, especially in the maintenance of the building program donor database and purchasing goods for the monastery. The community is particularly grateful for her vigilance in the time-consuming management of our medical insurance plans. She is also an infirmarian and meets with our retreatant guests. While at Regina Laudis Mother Judith has learned the centuries-old monastic craft of bookbinding, through which she expresses her artistic gift. Our Abbey choir benefits from her work of restoring and transforming our books, using precious paper, materials, and designs painstakingly chosen for each person.

THE PROMISE OF CHASTITY
During a powerful moment in the ceremony, Sister Judith places her hands within Archbishop Blair's hands and offers herself to God through the Prelate as the representative of Christ.

Accipe, Pater, perféctæ castitátis et Christi sequélæ propósitum,
quod, auxiliánte Dómino, coram te profíteor et pópulo sancto Dei.

Receive, Father, my firm resolve (propósitum) of perfect chastity
and of following Christ, which, with the help of the Lord,
I publicly avow before you and God's holy people.

PERPETUAL PROFESSION
At the Profession ceremony, Sister Judith takes the Vows of Stability, Conversatio Morum, (Conversion of Life) and Obedience. The Profession chart has been written and signed in her own hand on vellum and illuminated by Mother Praxedes. The document will be kept in the archives of the Abbey in perpetuity.

HANDMAID OF THE LORD
After her Profession of Vows, Sister Judith was clothed by Mother Abbess in the black veil and the full monastic cowl, a pleated garment with flowing sleeves, reserved for praying in Choir. The newly-professed, now called "Mother", takes on the mantle of obligation for the Work of God. With arms outstretched Mother Judith sings:

Ecce ancilla Domini, fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum
Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to your word.

PRESENTATION OF THE SIGNS OF CONSECRATION
After the Solemn Prayer of Monastic Consecration Mother Judith received her ring, crown, and the Monastic Breviary from Archbishop Blair with this call to prayer:

Receive the book of the prayer of the Church, that the praises of the heavenly Father may resound in your mouth without ceasing and that you may intercede for the salvation of the whole world.

Now, as a Perpetually Professed and Consecrated member of the Regina Laudis Community, Mother Judith holds these special intentions in her heart and prayer:

My particular emphases in prayer are for families, for mothers—especially single, working mothers, and for the sanctity of childhood, of innocence. I pray for the restoration of women and children who have suffered trauma. I pray for vocations—especially for priests who understand the human condition and who can embrace the state of celibacy as whole and holy men. I believe that my call to a life of contemplation is a redemptive call that will help heal humanity and hasten the coming of the Kingdom.

Lord, holy Father, guide the steps of your servant and guard her on her pilgrimage through life. When she comes at last to the throne of Christ the King, may she not fear him as her judge, but hear the voice of the Bridegroom lovingly inviting her to the wedding feast of heaven.
From the Solemn Prayer of Monastic Consecration

BOOKS BOUND AND DECORATED BY MOTHER JUDITH IN THE ABBEY BINDERY