Fr Maliekal, is trying hard to get the Brothers to write a sort of 'application' for their continuation or admission for the next year, akin to the Salesians writing one seeking admission or renewal of their temporary vows. Brothers do not really get what he is asking for since they have never done such a thing before. However, his intention of coaxing them to write down this small note is very very beneficial. It tells them to see for themselves where they stand in their vocational journey, their motivations, their reasons, their passion or lack of it...
I distinctly remember writing my own application forms - that's because I've written as many as 9 of them in as many years! While most of my companions would merely copy the sample given to us or preserved by them from their seniors, some of us would come up with our own script. However, we would be told more than once to include certain key phrases and sentences. But I always remember this exercise as a personal reminder of what I'm here for.
The Brothers now face the difficulty of now knowing what to write. More than a matter of text, for most of them, it is a matter of lack of content! Very many of them are here in the flow, not necessarily by a definitive choice that they made or are willing to review, if they ever made one. If pressed, they come up with very glossy and highly spiritual statements - the meaning or depth of which they have settled in for something very very petty/shallow but would never look beyond it nor let themselves be challenged to review the same.
I distinctly remember writing my own application forms - that's because I've written as many as 9 of them in as many years! While most of my companions would merely copy the sample given to us or preserved by them from their seniors, some of us would come up with our own script. However, we would be told more than once to include certain key phrases and sentences. But I always remember this exercise as a personal reminder of what I'm here for.
The Brothers now face the difficulty of now knowing what to write. More than a matter of text, for most of them, it is a matter of lack of content! Very many of them are here in the flow, not necessarily by a definitive choice that they made or are willing to review, if they ever made one. If pressed, they come up with very glossy and highly spiritual statements - the meaning or depth of which they have settled in for something very very petty/shallow but would never look beyond it nor let themselves be challenged to review the same.
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