Approved!

Given that today is the Feast of the Visitation, it seems appropriate that the provincials of the Chicago and Detroit provinces were here today for their yearly visitation of the novitiate. During the visitation, each provincial meets individually with the novices from his province and both speak to the assembled community about the state of the Society. In a meeting yesterday afternoon, Father Provincial told me that he had decided to approve my application for First Vows. Needless to say, I was elated with the news - I'd been told ahead of time by the director of novices that I was likely to be approved, but it's still another thing altogether to hear the provincial actually approve me for vows. I suppose I'll feel even more "official" when I receive the provincial's letter formally notifying me of his decision - it's great knowing I've been approved, but seeing the news in print will be even better. Then again, I'll feel better still when I pronounce First Vows on August 13th. Right now, however, all that is in the future. For now, I'm content to pray in thanksgiving for having been approved. AMDG.