Vows of the Mendicant Missionaries*

Along with the three evangelical counsels—poverty, chastity, and obedience—we have a fourth vow to the Lord: expiation.  This vow enables the consecrated missionary to offer, with Jesus, one's life to the Father in atonement for one's sins and those of the whole world, especially for the hardened heart sinners described in our charism (priests, religious, and young adults). 

It is Jesus Himself, the only and true Expiation, who takes the initiative in sharing with us the privilege of suffering with Him for poor sinners.  Expiation is indeed a privilege, for it is something that we cannot do by our own human means but merely by participation in Christ salvific act of redemption, "what is lacking of the sufferings of the passion of Christ," as Paul calls it.

*As of now, given the "in formation" status of our community, the Mendicant Missionaries have simple, private and personal vows to the Lord.  These—although real—differ from the solemn, public, personal vows that religious from other solemnly approved and recognized orders or religious institutes do in the name of the Church.  They are private and simple because they are not made in the name of the Church but by the missionary's free and deliberate promise made to God seeking a greater good: the benefits and compromise of the way of life of the Domus (for further clarification on the nature of vows cf. Code of Canon Law, 1191-1198).