The first of a series of articles by Leo Coshan describing his experiences in the novitiate of the Societas Verbi Divini (Society of the Divine Word). His mss was typed by a fellow novice, Tom Kelly. He asks that you will remember both of them in your prayers
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PEACE to all who are in Christ! And greetings from the Novitiate •••••

Why does one enter a novitiate? To most ramblers it would be quite easy to answer the question:  "Why does one join a rambling club to go rambling?". It may not be so easy to answer my first question but here is a brief attempt. 

Living, as I had been: in a busy metropolis like London, a call to service can all too conveniently go unrecognised or unheard amidst the daily routine of earning one's daily bread, the demands of social life and the calls on one's time and attention in umpteen and seemingly necessary duties. "To serve you as you deserve" has been part of a prayer addressed to Jesus that I have prayed for nearly half a lifetime. Therefore when the Lord took me at my word and invited me to share more completely the exciting life that could be mine in full-time service with Him my answer had to be: "YES".

It took me about eight months to enter the novitiate. There were a few mountains to be moved, obstacles to be overcome,  chasms to be bridged, and barriers to be demolished. The marvellous thing about all this is that He did most of the work. That initial response which needs constant renewal, perhaps as often as one breathes, was accepted. The Lord seemed to want me in this particular way and so he provided me with a place of solitude and silence and stillness.

"I am going to lure her and Lead her out into the wilderness and speak to her heart". The prophet Hosea is speaking of his faithless wife. Well, the Lord has lured me and led me not into a wilderness but into a paradise. St. David's, the house of the novitiate lies in a valley of the River Dee, surrounded by soft, Welsh hills. The river runs along westward and is
visible from the front of the house, marking one of the boundaries of the property. By the river on one side runs the old coach highway; the present main road, the A5, being on the other side. The land is green. Pines, spruce and firs proudly praise the Lord in their evergreen dress. Just now it is winter but doesn't seem so nor is there the bleak appearance that greets one in London. Sheep graze all over, on the flats, the mountain slopes and
even drop in without invitation to sample the greener grass on our side of the hedge. Truly the Lord speaks to the heart.

Carrog, a village of some 500 Welsh speaking inhabitants, is about half a mile away. Four churches: Anglican, Baptist, Methodist and Free-church, serve their religious needs... The handful of Catholics worship at our chapel in St. David 's or  attend the church at Corwen, the nearest
market town, about three miles away.

Jesus turned round, saw them following and said "What do you want? They
answered Teacher, where do you live?". "Come and see" he replied they went and saw where he lived and stayed with him the rest of that day (John 1: 38, 39). He does not confine his home to one place, but has asked us to "Come and see", There are two of us who have accepted his invitation,
We've come, we've' stayed three months and we hope to remain for another nine months as novices.

In a further article I shall try to give you a look-in at the sort of life one leads
in a novitiate of today. Be assured it is a place of peace and a time of joy.
Peace and joy to all my rambling friends,  sisters and brothers in the love of the Lord.
Praise him, now and forever
LEO COSHAN, s.v.n.
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From the above description St. David's
really does seem a delightful place to
stay at.
Maurice Hickman advises that it is possible
to stay there as guests, and he is willing
to organise a party to go there for a week
later in the year. If you are interested
contact him giving any dates you can manage and enclose
a stamped addressed envelope.
Maurice will then keep you advised when
arrangements are made and what the likely
cost will be.