Inter-Provincial Novitiate

REFLECTION ON THE IMITATION OF CHRIST

CHAPTER 17 ON THE RELIGIOUS LIFE

RELIGIOUS LIFE: A JOURNEY TOWARDS COMMUNION WITH CHRIST THROUGH OTHERS

       Novice Louie

Religious life is composed of diverse culture and personalities of individual. These differences of the member of the community are like flowers that beautify the institution and bring good example of unity in diversity to the outside vicinity of the institution. But sometimes conflict arises inside as well if the person is not willing to commit themselves to the way of life in the religious that is communion. Communion signifies love of another despite of what and who you are. Like the example of the first Christian community living with Jesus as their model. Communion among others demands a lot from the person who desires to live this way of life. Since, individuality is not the idea of religious life those who aspires this life need to have a deep humility.

The book 1 chapter 17 on the religious life no.1 suggested that if you want to get along with others, it is necessary to curb your own will in many things. It is not easy to live in a congregation, to remain there without complaint or reproof and to persevere in your vocation. If you wish to remain steadfast in grace and grow in virtue, consider yourself an exile and a pilgrim in this world.

To enter into a religious institution, one must remember that he entered in the institution to serve and not to be served and that you are called to suffer and to work no to waste your time in idleness and gossip. You will not last long unless with all your heart you are ready to humble yourself for the love of God.

Pondering on these thoughts, I remembered the first time that I lived in the seminary. I was astonished by the peaceful and holy atmosphere inside. Time passed by as I was a little bit acquainted with the people whom I lived with, I found irreconcilable dissent with the other seminarian to the extent that we quarrel about some nonsense things but not physically. We argued through words only. It turned out after some misunderstanding, we never conversed with another. We tried to go away from each other. But after some experience of misunderstanding, I gradually trimmed down those attitudes of immaturity. I learned to solve the problem by letting the person know that he is wrong instead of staying silent. I learned to listen as well to other’s opinion. In short, I become open for correction for improvement not only for myself but for the relationship with others. It’s hard to live inside the religious when we insist some of immature attitudes. We will never grow spiritually and we remain far from the rest. We can never build good relation inside if we remain from our immature attitudes. This is what the book 1 chapter 17 no. 1 said that in order to get along with others, it is necessary to curb you own your will. Since religious life is a communion that lived according to first Christian community, we need to remove the “I” mentality to “We”. Everything in religious is common not personal. Even the decision should be open to the community.

On the other hands, let us turn our mind to the motivation in entering the religious. This chapter also reminds me to have a clear motivation of joining this institution that is to serve and not to be served and to be humble for the love of God. “If you seek anything in religious life other than God and the good of your soul, you will find nothing but trouble and grief” (Chapter 17, no. 2).

This is already my second novitiate and my second chance in religious life. What happen to my first novitiate? Why I did not proceed? That time I was reflecting on the things outside – my family and to work. I really wanted to work and help my family that time. The Scripture says that if you want to follow me, renounce your family and deny yourself. I was not yet ready to embrace the vows that time. I did not proceed because I am too attached to my family and to my desire outside the seminary. So, I left and worked outside for almost 2 years.

Now, coming back to the formation again with good motivation, I feel happy within. Though there are still things to be purified but I’m happy to be back in this Institution, Stigmatine. This is where I found myself and my God.

I pray that all of us, my fellow novices will be worthy of this calling. And I ask Him, Jesus Christ, also to purify our intention of joining in this Institution.

St. Gaspar said “Humble yourself in all things.” Through humility inside the formation we will be able to get along with others and live according to the will of God not of ours. So, let us try to live humbly in our journey toward religious life. We also ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary that may God enlighten us and guide us always in our journey. Amen.