Book excerpt: The rites of religious profession mark the initiation of women and men into the various religious communities of the church. These public liturgies of the church manifest and shape the relation of these women and men to the church and to the world. How are the rites of religious profession to be understood, prepared, and celebrated? Edward Foley offers an overview of their history and a reflection on the theology of these rites. He then shows how to approach these liturgies and bring them to life as celebrations of the church. We learn how much the rites themselves tell us about the formation of religious women and men, and how and the place these communities have in the church. This volume also contains the entire official text of the Rite of Religious Profession. This includes all revisions to this text made through 1988.