For us non-Catholics, can we get the 30 second explanation of what this is about?
Final vows for this group of nuns.
These sisters (or nuns) took their final vows to be members of the Order which seems to be Benedictine after St. Benedict. This means that their education in the convent is complete and they take a vow, not unlike marriage, to live their lives as poor servants. Sisters are initiated into orders sort of in stages depending on the order and this is the last stage. What I found interesting was as the sisters were lying in supplication, the black cloth that was covering them. I see deaconate and priesthood ordinations every year and they do this, but in the white garment that I think is an alb as the Litany of Saints is prayed. It's unbelievably powerful to see men lying in supplication (face down).
God Bless them, not everyone is called to the religious life.
Think of it as a wedding ceremony. The sisters are essentially marrying Christ so the ceremony is somewhat similar - in some elements - to ancient Christian wedding ceremonies.
The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles is a traditional monastic community of women who desire to imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary in the giving of herself to God to fulfill His Will, especially in her role of assistance by prayer and work to the Apostles, first priests of the Catholic Church. Society in these latter days is in obvious dire need of re-evangelization and sanctification through the ministry in particular of the sacred priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church. Although times have changed, the divine mission committed to the first Apostles, as well as the needs of those to whom they were sent, have not. It is our ideal to imitate Our Lady's retirement from the world in quiet seclusion, as well as her apostolic charity. Consecrated entirely to her and filled with her spirit, which is none other than the Holy Spirit of God, we aspire to be, to the successors of the Apostles in our times, what she was to them in the beginning: behind-the-scenes encouragement, assistance and support.
Our charism, therefore, is to be united at the foot of the Cross with Our Lady who receives the mercy and grace, that blood and water which Our Lord's Heart cannot contain, for His priests in the person of St. John. We are simply vessels in her hands; she fills us, and only to pour us out again. This explains our joy! With the sacred contents, she nourishes and strengthens the priest in his spiritual life, washes him from the contagion of the world, and quenches his thirst after preaching the Word. Being sent to bring God's mercy and His life to the nations, they are a "light shining in the darkness".
The first step of formation is admittance as a postulant. The word postulant comes from postulare, to ask or to demand a chance. The aspirant requests admittance as such, and begins to live with the community. She receives a Miraculous Medal, which continues to be worn through each stage of our life, wears a black dress with a leather belt, and a short veil during postulancy. No commitments are exchanged. She is given a course in basic spiritual and doctrinal principles, and learns the ropes of day-to-day living. The postulant is asking God and asking the community to receive her into this particular family. If, after several months she has discerned that she “belongs,” she may ask to be clothed in the habit and be admitted as a novice.
Her petition having been accepted, the postulant approaches her clothing day, or “Investiture.” St. Gertrude called the day of her Investiture the beginning of her conversion, and rightly so. Here, a decisive break from the world occurs, though prudence and Canon Law prohibit vows until the candidate has proved herself. The postulant dons a wedding gown to embark upon the long journey of her final and resolute espousal to Christ. She declares her intention before the community, her family and the Church. Her hair is cut as a sign of her renunciation of self, and she retires to replace her wedding gown with a long, black tunic. Each additional part of the habit is given to her with a prayer, including the white veil. Finally, as a sign of the new life which she has begun (hence the word “novice”) she is given a lit candle and her new name. Two years of intense prayer and preparation, with more detailed studies and formation in the monastic virtues follow.
When her time of novitiate is complete, the novice prostrates before the community to ask our prayers and permission to make her vows to God and before her Prioress for a period of three years, hence, the term "triennial vows". If accepted, the novice processes into Mass on the day of her First Profession with a lit candle, just as she exited her Investiture with one. Her profession by which she vows Obedience, Stability and Conversion of Life is within the context of a very symbolic and very rich, traditional ceremony before the Offertory verse of the Mass.
As it is too long to describe, you are encouraged to request of us copies of the Mass and ceremony for your enjoyment. She receives a black veil as a symbol of her death to the world and her candle is offered to the Bishop as a symbol of her oblation.
The three-year period is to ratify with time, the earnestness of the Benedictine. It is a measure of prudence the Church requires as a confirmation of a genuine vocation. The intention of one who makes First Profession is always to be able to persevere unto Final, or Solemn Profession. She continues her studies and formation. In fact, Benedictines are always studying and being formed one way or the other!
At Solemn Profession the vows become perpetually binding. In other words, the Benedictine nun is consecrated solemnly to Our Lord, her Divine Spouse, forever and unto eternity. At this elaborate ceremony resembling in many aspects the ordination of a priest, she is called by Our Lord in the person of the Bishop who holds the Church's authority, and she clearly answers His call. She repeats her vows and is given a gold ring, a symbol of her union with Christ and His Church as His bride. She then receives the cuculla and choir veil, to show her full and irrevocable acceptance into monastic life. Crowned with flowers, she is given her Office book and commissioned by the Church to carry on its praises. Given our recent elevation in canonical status, all of us who have made our Triennial Profession in 2007 will be able to make Solemn Profession together on May 15, 2010.
There is more about their way of life at the above link.