Priestly vows training: Poverty

I will be writing about the three vows a priest normally takes when ordained.The vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience are the three common vows that we know priest takes when ordained.But in reality there are other vows a priest takes specially when he is a member of a religious institution.

The vow of poverty is the common thing we know a priest takes. But not all priest are required to take a vow of poverty. To know more about this topic please check Catholic Encyclopedia or Catholic Exchange .

When I entered the seminary there were two form of training I went through as regards the vow of poverty. One we cannot keep or hold money in our pockets and the second we cannot keep food in our cabinets/drawers.

Yes, we cannot keep money as long as we are inside the seminary. This is for both practical and psychological purposes. The practical purpose is that we without money in our pockets cannot sneak out from the seminary. Without money one seminarian cannot go out to buy things or go see movie. Since we don't have money a seminarian relies only on what is given as part of our training inside the seminary.

Psychological purpose of this training is that it trains a seminarian self-restraint. We don't spend; we only eat what the seminary offers. Money has a power, the power to buy. Without it we are trained to be contented to what we have. Which is what the vow of poverty makes a priest. Money is not evil as most people quote from the Bible "Money is the root of evil" rather "The love of money is the root of all evil". Money is either good or evil depending on how a person uses it.

The second training is that we are not allowed to keep food in our cabinets or drawers. Thus the store room or what we call "Minas" room comes into the picture. Still part of self restraint, there is a place and time to eat. Having food within one's reach tempts one to just grab and eat. It is customary for parents to bring food for their seminarian sons. In order to avoid the temptation to eat all those food are stored in the Minas room and only opened on particular time. It is only on meals and snack time that it is open.

The vow of poverty is not something that says "you can't have this or that" it is a way of instilling discipline and training a person to prioritize on more important things by being contented.

Big Brother

We are inside "kuya's bahay" so to speak.

Living in the seminary changed my life. Do you know how it is inside a seminary?

Let me put it this way. If you are watching Big Brother....like the Pinoy Big Brother...with all the rules but removing the controversies and other things in the Big Brother's house.:)

The seminary is like any other school. The only difference is that we are in one place. Inside our parents are not around to watch over us rather there are priest formators, teachers, and our big brothers so to speak.

We are group into twelve, named after the twelve apostles. Each group is compose of seniors, juniors, sophomore and freshmen. Freshmen are assigned to Seniors and we call them....guess what...Big brother.

They look after us making sure that we are not doing things that are against the rules. As I qoute our rector...Rules are like boxes, they keep you from harm so keep the rules and the rules will keep you." But besides that they are there to guide us in our personal journey to Christian life and if ever we are really called to the priesthood.

After some time I myself became Big brother. Its a task without any price but the reward is knowing that one can shape someone to be the best person that they can be.

Entering the seminary

I was too young back then. I really never said I want to be in the seminary. Usually our dad enrolls us to the Catholic High School in town just like all my older siblings. It was because of the influence of our SVD parish priest, Rev. Father August Herbers +, that I ended up staying in the seminary.

I really never made decisions for my own during those days. I just go what my parents say because I believe they have the best intentions for me. I secured all my documents to enter the seminary. Then I took the entrance test and had the chance to go around the seminary. It was quiet...it was summer thus the institution was silent. Seminarians were in their homes and parishes. But there I am, just going with the flow.




It was awkward; I am not good in communicating in English back then. I am just a young boy who recently graduated elementary. I went to three interviews one of which is an American SVD, Rev. John Donald Healy. The purpose of these interviews was to check the psychological status of every applicant.



After all that I was accepted. We were handed a list of things needed. In a way I was just like the typical English kids sent to a boarding school...but a different boarding school. They say the word "seminary" is derived from seminarium, translated as seed-bed. Thus the seminary is more than just a boarding house. It is a formation institution for future priest.

Priesthood:The journey of the chosen few

" For many are called but few were chosen" Matthew 24:14

This is the verse commonly qouted to illustrate the calling to the priestly vocation.

It is a vocation meaning it is a calling. It is a way of life and not a profession. It is also a state of life as differentiated from married life.

Not all can qualify to this vocation. As I start this writing, my intention is to share my experiences in the four walls of my Alma mater, Mary Help of Christians High School(Minor) Seminary. As the verse from Matthew says we started more than 100 and ended up graduating 23 from that institution. To my recollection 3 of my former classmates are now ordained priest and two are waiting for their ordination.

The journey to this calling is long. To serve God in this state is sacrifice.

If one continuously go from one step to another it would take about 9-10 years until one is ordained priest. In my case I started early but God has another calling for me. I started in my high school years. Part of the formation is passing four years of Philosophy. A priest must be equipped to face the different questions that one may have as regards faith. After Philosophy another four years of Theology. Part of the Philosophy studies is Theology but as a priest one must further his studies about God.

After all the studies a candidate tot he priesthood is given a year or two to really think about it. He will be made deacon take part of some priestly responsibilities as a way of his exposure to the priestly life. Further than that he will be given a chance to see other sides of life, its up to him how will he use his given time to really think about entering priesthood.

The bishop makes the final decision about a candidate's status. The members of the clergy of the Diocese will review and discuss a candidates fate if he can be ordained as priest. After this period which is commonly called regency and approval of the bishop a priest is ordained.

After this the priestly life starts. The challenges kicks in and staying as a priest will be a continuing battle.