71 - My ‘personal’ guide then suggests, “Let’s find a car to take us to the Tabor Hostel.” We pass below the house where the brothers stay, while walking along the dirt road that goes to the parking area. On the other side of the main gate, a car driven by one of the brothers is about to leave. We stop him, and the brother says, “I want to show the Tabor Hostel to our visitor. Can you give us a lift up to town?”
The brother at the wheel has a nice face, and a contagious smile. He seems to be in a hurry. He has to go for confessions in a nearby town. While driving along to Castelnuovo dell’Abate, the two brothers talk about the commitments of the community. In the parishes of Castelnuovo dell’Abate, and the neighbouring countryside, all the priests of Sant’Antimo are available for pastoral services i.e. to say Mass, to hear confessions, for baptisms, and funerals etc.
They also tell me about a brother who left by plane some days ago, to preach abroad.
A question regarding the financial aspect crosses my mind. “But who pays all these voyages?”
“As already explained, the Regular Canon lives by his apostolate, unlike other religious orders such as monks or friars who depend on manual labour or mendicity, to earn their living.”
72 – We have almost arrived at the hostel. For some time now, an incisive question occupies my thoughts. These priests are quite similar to me, young, nice, intelligent, and extroverted. What mysterious force could have impelled them to leave everything – family, friends, and homeland - in order to come and stay here? Which was the voice – and what the words – that could have induced them to reply, ‘Yes, I shall go’. I decide to overcome my bashfulness, and quite insolently ask, “But why did you choose to become a priest?”