Why Not Go All the Way?
By Br. Maximilian Mary, CFR |
 Just after meeting friars from our community at a Youth 2000 and especially after finishing college seminary with a solid foundation in philosophy, Latin, and other seminary courses, I believed I was ready to become a priest with the Friars of the Renewal. However, it was during novitiate as I was reading the lives of the Capuchin saints that I found myself gravitating toward the holy lay brothers. I wanted to have their earthiness and their matter-of-factness. During this time I finally put my nose to the grindstone, though I had spent the previous 22 years avoiding any type of manual labor. Now I found that I even like hands on work. But, most importantly, I realized that I didn't have the desire to be a priest.
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 I once considered myself to be a worthy candidated for the priesthood, largely because of my schooling. Now I share our Holy Father Francis' feeling of utter unworthiness to be a priest. I also share with St Francis the desire to give myself totally to the Lord as a Lesser Brother, evangelizing in simple ways and serving the poor and our community.
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 Being a lay brother also highlights our call to the religious life in community. When people often ask, " Why don't you go all the way?", I tell them that I plan on going all the way-all the way to the end of my life persevering in the vocation God wants of me which is to be a brother. Often they do not see the need or value of a brother. They are unaware of how brothers contribute to a stable infrastructure, helping the friary to be a place of growth instead of mere survival, for the friars and the poor we serve. |
I've seen my vocation grow and change, from seed to sapling and so forth, from diocesan to religious priest lay brother. I'm deeply grateful to Jesus and Mary because I love being a brother. |
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THE GENEROUS SERVICE OF THE BROTHER… |
…Can only be a response to God’s generosity in my life. God’s providence is manifested to people in our generous service; service becomes an earthly sign, of the Father, His goodness and providence, of His care and love. Though often unglamorous and maybe unappreciated sometimes, it remains true: to serve is to reign. |
 Generous service must be loving service because only love is truly life-giving (generous & generate have a common root word; there is a connection). Brother Leopold of Alpandiere was begging through towns in Spain during an especially anti-Catholic, anti-clerical, moment in history. Some farm hands, taking a break from their work, took the opportunity to ridicule Brother Leopold, “You all are good for nothing. Come here and help us instead of begging….and don’t bother telling us about Jesus…” Putting down his begging sack, he jumped over the fence, grabbed a pitchfork, and began to toss hay onto the cart even better than the farm hands. Without a word, his generous humble service and example inspired them to ask him about Jesus every time after he came by their way… |
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