A man is made of choices and circumstances.
Nobody has power over the circumstances
but each has its choice. [Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt]
must learn to leave the table
Where love is served
Without clinging air pitiful
But from quietly
Charles Aznavour
1946 - In the novitiate. Phew! A good tennis match. You remember, tennis south wing of the Novitiate, down the embankment, adjacent The Buissonnnets (1). Naturally, it was a clay tennis court, gravel of yellow ocher. Every spring we were nailing the stripes on the ground. For heat, we had water and pass the equalizer (a piece of wood on which a train was set jute fabric).
Finally, I had the advantage over him.
A June heat raised yellow dust which covered gray patina of our black cassocks. We played with our shoes every day, the shoulder wrapped at the waist, the front of the cassock statement at the waist. I used to confront and brother Albert, aka Claude, or as Jean-Claude (Brother Raymond) at lunch recess, after the job. We were equal strength and sweat.
Swollen by my victory, I offered sympathy, falsely beautiful, dressed challenge.
Instead of replicating the same tone, that afternoon, he nodded to the left, stepped aside, a little apart in an enclosure confidences. A rictus of grief on the right cheek told me they had changed the registry. The game was over. It was serious. Three syllables whispered to sign secrecy: - "He is out -" Benedict? When? - "... Last week he wrote me." Raising his head, he gave a furtive gesture of denial as to cancel everything. I understood.
Departing temporary professed
The bell announcing the start of closed paths of the impasse. An emotion without words remain there at the bottom, in the novel. His brother Benedict which he had heard much, who was the brother wanted to be like him, had left the community after three years of teaching, before her final vows. He had just completed his BA at the University of Montreal.
A black sky blocking the horizon our thoughts. The afternoon was heavy. That evening, I took time to sleep. I reviewed the images of that other world only three years at Mount Sacred Heart were encapsulated, leaving the right of entry to the imagination. A world full of mysteries and dangers. Back in the world was like going to another world.
Without anyone repeats the news, it spread throughout the Novitiate under cover of silence whispers. The output of community, not one of those new words that sits there, deep down inside, a weight in the soul, in the community.
This discomfort, like a seasonal flu, returned each year to the end of June. Temporary vows held a retreat to another. During this six-day retreat, or the twenty-one days for candidates to perpetual profession, the brothers who did not renew their commitments were released. The two or three brothers who each year, year after year, returning in the world, leaving the ranks without fanfare, without even talking to anyone other than the provincial superior. We realized they were gone, putting start the machine whispers that penetrated everywhere, dragging its atmosphere of deception and surprise. An atmosphere of regret, sadness and silence like that in the families announced a miscarriage. Sad, but normal.
Departing professed perpetual
Where, generally towards the middle of the holiday, announcing the departure of a professed perpetual beginning his mouth to ear, then any increase: the silence the whispers that spoke in assumptions, the comments but the causes speculated that met always the one who "was our brother." More brother had the older, the pain was deep, surprise, regret stubborn like that of a loved one gone to an unknown destination. Still, the ranks re-formed and life began again.
In the 60s - an uncontrollable epidemic
Some were my friends, all were my brothers, I knew them all. I admired their skill, their talent dazzled me, I rejoiced their achievements. They had worked with intelligence and tenacity to the update of our family. They are gone, or nearly all, one by one, in the silence of discretion. They were aged 20, 30, 40 and even 60 years. Several were 25 years and over religious life.
They were not warm. Their works and their implications are saying. They had made the right choice. They continue with the same ardor, under other banners to light eyes, to spread confidence and life, to illuminate the road becomings not provided.
I feared not for them, but I wanted so much they stay to remake the colors of the day the walls of our house. They tried with generosity and eagerness to meet the ship lurched to the winds. With them more than ever, I hoped we would get there. The enthusiasm and solidarity were the game and it seemed all-powerful.
more lucid than I had understood it before me that it was useless, as the season was over, it was time to let go.
Why did they go out?
Why did you leave? Recently I asked several former brothers and sisters of my old acquaintance. One replied with this image that says it all: " When there is no fire, firefighters go . This terse sentence says all quiet revolution. Sisters and brothers have done work of volunteer firefighters. They have long supplemented the State that did not take its responsibilities. Their service to overreach and low wages have saved the day and ensured the survival of a people.
In 1964, the Ministries of Education and Health arrived overflowing with resources and set new ones. They occupied the place, any place. Better! The era of brothers and sisters was over. He had to leave the table know ...
is the main reason for the departure of most of the thirty former monks and nuns I interviewed. One, who retired in the early 60s, told me frankly that he had left for Women and to establish a home of its own. Some acknowledged that they had entered Juvénat for sports, they liked teaching but they never clicked on the spirituality of religious life. The ability to continue to teach without being religious were released. A former nun told me to come into community to eighteen years for fear of men. Religious life was protected. After a few years, she became bolder, she left and is thereby released. But it was the exception.
All told me they enjoyed the time they lived in community, they had no regrets. We left with no regrets, just a little sad to leave a family that had loved and who was going to drift.
one has the feeling of having resigned or being a defrocked. But is seen as a career realignment. Could you go on? I asked. " When autumn arrived, we can not, whatever you do, prevent leaves from falling."
How many are left?
Although the nest egg provided by the community was thin and variable ($ 100 per year by profession), nobody was really in need of community at its output.
All congregations of religious sisters and brothers, and even the clergy and congregations of priests, have experienced similar rates of decline in their numbers.
The trigger
In most cases, the decision to ask his indulgence or not to renew her vows became entangled in a short time. One could not swing the disenchantment towards the exit: an appointment that annoyed, a colleague who left a misunderstanding on the part of a superior, a petty attitude, a refusal to accept without reason deemed important adaptation, etc..
Quantities and pettiness
When a ship runs into the storm, we can expect from the captain and sailors to unpredictable reactions. Magnanimity and courage on the one hand, pettiness and panic on the other.
is what happened at the height of the storm of the century in the province of Montreal.
First retraining under the new theological perspectives developed by Vatican II. Brother Marcel columnist directory of the Institute for the province of Montreal in the year 1962 in a brief summary: In order to make themselves a genuine domestic reform and deepen evangelical spirit, groups of brothers responded to the invitation to rethink their religious approach to the data of the modern world. On two occasions in January and March, Brothers Directors met this purpose, at the Maison St. Paul Boulevard Gouin. The Brothers of forty years and held their meeting in Montreal, April 7, they published a report on their reflections on religious life, apostolate, management and local laws.
The town of Oka was the center of four meetings for most juniors.
should be placed in the same motion the meeting of heads of house training held at Rosemere, 19 and 20 January. It is in the same spirit of renewal and for the sake of authenticity that must link the courses on religious life given by Brother Florian for the young Brothers. These courses were based on "Witnesses to the City of God" by Rev.. Father Carpentier, were given in Montreal, every Friday, February-May
27 and 28 December a group of thirty Brothers High School, particularly interested in recruitment, followed by a recollection organized FF. Jean-Roger, Bonaventure, Louis Denis and Guy-Marie at the Retreat House of the Oblate Fathers of Ste-Agathe, to discuss the most topical problems of religious life.
All these meetings were marked by the desire to collaborate as closely as possible with superiors and adapt, without detriment to the religious life, apostolic current requirements. They took place in a climate of deep charity and a spirit remarkable candor. We believe they have contributed greatly to enhance the religious spirit of the Brothers of the Province, to renew them internally and thus helped to ensure persistence.
(see Yearbook of the Institute of Brothers of the Sacred Heart - 1962-1963, p. 161-162)
The same spirit of integration in modernity manifested in the creation a summer camp the end-to-train "in the renewal of French textbooks and arithmetic, in the brothers' involvement in the new diocesan movements, Pastoral religious, the extraordinary effort of renewal of catechesis in addition to their participation in existing diocesan movements: Crusaders and Catholic Action ignoring a host of clubs youth education outside the framework and school time. Everywhere we roll up their sleeves and met the challenge of a full renewal of his values, his thoughts and commitments.
The columnist also notes the immense effort made by the province to raise the education level of the brothers.
" Soon all the teachers of the course secondary should be licensed in their teaching. " Idem p. 168
" During the school year, five brothers were in school full time and seventeen half meantime, in preparation for a license. During the summer, the province had 120 brothers located in various universities, colleges and training centers for patent A, the bacc.es arts, bacc. philosophy, etc..; MA, license . " Same p.168
The missionary effort was continued and accentuated during this period. Brief revival in the province was in Montreal on a roll.
must also give credit to the provincial superior of Canada who have set up the hundred days of spiritual renewal in St-Anicet for young monks who wanted to take stock of their religious life.
Most older brothers consulted indicate that the superior who has received their request of secularization has been a lot of attention, concern and gratitude towards them.
Most older brothers consulted indicate that the superior who has received their request of secularization has been a lot of attention, concern and gratitude towards them.
Panic and pettiness
Before the rise of the storm, major superiors took fright. Instead of opening the new era, they called for an exit strategy. Withdrawal of tradition and excessive caution before any new initiative. Yet the columnist of the Province of Montreal made it clear the good spirit which had presided over all these meetings to update that, although initiated by some brothers had all been endorsed by the Provincial Superior. We have chosen to listen to other sides of the story.
Thus, the general chapter of 1958 he rejected almost all proposals for adaptation presented, what the columnist, brother Stanislaus, is by writing: "After completion, it was clear that the Chapter had chosen only to conservative proposals and rejected all the projects of innovative nature, such as the adoption of civilian names, changes to the dress, rules on smoking, family visits and vacations ... " See Yearbook of the Institute of Brothers of the Sacred Heart, 1906-2006, p. 132.
Chapter of 1964 will maintain the same line, so the columnist wrote this time:
" While the Church demanded an adaptation of religious life in modern times, the orders of the chapter rather reinforced letter of existing constitutions. " Idem, p. 134
This chapter will elect the brother Jules Ledoux, who introduced a reform bill that the delegates considered retrograde rejected.
The fear had taken hold of the General Council before the attacks developed pioneering Montreal in the province, so that by the end of the term's brother Gerald, provincial, is degummed and the whole council, without consultation with the brothers, was appointed provincial superior who seemed to have the mission of " order in the cabin. "
This appointment threw a shower of cold water on all proposed revisions to the rules and constitutions. Commenting on the appointments to the Superior General, Brother Ledoux, and regretting that they were made without consulting those harsh words I wrote that I thought reflected the general feeling of brothers Province: A word from one of them, hard and unfair in many ways, partially translated what many brothers have thought at the time of the appointment: 'The above were given less docile rather than they gave us real higher. See Letter from October 8, 1966.
The two brothers of former board members that the brothers would have liked as superiors were taken to task. One was denied entry into the houses of the province and the other had to seek an indult of exclaustration. Finally, both, along with many others, had no choice but to leave the community.
Subsequent events showed a kind of fury from the new superior provincial nip in the bud any renewal initiative. So what I said in closing this letter concerns the superior general proved sadly true:
" If I dare write as I did, because I really feel that The situation is serious for the brothers in Quebec. The loss of faith in our vocation of Brother grows. What is worse is that one comes to expect to do even more. We no longer believe the recovery possible. See you unable to meet the needs and expectations of youth. " See Letter of Oct. 8, 1966
The same year, 1966, in the motu proprio Ecclesiae Sanctae , Church calls on all religious congregations to convene an extraordinary general chapter " to ensure free and full consultation of all members. Yearbook p. 134
The preparation of this chapter generally leads to the creation of a multitude of technical committees to prepare the wishes of the province to the next general chapter, which meets in 1968 to undertake a thorough revision of the rules and constitutions.
Young brothers are mobilizing. They are thirty. Several of them have the Hundred Days in St-Anicet and many have extended their temporary occupation of a year or two. They demand that the provincial chapter extends by three years the vows. Their studies have been extended, they want to experiment seriously their commitment to the apostolate in education before pronouncing final vows. They also want greater openness of the community towards forms of apostolate more adapted to the needs of our time. Their claims are rejected. They leave the chapter "death in the soul." The efforts they had made to renew the religious life, the wishes and the ideas they had received were rejected.
The climate was deteriorating, the community was more or less divided into two camps, the traditionalists and the avant-garde. Youth who had attempted a final push were disappointed with the attitude of the provincial chapter and several left at Easter, the other at the end of the year.
contracts with individual school board had become the brothers released from their vows at the end of the Easter retreat, cashed their checks. In retaliation the provincial brother had put padlocks on the door of the residence where they lived. These former brothers submitted their case to the union which they had become members by signing their commitment. The union supported them against the community. The question remained on the shelves of oblivion, these ex-brothers did not receive the holiday pay given to regular starters.
little history, pettiness explainable by the panic that caused the bleeding runaway who earned more subjects the most religious of the province.
The brothers who remained in the community have avoided blame those who came out and they have maintained many of them with ties of genuine brotherhood. Several former brothers who wished could continue their education in the school where they were before leaving.
Inside, it has come to accept the obvious, We can no longer rebuild the community. We tightened the links, we merged the provinces, and houses the most prestigious training were transferred to secular organizations institutional respite.
Several brothers, in groups of three or four monks, took residence in homes without displaying any common sign of belonging to a community religious. Everyone had to find as a volunteer or personal involvement in the apostolic mission that suited him best.
Today, there are 250 brothers in Canada. Their average age is 75 years. (3) The brothers who need the most care are grouped in two infirmaries one in Quebec and one in Brompton.
There are only a few institutions to sell but it is estimated that within a year or two should be liquidated, even the provincial house of Arthabaska which was the cradle of the Institute on Canadian soil.
Most districts mission are equipped with self-government and Aboriginal.
Most districts mission are equipped with self-government and Aboriginal.
Sic transit gloria mundi ! (4) And, reflecting the high quality of inner life of the remaining members, the dissolution is performed in the serenity and confidence that others will emerge holding high the torch of the gospel to the nations that completely renewed some call today "barbarians."
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(1) The Buissonnets: space between the chapel and the wing of the Novitiate was named in honor of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, whose spirituality the way of childhood "was very popular in the Church. Gardens of Caramel where St. Therese of Lisieux lived called "The Buissonnets.
(2) On the appointment of Brother Gerald as provincial, the province of Montreal had 276 professed divided into 29 schools, 1 Novice (the Novitiate was closed that year to add one year to the training school juniors) 122 juniors. Nine years later, in late brother Gerald's mandate in 1966, the province had only 18 schools, 189 professed 6 novices, 142 aspirants. Statistics see Prov. Montreal.
(3) The Province of Canada has 21 brothers aged 90 to 99 years; 89 between 80 and 89 years; 67 brothers from 70 to 79 years; 50, between 60 and 69; 12, between 50 and 59; 9 between 40 and 49, 2 between 30 and 39. Cf (Statistics provided by Jean-Claude.)
(4) During the induction ceremony of a new pope is the procession stopped three times and it was burning before the "sedia gestatoria" a bit of tow (flax) saying: "Sic transit gloria mundi "- and passes the glory of the world.
(4) During the induction ceremony of a new pope is the procession stopped three times and it was burning before the "sedia gestatoria" a bit of tow (flax) saying: "Sic transit gloria mundi "- and passes the glory of the world.
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The chronicle of Jean-Claude
DIRECTORY 1962-1963
Given what is happening in the field of education in Quebec, the brothers are on the alert. A Survey on Learning is ongoing.
There new initiatives: the inauguration and blessing of the School of Trades Victoriaville May 23, 1963, a project that was initiated in October 1961.
It A change in policy between school boards and the brothers regarding the residences that were once provided by school boards and adjoining school.
There were nine closings of houses.
There is anxiety in the air. Community in a province, we compare, at its founding in 1945, the average age was 31 years and in 1963 it was 41 years.
And the columnist notes that vocations are being challenged: the attractiveness of women and good wages.
previous seven Canadian provinces:
- 1514 professed
- 105 novice
- 1272 juniors
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