CHAPTER II
THE PREFECT OF POSTULANTS
The figure of the prefect of postulants has been formed and delineated through the various Regulations issued in the Congregation by the Superiors General and the training sector of the same. Although Fr. Founder did not speak explicitly of him, because in his time there were no postulants in the Congregation, nevertheless its configuration was equated to the figure of the prefect of students always saving the differences of stages.[1]
- Fr. José Xifré
1st. P. Xifré, following the suggestion of Fr. Founder and already counting with the reality of some children and adolescents aspirants who had been admitted in the house of Barbastro, wrote in 1876 a first special Regulation for the admission of individuals to the class of aspirants in the Residences of our Congregation. In it, besides authorizing the superiors to admit children into their respective homes, develops a Rule of life for candidates that forms a small formative code: time of rest, prayer and spiritual life, study and community and domestic services[2].
As formator there will be a Father of the community, appointed by the Superior, with qualities provided for his function, who will take charge of the group of postulants. Two pedagogical criteria must be taken into account: the graduality and provide the candidate with knowledge of the Congregation, both theoretical and practical through community life. This is why:
“They will be given half an hour of meditation adapted to their age (…) There will also be, in the evening, another lecture on the second part of the Constitutions, which they must also learn by heart, making, the manager, some explanation about them”.[3]
2º. Later, Fr. Xifré himself, following the guidelines of the Fifth General Chapter, drafted another[4] Regulation for the Colleges of our Congregation , which was included in the 20th edition of the Spirit of the Congregation of 1892. [5]
The prefect, although he has no section or chapter devoted to either the superior or the prefect, is referred to throughout the entire regulation. In particular, we ask you once again for graduality giving instructions so that everything is proportionate to your condition and edady that promotes piety, respect and love for the Congregation :
“In the scientific and in everything else, always foster a spirit of piety, respect and love for the Congregation, even in explanations and questions on the same sciences”[6].
3º. A new Regulation for the Postulant Colleges was written by Fr. Xifré in 1894 which takes up, expands and develops the previous regulations, although it does not include any Curriculum. It is a true treatise of pedagogy exclusi[7]vely for this formative stage and fruit of the congregational experience. This regulation will be of great importance as a basis for subsequent regulations. [8]
The prefects should concentrate their efforts on ensuring that applicants achieve the training objective of this stage; that is to say:
“They should acquire the appropriate bodily development, and be instructed in all the knowledge that the Congregation has established for that age, and above all so that they are educated and form their hearts in the spirit of piety, of the zeal and self-denial that corresponds to the career of Missionary, to which they have been called”[9].
There are references to the duties of P. Superior and articles specially dedicated to trainers (PP. Prefects, Teachers and Coadjutors); The aim is to describe clearly their respective roles and to define their responsibilities. And to coordinate, review and stimulate training there is talk of the monthly Boards which, as their name suggests, will meet once a month, after the local chapter. Thus:
- a) The Prefect, in order to properly perform his function, besides faithfully fulfilling the regulation, must pray much, particularly to the Heart of Mary:
“Pray, therefore, much the Prefect in order to obtain from heaven, and particularly from the Immaculate Heart of our Mother, the most special gift of forming those tender hearts for God and for our Congregation”. [10]
The most important function of the Prefect of postulants is to form his heart for the exercise of virtues:
“The third and certainly the most important duty of the Rev. P. Prefect to the Postulants is to form his heart well. It would be of no use to a postulant, however natural a talent he may have, if he lacked the necessary virtue for the apostolic ministry to which he has been called”.[11]
The prefect guides the full training of the applicants . He must take care of the physical health of his relatives and especially he[12] must be more solicitous for them if any one should fall ill. He must be aware, together with the other trainers, of the study and scientific exploitation of the applicants. He must be very careful to ensure that, from the moment of their admission to the College, they are formed in the spirit of true and solid piety. He must instruct them in Christian doctrine, in moral and sacramental life, in religious vocation and the demands that it entails, and in urbanity. He or she must monitor the progress of the training centre and the behaviour of the candidates at different times in their lives.
The pedagogy must be gradual. The meditation and conversation of Sundays and holidays must be adapted to your needs and abilities. The Prefect must also develop a personalized pedagogy adapted to each of the postulants. He must instill in them that they act out of conscience, love and fear of God, not out of human fear or respect. And he must talk to each of them periodically. [13]
b) The PP. Coadjutors or Auxiliaries must form a team with the Prefect, working all in unity of feelings and action. And so they must live in harmony with him, they must have the same feeling and desire for him regarding the march of the College and must see “in everything one thing with the Rdo. P. Prefect, to achieve unity of action and complete harmony” .[14]
c) Teachers, in addition to their qualifications and academic preparation, must be very spiritual. They must always and in all things foster a spirit of piety, respect and love for the Congregation, and be extremely understanding with the neediest whom they are to help with true zeal and patience.
- PP. Clemente Serrat and Martín Alsina
As time went by, the new requirements of schools and pedagogy, the suggestions of trainers and the indications of the General Chapters, the regulations were gradually updated.
1º. The new Rules for the Postulant Colleges were published in the time of Fr. Clemente Serrat in 1900 and, for their elaboration, they took into account:[15]
“11. The regulation of 1894 with the reforms introduced by its Rma. subsequently; 21. The provisions made in the General Chapters of Madrid, Cervera and Santo Domingo; and 31. The reports of the Rdos. Prefect Fathers of our Colleges and other Rdos. Parents of recognized illustration”.[16]
This regulation preserves the fundamental training aspects of the previous one of P. Xifré which, as we said, would serve as a basis for subsequent regulations. It introduces several changes in its internal organization, develops more widely some points and adds, as a novelty, some Instructions for the transfer of postulants to the Novitiate and several appendices . [17]
- a) With regard to the formators (prefects, professors and coadjutors), in addition to their own functions, it develops more explicitly the functions of the superiors. These are, among other things, two very important points:
“Ensure […] that the Prefects and Professors do not lack the books necessary for the proper performance of their duties […]. Finally, they are reminded […] of the absolute prohibition to entrust preaching outside the home to the Rdos. PP. Prefects and even in the church itself, if they are to distract them from their main purpose that care of postulants. The same thing we say about PP. Teachers, who should not be entrusted with preaching either at home or away from home, when this would be to the detriment of the explanation of the respective subjects, which is their main responsibility”. [18]
b) Prefects are urged to maintain regular contact with the applicants[19]. It introduces some pedagogical criteria for the fraternal correction of postulants. Correction must be based on justice, it must be equitable, discreet in time and opportunity, proportionate to the age and mental and spiritual conditions of the postulant, gradual in its application and founded on charity. And asks the Prefects, in correcting, besides asking with humility and fervor for the necessary help to exercise this delicate function, to review:[20] “of charity to their beloved Postulants; of that charity which abhors sin and loves the sinner,.”[21].
21. In the time of Fr. Alsina, 1907, another edition (the third) of the Regulation for the Postulants’ Colleges is made. Both the principles and guidelines for training are essentially consistent with the previous regulations. [22]
It is important to highlight what he says about superiors and teachers; When they have to warn or correct the postulants, they must be fair, moderate and moved only by holy and peaceful zeal. They must not be put to the ground or saddened by putting their vocation in crisis. They must be convinced that, ”More fruits will be obtained with persuasion and gentleness, than with measures of rigor, and take charge of the weakness of the child, to which and not to malice is to attribute almost all its defects. With great patience and meekness… the evils will be remedied more effectively”.[23]
The timetables, which are common to all applicant centres in order to promote the order of applicants, are flexible in their application. The reality imposes this openness. Therefore, the superiors are authorized to vary the hours on certain days with reasonable cause and after hearing the opinion of the prefects[24].
31. The above regulations, although they make training indications directed to the postulants, do not have direct references to them as educational establishment. To complete the educational framework, in times of Fr. Alsina appears the Mirror of the Postulant, a kind of directory or regulation addressed to the small seminarians of the Congregation. According to this regulation, the postulants must maintain a personal relationship, open and sincere, with the P. Prefect[25].[26]
- Fr. Nicolás García
It is worth starting with a precious text of Fr. Nicolas that clearly expresses his thought on what the trainer is and must be. A text which can be applied to trainers at all stages:
“Allow me to say a special word for you (trainers). The Holy Spirit is the one who directs souls. He is the one who forms in the essence of the soul the image of Jesus Christ, who is all perfection. He is the one who gives our faculties the virtue of faith, hope and charity. The Holy Spirit infuses supernatural moral virtues and helps with his grace in those acquired. He is the one who moves all that spiritual organism and makes man act as a child of God. That is true; But it is also true that the Holy Spirit, as usual, is used for this masterpiece of our cooperation, and that the Director, Superior, Prefect, Teacher, Confessor, Professor, can help or hinder this great work. The responsibility is very serious. Saint John of the Cross laments that many souls do not reach perfection, either because they have no Director, or because he hinders the work of the Holy Spirit. That’s why the Saints want to choose one director out of a thousand. In the Congregation, the Director is chosen by the Major Superior and the ordinary Confessor. It cannot be otherwise, because the Church, and God through her, demands a special perfection in her Clergy and in her Religion. The directors have a great responsibility. The good and evil of the Congregation depends on their performance. The fruit of the sacred ministries ordinarily depends on the perfection of the ministers of God. The glory of God, the good of souls and of the Congregation, and consequently our perfection and even salvation, are in that we perform well our duties as Directors. These duties are expressed in the rules of each trade. With the office of Provincial, Superior, Minister, Teacher, Prefect, Professor, Confessor, etc., there is the declaration of the respective duty, which is further clarified in the Codex and in the Circulars and traditions of the Congregation. If we keep them, we will have a model Congregation; If we do not comply, the Congregation will not go well; but God will require us to pay the severest”. [27]
. During the Postulancy it is important to train future missionaries with an efficient, complete and consistent formation capable of facing the difficulties of the future:
“In the Postulancy must be laid the general foundations, which are the fear of God, piety, especially towards the Virgin Mary, discipline or respect and industriousness.[28]
The prefect must base spiritual formation on holy fear of God, which is to be filial and not servile. The fear of God is a starting point for the postulant to fully convert to the new life, break with sin and seek perfection and fidelity in everything:
“The Prefects must work hard to foster holy fear in the Postulants, not only at conferences or private conversations, by instilling in them a holy fear of all guilt and making them exercise acts of presence of God. This fear must be filial and not servile, looking more to the love of God than to sorrow, and therefore foster piety in these young people, particularly devotion to Mary, which is what will keep them from sin and united with God”[29].
Together with the holy fear of God , the prefects must train the postulants, through discipline and self-denial, to renounce themselves and be docile to prepare them to overcome the difficulties of obedience and community life:
“To be a missionary one needs a great self-denial; It is therefore necessary to get used to the young postulants in the discipline… This is a point to which we draw the attention of all those involved in the training of these young people. If there is no more unity of action among the Superiors, Prefects, Teachers and Confessors, and all unanimously do not try to imbue that spirit of docility, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for our Communities to reach the type of perfection, in order to obedience and charity, that our Founding Father demands in the Holy Constitutions”. [30]
Finally, the prefects must encourage piety. This must be cultivated as a necessary condition for the postulant to persevere in virtue, particularly in virtue of chastity. It must be formed in a solid piety towards God, the Heart of Mary, Fr. Founder and the saints co-patrons of the Congregation; a piety that is manifested in sacramental life and also in respect for all Superiors:
“The young person needs great piety to persevere in virtue, especially to keep chastity, and more particularly in the Congregation he needs sincere, enthusiastic and practical devotion to the Heart of Mary. The Prefects should exercise much to young people in these practices, taking care that they frequent the gifts to Mary and visits to Jesus in the Sacrament; thus maintain purity and virtue in their Postulates.[31]“
- Fr. Peter Schweiger
1º. The trainer must encourage individualised training. For Fr. Schweiger, a first vocational selection is not enough. Vocations to our Congregation, once accepted, must be “cultivated and formed with solicitous care”[32]. The P. General, although it does not give any training standard in this regard and follows the congregational tradition of vocation reception, emphasizes some pedagogical criteria.
The talents and gifts of the people of the postulants are the greatest wealth of the Congregation. They must be developed from the very beginning of training in a harmonious manner, avoiding any dichotomy:
“…the education and training of the candidate for religious life cannot be divided into sections or sections, so that first natural virtues are cultivated and then supernatural ones; Training is an organic evolution of human values, which is spontaneous, gradual and harmonious” . [33]
Well-cultivated talents will be of great benefit to the Congregation and its apostolic mission[34]. To this end, training must be as personalised as possible and not too vague. The prefect must attend to each applicant according to his or her way of being, talents and personal abilities:
“Since religious life is not a form of religion but an imitation of Christ as the norm and way of life, young candidates must be introduced to this new way of life from the very beginning by means of appropriate instructions and exercises adapted to their condition and ability”.[35]
2º. The training centre should be like the second family of the applicant. The prefect must create a family atmosphere that makes living together and staying in the Congregation attractive and pleasant:
“This familiar breeze needs to be felt mainly on those who come from the world to the Congregation, so that when they approach us, especially the children and young postulants, spontaneously remind them of the Bonum est nous hic esse: It’s good to be here”[36].
3º. Finally, in the Manual of the Claretian Seminarian ( 1962)[37], updating the old Mirror of the Postulant,speaking of superiors states that the prefect is the immediate superior of the seminarians and, therefore, responsible for their formation. The seminarians will see in him the representative of God and show perfect obedience to him. They will pray for him, speak well of him and defend him whenever necessary. They will accept your corrections with submission and love.[38]
[1] The CIA states that everything said about the prefect of students in its corresponding chapter (De scholastichorum praefecto, cap. XXVI) is to be applied, keeping the just proporció, to the prefect of postulants (“Praefectis quoque Postulatium, servato proportione, applicantur”, CIA 1925, 459; 1940, 474; 1953, 375). Cf. also Dispositions,1900,n.100;1905,n.145.
[2] ? J. XIFRÉ, Special Regulations for the admission of individuals to class of aspirants in the Residences of our Congregation, Thuir, 17 January 1876: document autograph in AGCMF, CF, 08, 01, 15b. It was published by Fr. John Postíus in the magazine Iris de Paz, January 1929, n. 1645, pp. 7-8.
[3] ? J. XIFRÉ, Special Rules…, pp. 2-3.
[4] ? The 5th General Chapter (Madrid 1888) decided to separate and reorganize the training centres, leaving them as postulant centres in Barbastro, Segovia and Alagón. Also saw the need for a special regulation for applicants and agreed on the basis to be developed: “Here we have the advantage of being able to attend to the planned reform of the regulations for postulants, who should not follow the path of novices and professed, both in the material and spiritual fields. But since this project requires a careful study, in which important data are kept in view, the Chapter agreed to appoint a commission to draw up the bases for a special regulation for postulants” (V GENERAL CHAPTER, meeting of the evening of 10 June: AGCMF, AD, 1, 22).
This commission must have worked during the Chapter, for three days later, in the afternoon session of the 13th, it says: “Also the commission responsible for the bases for the rules of postulants presented to the Chapter its work; and, read as they were, were approved unanimously, being to keep them in mind very soon after that, with the installation of the Novitiate and Scholasticate at the appropriate point, the Colleges remain with only the Postulants” (Ib., June 13, afternoon session: AGCMF, AD, 01, 22).
[5] ? “… in accordance with the provisions of the General Chapter held in Madrid in 1888, and after hearing the opinion of the Rdos. Parents General Consultants, and the Prefects, Teachers and Professors of the expressed Colleges, we have decided to present you the following Rules and Curriculum, Expecting from your recognized zeal and love for the congregation that you will receive it with pleasure and willingly perform it faithfully” (J. XIFRÉ, Reglamento para los Colegios de nuestra Congregación, in Espíritu de la Congregación, E.C., Madrid 1892, pp. 217-229).
[6] ? J. XIFRÉ, Regulation…, 1892, E.C.p. 225.
[7] ? J. XIFRÉ, Regulations for the Postulants’ Colleges of the Institute of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Madrid 1894, AGCMF: 11, 4, 22, op. 100, pp.29.
[8] ? “… we have prayed, observed and heard the opinion of many of our brothers so that nothing should be left out of this regulation, according to the idea and plan which we had drawn up for the proper functioning of these Colleges” (J. XIFRÉ, Regulation…, 1894, Introduction, p. 3).
[9] ? J. XIFRÉ, Regulation…, 1894, chap. 31, p. 9.
[10] ? J. XIFRÉ, Reglamento…, 1894, chap. 31, art. 31, p. 16.
[11] ? J. XIFRÉ, ibid., p. 16.
[12] ? Through these documents the traditional figure of the Claretian trainer is outlined. Speaking of the relationship between teachers and applicants, the regulation says: “Once they leave (the classes), they are again (the applicants) under the immediate inspection and care of the RDO. Mr. Prefect” (J. XIFRÉ, ibid., p. 16).
[13] ? J. XIFRE, Reglamento…, 1894, cap. 31, art. 31, n. 3, p. 20. This personal contact, which in the Congregation has reached spiritual direction, has been a traditional practice among us, as will be seen in Chapter VI.
[14] ? Cf. J. XIFRÉ, Reglamento…, 1894, cap. 31, art. 51, pp. 24-25.
[15] ? CMF, Regulations for the Postulants’ Colleges of the Institute of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Santo Domingo de la Calzada 1900, pp. 60.
[16] ? CMF, Regulation…, 1900, p. 4.
[17] ? The appendices are forms dealing with admission grounds, the examination prescribed for candidates and certain letters prescribed in the admission process (cf. CMF, Regulation… , 1900, pp. 47-60).
[18] ? CMF, Reglamento…, 1900, cap. 31, art. 21, III, pp. 25-26.
[19] ? CMF, Reglamento…, 1900, cap. 31, art. 31, III, p. 33.
[20] ? Cf. CMF, Reglamento…, 1900, cap. 31, art. 31, V, pp. 36-37.
[21] ? CMF, Reglamento…, 1900, cap. 31, art. 31, V, pp. 37-38.
[22] ? CMF, Regulation for the Postulants’ Colleges of the Institute of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Aranda de Duero 1907, pp. 48.
[23] ? CMF. Regulation…, 1907, p. 19.
[24] ? CMF, Regulation…, 1907, p. 32.
[25] ? CMF, Mirror of the Postulant or Directory for the Postulants of the College of Vich, pp. 32. It has no author name, place or date of publication. It is known from other sources that it was written by Fr. Ribera while in Vich for the postulants of that center (cf. J. M. BERENGUERAS, Vida del P. Ribera, Barcelona 1950, p. 109). From the correspondence of Fr. Ribera it is deduced that he wrote it in the first months of 1907 (AGCMF, GR, 03, 02, 40; GR, 03, 02, 31). Several editions (1917, 1937) and translations into different languages were made. In 1962 an updated adaptation was published under the name of Manual del Seminarista Claretia no (CMF. Prefecture General for Training, Rome 1962, pp. 183).
[26] ? CMF, Mirror of the Postulant… ,Cap. 21, n. 6, pp. 7-8.
[27] ? N. GARCIA, circular on Religious, Missionary and Claretian formation, (FRMC), Annals , 39 (1947), pp. 65-119; cita en pp. 125-126.
[28] ? N. GARCIA, La formación…, CLCC, p. 552
[29] ? N. GARCIA, circular on the Formation of our students, Analestes , 28 (1932), pp. 225-224, CLCC, pp. 513-533; cita en ColCC, p. 525; cf. also the circulars on Religious, Missionary and Claretian Formation (FRMC), Anales, 39 (1947), pp. 65-119; cited on p. 111.
[30] ? N. GARCIA, Formación…, ColCC, pp. 526-527.
[31] ? N. GARCIA, Formación…, ColCC, p. 626; cf., también, N. GARCIA, FRMC, p. 111.
[32] ? P. SCHWEIGER, circular De vocationibus coop, Annalestandis, seligendis, colendis et de dono propiae vocationis aestimando, 43 (1955), pp. 155-176; See p. 163. The quotations refer to Annales and the texts, in Spanish, are taken from the translation that was published in the Chronicle of the Claretian Province of Castile, 155 (1955), pp. 167-175 and 156 (1956), pp. 199-207.
[33] ? P. SCHWEIGER, De vocationibus…, IV, 2, p. 165.
[34] ? Cf. P. SCHWEIGER, De vocationibus…, IV, 1, pp. 164-165.
[35] ? P. SCHWEIGER, De vocationibus…, IV, 3, p. 166.
[36] ? P. SCHWEIGER, De vocationibus…, IV, 1, p. 164.
[37] ? PREFECTURE GENERAL OF FORMATION, Manual of the Claretian Seminarian, Madrid 1962, pp. 183.
[38] ? Cf. Ib., pp. 17-18, n. 2-6.