73 – We get out of the car where the steep slope leading to the Tabor hostel begins. After a long silence, the brother who had taken us along with him, says, “It is not so easy to reply to your question. Let’s take a short walk, as I try to explain the reason for which I became a priest. Above all, I intend speaking only about my personal experience, which obviously is not the same for every religious. Each vocation in fact, is unique. Each one of us has a personal relationship with God, unlike that of anyone else. And it is also quite difficult to rationalise and to translate into words, that inner, supernatural, insistent and demanding Voice which silently reveals itself with an unheard of, and invincible force, nevertheless tinged with infinite gentleness, as it invites the soul to leave everything in order to follow Him only.
“From a practical point of view, however, things proceeded in a very simple way. I was brought up in a practising Catholic family. As a youth, I frequented the parish, and had a normal life of prayer. I was also a scout. Then, when I was 15 years old, one day, on returning by boat from England, after a holiday of studies, the religious who was guiding our group asked me if I had ever thought about becoming a priest. That question was probably the spark that set aflame the fire already simmering for some time, in my heart. A few minutes after having heard these words, I took my decision - definite and irrevocable – to become a priest.”
For a moment the brother stops talking as he fixes his gaze on the far off horizon. I take the opportunity, and intervene, “ It is a very moving and enigmatic story. But after having decided to become a priest, why did you choose to live in a community, and precisely in that of the Regular Canons?”
“For three basic motives. The first is because I wanted to share my life with other brothers, rather than live alone as a parish priest. I was very attracted by the Eucharist and I liked the solemn transcendental liturgical chant that elevates the entire celebration to touch such supernal heights. Finally, I wanted to be in midst of the faithful, to care for their souls, and to serve them. These three aspects all united together are found in a community of Regular Canons.
74 – “My dear Francesco, religious or laymen alike are all called to sanctity, and therefore, you as well; a sanctity that consists in love – loving others as God loves us. For us, following Christ means the realisation of a certain kind of life. Particular observances help us to live the three vows – poverty, consecrated celibacy and obedience – by which we consecrated ourselves to God in a more complete way. These vows are not pledges that end up in themselves, but a specific way by which our manner of life remains constantly orientated towards love.
“The religious formulation of our community holds within it a twofold aspect – contemplative and active life. The liturgy draws us into a particularly deep and personal contemplation of the mystery of Christ, so to nurture the apostolate by what is contemplated, and transmit it to who is out in the world. ‘Contemplate to hand over’ - two fundamental and inseparable actions of our priestly vocation.”
The brother who told me the story of his vocation, greets me and goes off. I voice my thoughts, as I reflect, “Therefore, in your community each one must organise himself in order to contemplate, and for active life.”
Brother Giovanni replies, “As for that, we are constantly helped by the regular life. The bell and the liturgical hours constantly set the rhythm of our days, consenting to a well-balanced equilibrium between prayer and occupations – and between an intimate attention to the Voice of God and the preaching of it to the world.”
75 – I have yet another question to ask, “What itinerary must be followed, to become a Regular Canon?”
“There are two roads that run along side by side, but nevertheless independent from each other. One road leads to becoming a religious, and the other road leads to becoming a priest. The choice to become a religious does not necessarily include priesthood. In fact, to be a religious signifies the sincere desire to sanctify one’s life, to change one’s ways, so as to follow Christ as closely as possible. To be a priest, includes all this, as well as the basic desire to serve others. We are priests in order to serve. The term ‘religious service’ does not exist, while the term ‘priestly service’ signifies that a priest is ordained for the care of souls and to help his neighbour.
“During the priestly ordination, before receiving the sacred vestments, Saint Norbert put on a simple, woollen tunic. He, who came from an aristocratic family, wanted to demonstrate to everyone present his intention to unite poverty and a life of penance, to the dignity of the priesthood, as Christ his master had done.
“For one who wants to be a religious, the iter (journey) begins with the postulation period. After this, about two years of noviceship follow in that place where eventually he hopes to remain. The temporary vows are then taken and last for three years, at the end of which the iter concludes with the perpetual profession. The extent of time that passes between the demand to enter the novitiate, and the final religious profession, is absolutely necessary in order to reflect and deepen one’s spiritual progress, and to get to know the reality of that communal life to which the religious intends to offer himself entirely. The form pronounced at the moment of the Perpetual Profession adequately expresses the vocation of the Regular Canon, and is as follows: ‘I, brother… in offering my person I dedicate myself to the church of Sant’Antimo and promise the conversion of my morals and to live the common life of poverty, of consecrated celibacy and obedience according to the Gospel of Christ, the Apostolic See and the Rule of Saint Augustine – in your presence – Bishop of this church, and in the presence of the brothers.’ The conversion of morals is specified for every type of religious life, while the specifics of the Regular Canons’ priesthood is found in the complete offering of ourselves to the church of Sant’Antimo.”