Vocation
WHAT IS A BROTHER
According to Father Champagnat
Written for us by one of the first brothers, early 19th century.
Our Founder, Marcellin Champagnat, had a high opinion of the brothers’ religious vocation and their ministry. In his conferences, he often praised the value and merit of the exalted function of catechist. He went on and on whenever he was praising this task, which he called an apostolic ministry, and whenever he was speaking of all the good which can be done by a brother who really has the spirit of his state.
To engrave his teachings on this point more deeply on the minds of the brothers, in a sort of outline form, he usually limited himself to answering this question: What is a brother? Here is the substance of his answers. We think they contain what is best suited to make the brothers understand the holiness of their vocation, and give them a high esteem for their task of catechizing children.
What is a brother?
1. A brother is someone predestined for great piety, a very pure life and solid virtue; a soul for whom God’s mercy has special plans.
2. A brother is God’s co-worker and Jesus Christ’s partner in the holy mission of saving souls.
3. A brother is the wise man Isaiah speaks of, who spends his life laying foundations and rebuilding ruins.
4. A brother is a substitute father and mother.
5. A brother is the assistant of the pastors of the Church.
6. A brother replaces soldiers and police officers.
7. A brother is the children’s guardian angel.
8. A brother is a model and a living gospel for the children and for everyone else.
9. A brother is a sower of the gospel.
10. A brother is a man who, following the example of Jesus Christ, passes through this world doing good.
11. Finally, a brother is a very effective bulwark against the evil and contagion of the world.
As narrated by Brother Jean-Baptiste
In a booklet published in 1991 by the Union of Superiors General of Brothers Congregations, wrote the following:
“The Brother’s vocation is not always well understood, even by those closest to us.”
“It is only the Brother who gives unequivocal witness to the religious life. If a man is a religious priest, people tend to see him as a priest, rather than as a religious. ….
The Brother is the one who, faced with all the possibilities open to him, chooses a form of life in the Church simply as a religious. Those who want to understand what the religious life is should just look at the Brothers!”
Brother Ronald Gibson, FMS, describes the brotherhood in the following terms:
“The Brotherhood is made up of men who are responding to a special call from God: this is the ultimate justification of this form of life. It is a state that has been welcomed and verified by the ecclesiastical authorities as a genuine and magnificent expression of the Christian life, directed to meet a special need within the Church. It is therefore, a life that has intrinsic validity, and a relevance to the apostolic work of the modern Church.”
Brother Corey Brost, C.S.V. says this:
“… once I began ministry with young people, I realized how much I valued ministry as a brother.”
“There are three reasons why I do:
1) brothers have availability;
2) our lifestyle gives witness to gospel values;
3) we make good mentors. “We walk with people through life. We stand with them, especially in their struggles and confusion. Our community life and our vows open us to share life with those to whom we minister.”
Brother Chris Ford, F.S.C. explains it this way:
“A brother’s vocation implies a kinship that goes beyond any role or task. It means becoming part of others and, in turn, letting them become part of you.”
“It is not their work that determines who they are; rather, it’s the quality of the relationships they form with people that best characterize who brothers are for the Christian community.”
