Non Novi's Countdown!

[NonNovi]

Thanks for the help, but I don't think Nuntrunk will be of any use to me :) I already had most of the clothes, and my mother went shopping with me and gave me 2 new black pants, 2 black sweaters and a pair of black shoes. The list isn't that strict, just like the congregation ;) A rosary is of course necessary, although not mentioned :)

 

So, in exactly a week I'll be there. 2 priests are driving me (of wich only one is also SJM, the other one is a Praemonstratensian friend) to Austria. We'll arrive in the evening. And the next morning is the 1st of october, the official start of candidature (postulancy). When I got the list, I got pretty nervous. Things suddenly got serious. I started to gather my documents. When I went for a baptism and confirmation certificate, we discovered they never warned my former parish I was confirmed, so it wasn't in the baptismal register... In the meanwhile I did get it from the parish I was confirmed in. If you ever receive a sacrament or something in another parish, make sure they get the info to your original parish for the register!

 

Last week I flew to Rome (so no Assisi, Anneline) to celebrate 25 years Servi Jesu et Mariae. In one word, it was awesome! I feel so blessed I could be there! There was another future postulant, so I wasn't the only white sheep in a black flock. One of our priests works in the Vatican (and lives in the same building as the pope), so he got us in places where you normally don't get to go. We were in the Apostolic Palace and in the Vatican Gardens (since the pope lives in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, so downstairs, almost nobody is allowed there). We had Mass in the crypt of St.Peter's, right before the tomb of St.Peter, and in the room where St. Ignatius of Loyola died. The professed members also renewed their vows in St. Paul's, in the chapel where St. Ignatius pronounced his first vows. We follow the ancient Jesuit traditions so Ignatius is very important to us, as you might have guessed.

 

On wednesday, we went to the general audience on St.Peter's square. We had seats right on the left of the pope. Our priest in the Vatican is responsible for the German translations and announcing the German, Belgian and Dutch pilgrim groups. The SJM where mentioned several times, also by the pope. Afterwards, the pope greets certain selected people on the first rows around his platform. Our general superior and general vicar where greeted by him, while we where singing. The next day during dinner, a letter with an apostolic blessing was read. I have seen and heard too much awesome stuff, I could go on for hours.

 

 

Scala Regia

 

Sala Ducale

 

Sala Regia (trough wich the cardinals enter the Sixtine chapel for a conclave)

 

This is where the pope lives now.

 

This is where the pope used to live (on the right)

 

You all know this guy I suppose? ;)

 

After all the awesomness, I must admit not everything is going that well. The situation with my father gets worse. He's complaining I don't tell them enough, but as soon as I say something it's not what he wants to hear and gets angry. He really dislikes the SJM right now. My mother still cries at random moments. Oh well. The week in Rome with my brothers really comforted me. I'm not nervous anymore. I know that everything is taken care of.

[NonNovi]

This past week has been hell. My mother kept crying, my father kept making mean comments... I avoided to have a week of "last times", it's easier when you don't think about that. It reminds me of Saint John Berchmans (my great example). His fellow Jesuits asked him what he would do if he had just 10 more minutes to live. They all answered things like going to confession, pray, etc. Saint John, who was playing a game when they asked, said: I would just continue my game. That's what I would do too, we just have to do what we do untill it's time to do something else. Thinking about this kept me calm most of the time.

Anyway, it doesn't really matter anymore. I left home this evening to go to the Belgian SJM monastery. My mother walked me to the train station.Tomorrow evening I'm leaving with an SJM priest, to stay the night at the other priest's house, wich means 100 kilometers less to do on Monday. In the morning, the 3 of us will leave for Austria.

 

I'm leaving my laptop in Belgium, so this could be my last post on Phatmass for now. Tuesday I'll start as a candidate for 3 months. Before entering the noviciate (usually on Epiphany), they send us back home for about a week. So maybe I'll be able to give an update then. If somebody wants to write me, AnneLine has the adress.

[AnneLine]

Yup she does, NonNovi....

 

So we pray you on  your way.  You leave your birth family.... and your PhatPhamily... but you Go with God into the arms of God... not a bad exchange.

 

Hope we can hear from you in the future!!!!

 

AnneLine has proven to be a Really Bad correspondent, so the rest of you poke me so I remember to write, ok?   Phamily does this for each other....

[TheresaThoma]

We'll make sure to poke you AL!

 Non Novi my God Bless you and our Lady keep you under her protective mantel!

[AnneLine]

Thank you.  I for my part will be sure to wear extra padding lest you get too enthusiastic!  ;)

[Aya Sophia]

we just have to do what we do untill it's time to do something else.

 

Amen to this. Seems to work in all walks of life....

 

Wishing you fruitful discernment as you begin your candidacy.  "Pray, hope and don't worry."