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JMJ
These words are wise and ring true as much today as they did almost a quarter century ago.
P^3
Ave Maria
April 1992
Dear Father Laisney,
Since the topic of vocations seems to preoccupy everyone at present, I thought of writing you a letter on this subject. I hope and pray that this small contribution may be helpful to you. We indeed need more priests in the Society and I understand the concern of our Superior General voiced in the March issue of “Cor Unum”: The harvest is indeed great, but how few are the laborers! More than ever we need to pray to the Sacred Heart so that He may give us more priests. But prayer, which should come first, does not take away our duty to do everything in our power to help young men to hear the Divine Calling.
I recently happened to read an article written in America in the fifties for a periodical destined for priests. It was about a survey among 2,000 students in eight minor seminaries. They were given a questionnaire about their vocation to the priesthood. I found it very interesting to study the reasons these young men gave for their entrance in the seminary: “I wanted to say Mass”: 1326 out of 2000 gave this as their main attraction. “I wanted to help others” came in on a close second with 1306 checks. “I like the life of the priest” got 1186 checks. “I wanted to be like a certain priest” was fourth with 828 checks. (The other ten reasons were not as important). I think that these data point out in what direction our efforts should bear. If we could give young men an attraction towards the priesthood, this hopefully would lead them to ponder on a possible vocation, and then to receive the grace moving them to make the final decision to give themselves to God. I would like therefore to make the following suggestions:
- We should explain the ceremonies of the Mass to children (and especially to our altar boys). In Summer Camps or Catechism Sessions, lessons about the Vestments, Sacred Vessels and Linens etc. were always appreciated. Children enjoyed learning about the great Mystery of our Faith. It is in doing this that we will plant in their hearts a love for the Mass and in some boys a desire to be priests at the altar.
- We should also develop the missionary spirit in our teenagers, e.g. have them visit old people in hospitals with an apostolic purpose. When I entered Econe in the mid-seventies, I was struck by the number of vocations coming out from Boy-Scout Troops. More than half of the seminarians in my year had done some scouting! I think it is because of the formation of character and the spirit of “service” which was instilled in us (cf “Promesse Scoute” etc..) The Eucharistic Crusade is also very good, since it gives zeal for souls (Apostolate of Prayer).
- It seems important to organize contacts between the priests and teenagers. We need to cultivate the attraction towards the priesthood in the better ones, i.e. the elite. “To sow the seeds of perfect purity and to arouse a desire for virginity has always been a function of the priesthood.” (St. Ambrose). Spiritual direction is important of course, the best situation is found in a Traditional School where the priest can follow-up the same boy during several years and thus nurture the little seed. As the Popes always said, good schools are one of the main sources for vocations. “It is necessary that the Catholic spirit of our schools, from which priestly vocations are expected, be improved”(Pius XII) .In places where we have no SSPX schools , we could promote home-schooling in order to withdraw the children from the public school system. We should also have recollection days, picnics, outings, camps, week-ends, where young men can meet the priest, talk to him, confide in him. Visits to the seminary could be organized.
- In the same study quoted earlier, one question was about the influence received, 669 young men said that their mothers influenced them very much in making the choice to go to the seminary. Only 407 stated having not been influenced at all by them. The rest admitted various degrees of influence. It means therefore that in 1593 cases out of 2000, the mother was one of the determining factors in the shaping of vocations. I believe that mothers need to receive spiritual direction on how to be good mothers. A truly Catholic mother with a strong interior life has more chance to receive the grace of vocations in her family than worldly ones.
- This brings up the topic of instruction. Pope Pius XI said that “ the first and most natural garden” where vocations should blossom is the family. He even adds that: “Exceptions to the rule are rare and do nothing but confirm the rule itself”. This is why the same pope was imploring priests to use every means, by words and writings, to instruct parents about their obligations. Good books on the family should be put in the hands of parents. When it is possible to arrange them, conferences on the education of children etc., are extremely helpful. (The Dominican Sisters in Post Falls give talks to the parents and they are appreciated.) When the spirit of sacrifice reigns in a family, souls are more generous and therefore more disposed to receive the divine calling.
- We need a little booklet on the different Traditional seminaries, monasteries and convents, in order to inform young people about these religious communities. In 1981-1982, I showed slides about the religious life in the USA (along with a sermon on vocations) and this seemed to bring good results. I know of at least one young woman who came to see me after one of these presentations and is now a professed nun of the Society.
- To finish, (and this is maybe the most important suggestion) since vocations are gifts from God, we should have the parents pray. “Rogate Dominum Messis ut mittet operarios in vineam suam”. Fr. Mateo, the great apostle of the Sacred Heart, promoted “Night Adoration in the home” as a means to obtain vocations. (Remember Mrs. Vaughan who, thanks to her daily holy hour, obtained six priests and five nuns among her thirteen children!) We have promoted the Enthronement but I do not know if we have explained to people its interior spirit. Fr. Mateo wanted the monthly holy hour of reparation to be the means of living the enthronement in the home, i.e. of honoring Jesus as the King of the family.
In conclusion, I know that the priests in our district are very busy and that because of this difficult situation, it is not easy to implement these suggestions. But at least we could in a small way begin to aim in this direction.
Dear Father, I hope these few lines were helpful. I am united with you at the feet of Mary Queen of the Clergy to beg of her “many holy priests” for the spreading of the reign of the Sacred Heart.
Sincerely,
Father Herve de la Tour
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