|
Newsletter of the District of Asia July - December 2004 The
Novitiate of the Oblates of
It is indeed to the protection of St Therese, patroness of the missions, that our superiors confided our International Novitiate. She, who desired so much to be an apostle, to be a missionary, and to evangelize the faraway lands - here therefore, she watches over our vocations.
The three new novices of July 25 included two Filipina (left and center)!
"Magnificat anima mea Dominum ..." Three times this past year 2004, the Hymn of the Blessed Virgin resounded amidst the Community of the Oblate Sisters of Salvan, each after a religious ceremony. Reverend Father Henri Wuilloud, the new District Superior of Switzerland, officiated the ceremony of the "Taking of the Habit" of our four postulants, coming from Australia, Kenya, and Ghana, last Sept. 15th, Feast of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows. In his homily, he reminded us of the essential role of the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Co-Redemptrix at the foot of the Cross. From her example, the new novices will offer their daily life, to help in the redeeming of souls, and it is especially by their prayers before the Blessed Sacrament, and through Holy Communion that they will prepare their apostolate. Clothed with the religious habit, the new novices knelt at the foot of the Altar, and pronounced their Act of Offering. Then, having received their name in religion, Father gave each of them a Rosary, saying, "Receive, dearest daughter, this Blessed Rosary, which you will carry perpetually, as a sign of your love towards the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of her special protection over you." And then, he gave each of them the Crucifix saying, "Receive this Cross, a sign of the Passion of Jesus Christ, so that it may be the foundation of your Faith, a defense against adversity, and the perpetual banner of victory." (Ritual for the Taking of Habit) "Magnificat anima mea Domimini..." This Hymn of Thanksgiving, which is at the same time the canticle of the Spiritual Infancy of St Therese, had been sung earlier in the year on March 25th, for the 'Taking of Habit' of our German postulant. By his presence, H.E. Mgr. Bernard Tissier de Mallerais enriched this 'Feast of Our Lady's Annunciation', which is at the same time the death anniversary of our venerable Founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. In his address to the future novice, Bishop de Mallerais took as a subject, the fruit of the first Joyful Mystery - humility. He expounded the greatness of this virtue present in the Word made Flesh, in the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in the Archangel Gabriel. Desiring to prepare herself worthily, with the help of God's grace, for the religious and apostolic life, the new novice will always remind herself of the prayer said at the blessing of her religious habit: "0 Lord Jesus Christ, Who, being God, has deigned to take the state of a servant, making Thyself like to man, and to take a human nature for our salvation, we beseech Thee to bless this habit and Thy handmaid here present vesting herself with it, so that she may clothe herself with Thee, by imitating Thee, Who art the example of all perfection. Who liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Ghost world without end. Amen." (Ritual for the Taking of Habit) This same "Magnificat" resounded again, one Sunday in mid-summer, July 25th, in the Chapel of 'La Sainte Famille', in Sion. In his sermon, Reverend Father Philippe Lovey, from Menzingen, explained to the faithful the role of the Oblates in the bosom of the Society of Saint Pius X, and the apostolic goal of their vocation. 'Oblate' means 'being offered', 'being given to God': so the Oblates will draw all the graces of their life through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. And through the example of Mary, who summed up her life in one sole "Fiat", that the Oblates will accomplish the simple daily tasks confided to them by their superiors. Tasks which will be transfigured by love, and which will be offered for an end so sublime, for the return of the souls to God in the Church, for the sanctification of the priests, and for the conversions of poor sinners. Before an open Tabernacle, our three novices, originating from France and the Philippines, engaged themselves by their 'Act of Oblation', an entire gift of self to the service of God and of souls. "We make to Thee the offering of our persons, of our lives, of all that we have, of all that we are, for Thy greater glory, 0 my God, for the salvation of our souls, the salvation of all souls, and very especially for the sanctification of priests and future priests..." In the name of the Superior General, Fr. Lovey received the three chosen ones as Oblates of the Society of St Pius X. Since the ceremony of 15th September 2004, we now number seven novices and six postulants; the latter entered successively this year in Salvan. Six pre-postulants are preparing themselves in the General House of Menzingen for the next group of admission in the Novitiate. As there is no fixed date of entry, aspirants engage as an Oblate of the Society of St Pius X after a year of postulancy and a year of novitiate.
Assisted by the priests in giving classes, our Novice Mistress,
of German nationality, is also helped by a Swiss, two French, and
two Filipina Oblates. The religious formation is given simultaneously
in French and in English. Uniting nine nationalities of various
ages in our Novitiate House, the following question is often put
to us: "What language then, do you speak in the Novitiate?"
And here is the answer: "Aside from our respective language,
we also speak an International French... Cor Unum et Anima Una,
with one heart and soul, regardless of language and age, all together,
we make the prayer of our Heavenly Mother our own: "Magnificat...
- My soul doth magnify the Lord; and my spirit rejoices in God my
Savior... And His mercy extends from ages in all ages.." |
