On August 24, 1983, exactly forty years ago, the present Constitutions of our religious family were approved by the XI General Chapter. At that time, I was barely making my first toddler steps but God’s project for the Xaverian Family has already been drawn. This document served as a norm of life and has been life itself for me and the many other brothers through the years. After the Sacred Scriptures, this is our reference as the religious professed in the congregation. Nothing can hinder us in committing till the very end of our profession to live and do everything according to the Constitutions (C67). From day one of our religious profession, we have been invited not just to abide by the law itself but most importantly by the spirit of these rules as path to holiness in our missionary vocation as Xaverians. This fortieth-year anniversary is an opportunity for us as religious family to reflect on this precious document.
I am fully aware that I cannot write an excellent reflection on such important document with the same eloquence of Fr. Lino Ballarin sx, (Missione Storia di un Progetto. Studi Saveriani. EMI.1993) * or the with the spiritual review of Fr. John Lozano (Mission, A Life Project. 1995.) ** However, my only intention is not to let this occasion pass without my humble contemplation. It is a general belief that every Xaverian has read the whole text of the Constitutions at least once in his life. Honestly, this is the easiest part: to read. To live what is written is an argument for further reflection. My intention in this sharing is, first of all to give thanks for this precious document in my missionary vocation. Secondly, to do an examination of conscience for my infidelities against the audacious project feature of the Constitutions.
The last number of the document is a summary and reminder of the whole document. It says: The present Constitutions provide us with guidelines for our life as Xaverians. We refer to them often, reflect upon them and pledge ourselves to observe them faithfully. (C119) Often, when asked to give a talk about the Xaverian life and spirituality, the first impulse is to look for the last updated material available and there is nothing wrong with that. On the contrary, it is a sign of the continuity of the spirit of the charism in answering the new demands of our times. It is also good not to forget the texts that provide us with guidelines for our life as Xaverians and to refer to them often. As such, our sharing about mission and Xaverian life will be much more meaningful and connected to how we are called to live. It is wonderful to think that the present document was a fruit first of all the legacy of the Founder that has undergone a long process of discernment that enabled the Xaverians to arrive at this result by overcoming apprehensions, fears, risks of compromising the Founder`s idea and thus the identity of the Xaverian society. (Ballarin p.5)*
Every Xaverian, for sure, has in mind some numbers of this document. For many reasons, one may have memorized them. There are famous numbers, often repeated and debated, C29, for example; however, the list can be lengthy. For sure, the most demanding, commented and debated numbers are those that make us unique as a religious family. The number above is one of them.
Personally, there are some numbers that have accompanied me since the beginning of my journey as a Xaverian. They were helpful at all times, especially during challenging times. I will mention three of these numbers only. They, I believe, are the very core of my Xaverian experience of life. The first is C18, Mission and consecrated life; it says: In order to live out our mission consecration in a more radical way, we follow Christ in vowed poverty, chastity and obedience. The apostolate and religious life together constitute our sole and indissoluble charism. Obviously, this is all the heart of the gospel for a religious man and the heart of the Founder and his missionary project, what he dreamed for all members of the Pia Society. This was and is for me the number to be grateful for the vocation I received and at the same time the evaluation of my fidelity to such demanding words addressed to everyone within the congregation.
Another number that is disturbing in some ways and at the same time reminiscing is the essential reason of our religious family is the C19 – Mission Vow - as it was thought by the Founder and many confreres who came before us. The C19, after explaining the essence of our vow of mission and our commitment towards the evangelization of non-Christians in its second part, bears the following words: “Our departure for the missions, lived as a Paschal event of a life left behind in favor of a new one that begins, thereby becomes a part of the mystery of salvation for the whole world.” It is a mystery far greater than what one can imagine. The fact that I, in my insufficiencies and imperfections can become part of the mystery of salvation. If there is something I am very grateful to God and to the Congregation, it is the opportunity to live my missionary vocation in a foreigner land. Here I experienced so many things good and not so good. These words bring me back to reflect again and again on the saying of the Lord... whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Mt 10:39) It is true I lost something but at the same time, I found much more. Everyone realizes at a certain point of life that some words of the gospel become more meaningful as time passes. It is a reality also for me and I am thankful for that. I am also fully aware of the resistance that made me live the departure not as Paschal event. As a result, I made life more difficult for myself as well as for those who were with me.
Since I entered the Xaverians, my experience has been inside the formation houses. The years of my basic formation through the years after the ordination were times of grace for me. In the past ten years as part of the formation team here in the Philippines one number present in my daily life is the C52 - The task of formation: The Lord provides for the continuity of our family by giving us new brothers. We welcome them with joy and gratitude and we pledge to share with them, by word and example, the experience of the Spirit we have received from the Founder. The admission and formation of new members is an integral part of our missionary service. To realize the work of the Lord in my life and in the life of the young men coming into the Family year after year is always an occasion to thank the Lord. The conclusion of this number is for me a clear realization of my missionary vocation all through these years. However, I realize as time passed in some situations, I haven’t been faithful by word and example to those the Lord entrusted to me.
The present Constitutions were the achievement of a long process. In the history of the congregation and the Church in general, as it is well documented by Fr. Ballarin*, the many steps to reach the last document was made in order to make every Xaverian conscious of the presence of; The Spirit of the Lord (who) animates the Church and constantly renews her awareness of her mission in the world. The same spirit inspired Bishop Guido Maria Conforti to dedicate himself to the evangelization of non-Christians, and to gather into one missionary community men called to consecrate their lives to God for the same ideal. (C1)
The Constitutions will always provide the necessary guidelines for our life as Xaverians. May we all take this occasion to go back to this ageless and precious document in order to grow in the missionary spirit of our Founder who dedicated wholeheartedly his life to the evangelization of non-Christians. His life and words are a singular source of inspiration for our apostolic life. (C1) Life and words fully transmitted to us in the Constitutions.
