LIFE IN THE NOVITIATE 

 

The second of a series of articles by Leo Coshan describing his experiences in the novitiate of the Societas Verbi Divini (Society of the Divine Word)

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Greetings from St. David's!!

In my first article I tried to answer the question: "Why does one enter a
Novitiate?". Having been here six months one answer is that it is a time and a place of preparation. It is also a beginning that will not necessarily end when the period of the novitiate ends. What I related previously was based on my personal experience. So is what follows. It is not typical of any
particular novitiate of today, but may give you some idea of how we spend our time.
"You.did not choose me; no, I chose you" (J ohn 15: 16).

This was addressed to his disciples by Jesus, recorded by John in the farewell discourse. These lovely words may be directed to all of us; to you and to me. Preparation then, will be as God directs. Here we are, two novices at St. David's College, responding td his direction. Here is an outline of our daily programme. On weekdays, the morning begins with half an hour's  meditation in chapel hefore Morning prayers and Mass. After
breakfast, an hour's private study of scripture is followed by two conferences
'I'he afternoon is free from two to four. 'I'his time may be spent in recreation or doing any odd jobs that may need attention. Half an hour of spiritual reading or study of our constitutions take us up to tea. This is followed by study from five to supper time, 6.30 p.m. An hour for recreation follows and a
further hour for study leads into night prayers and the last study period up to
10 30 p.m.

The morning conferences have been on spiritual formation, prayer, the Sacraments and related aubjects, Vie have also been through Mark's G0spel and are currntly reading Acts. ' Wehave no morning conferences at weekends. Instead on Saturday mornings we do some cleAning of rooms, burning of rubbish, making of beds and other miscellaneous chores. Sunday mornings are free from

after Mass until noon.

Of course, we wash up after every meal. That, plus the other chores described, make up our manual or menial tasks. It has been extended to pushing cars that won't start, shovelling snow from the driveway, cleaning and polishing the Church floor and, since March, doing the laundry on Mondays. The reason for this last is that the Sisters, who were to
look after us, had to leave at the end of Fehruary. At Least, I've learned how
to iron a starched alb with pleats and also altar linen. And, in the weeks to
come, we may have to fall in and help out with the cooking.

Our hour of Scripture has been left to our choice, with a recommendation to
read the whole bible , So, I began at the beginning with Genesis ,and have now come to the end of the Second Book of Samuel, reading my copy of the Jerusalem Bible (Standard Edition) with notes. Study consists of the Gospel of John and the Church of the New Testament. These two subjects are enough to feed me with spiritual thought and meditation besides the study. We are free to choose our own spiritual reading.

From this by no means complete picture you will see that there is very little
time for boredom. And I think this is what the novitiate has been; more than
a preparation it has been or is becoming a formation.

Being fairly isolated at Carrog it is not conveniently practicable to go for
long walks with the programme we follow. It is certainly lovely walking country, and I hope I will be able to accompany any of you who may come here on holiday wi th Maurice Hickman. My walks up to now have been the mile to the village shop and back.

Before ending, until the next time, a word about our society and its founder.
Briefly, we are celebrating the centenary y of our foundation by Arnold Jannsen who is to be beatified later this year. There is a C.T.S. pamphlet by Father James Broderick S.J. on his life.

Bnccmse his fathers favourite prayer was the prologue of John's Gospel: "In the beginning was the Word •••• " Arnold Jannsen called his society that of the Divine Word, the Word of Godmade Flesh. " ....he lived,among us (literally: "he pitchcd his tent among us"). And so as He, Our Lord, lives among us, we can lift our hearts up to the Father and praise him, because his Son is alive and his spirit is with us. Alleluia !

LEO COSHAN, S.V.D.

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