Writing to the latter, on August 26, 1846, after some tender and affectionate words, he says:  “I have now nearly eight weeks until the time of taking the vows.  Oh that it were but eight minutes, nay, eight seconds, when I shall be permitted, with the favor and grace of God, to consecrate my whole being and life to His sole service!  Millions of worlds put on top of one another could not purchase from me my vocation.  We make fifteen days’ retreat before we take the vows.  You must recommend me very particularly to the Rt.  Rev. Bishop McCloskey; tell him the time of my taking the vows (Feast of St. Teresa, October 15), and give him my humble request to remember me at that time in his prayers.”

On the feast of St. Teresa, October 15, 1846, therefore, the two American novices took their vows, and became members of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.  On the very morning of that event, at half-past eight, Brother Hecker wrote a letter to his mother, in which he goes over all of his trials and experiences in following the Divine guidance since he first quitted business.  He breathes intense affection in every word, and writes in a solemn mood.  We would give the letter to the reader entire, but that he has already learned what it narrates.  It ends thus:  “Dear mother, in half an hour I go to the chapel to consecrate my whole being for ever to God and His service.  What peace, what happiness this gives me!  To live alone for His love, and to love all for His love, in His love, and with His love!”

After the ceremony was over he wrote as follows to his brother John: 

“DEAR BROTHER JOHN:  This day, with the special grace of God, I have taken the holy vows of the Catholic religion, which are obedience, poverty, chastity, and final perseverance.  These vows bind me to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer for my natural life, and the Congregation in the same manner to me.  Thanks to God for His kind Providence.  My vocation is once for all, for ever settled, firmly fixed.  During the year and more of my novitiate I have not had any temptation against my vocation, nor any desire on my part to return to the world.

“As you were not certain whether I would return after the novitiate or not, I suppose you left my name in connection with yours and brother George’s in the firm.  But now that this (separation) is certain, would it not be best for you to destroy that agreement we made with each other some time ago, that no future difficulty can or may arise?  All this I leave to your judgments; and as for me, dear brothers John and George, in respect to the business, you may regard me as though I had never been connected with it, nor had any title or claim upon it whatever.  I am simply your dear brother Isaac, who loves you from the depth of his heart.  This love, be assured, will never be diminished by any event; whatever happens will only give me new motives to love you the more.  My conduct is under your inspection, yours especially, dear John, as being the eldest of us three, and I trust your sincere love for me will not let any word or action of mine pass unnoticed which may be the least unpleasant to you.