Today’s session was a preparation for tomorrow’s “Lasallian pilgrimage through Rome.” Virtually simultaneous with De La Salle’s founding of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (1680), he sent a Brother – Gabriel Drolin to Rome (1702) for the twin purposes of establishing a school and, over time, preparing the way for Papal approval of the young religious congregation. While this topic may appear to be out of sync with the issues that we have been considering so far (the historical roots of the vow of Association, the understanding behind the choice of the word “Brother” to characterize the members of the new congregation and its significance in the changing world of the new millennium), in some ways it was a perfect “pit stop” for what we will be studying in the next several sessions (the growing understanding by successive General Chapters of the importance attached to including lay people in the “Shared Mission” of the Christian Brothers): even at an early stage of the Institute’s development, De La Salle was looking towards the future and what needed to be in place to ensure the Mission of providing a “human and Christian education for the young, especially the poor” would outlast him. Our presence at this special session of CIL is a modern expression of that same approach. By walking in the footsteps of Brother Gabriel Drolin, we can connect the challenges of a future only dimly perceived with the experience of the Founder over three hundred years ago.
There isn’t room to go into all that we learned about Gabriel Drolin except to say that, by any measure, he was a remarkable man. Born 13 years after De la Salle, Drolin was one of the early participants (1684) in the Founder’s enterprise and quickly earned his trust and affection. He was one of two Brothers, along with De la Salle, who took the “Heroic Vow” (at a terribly low point in the enterprise, De La Salle and two of his most trusted Brothers vowed, in secret to remain together to ensure that the Institute would survive – even if they had to live on bread alone) in 1691 and was one of 12 Brothers who professed perpetual vows with De la Salle in 1694. In 1702, when it appeared that the Institute would survive, De La Salle sent Gabriel and another Brother to Rome. The second Brother lost heart and returned to France. Brother Gabriel remained in Rome for the next 26 years, returning only after the second objective – obtaining the Pope’s approval of the Institute – had been realized.
We had only a short afternoon break so I took the opportunity to hop on the Metro to the Vatican, where I’m told, the only reliable postal service in Italy exists, and mailed some postcards. If you don’t get it before I return, blame the Pope.
*It's not at all unusual to wander the streets of Rome and come across religious art work attached to public buildings - seemingly at random. This piece of art work- reminiscent of the Della Robbia style - is mounted on the corner of Banco Roma on Via Sistina.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
What would you do if you had to spend 26 years in Rome by yourself?
Today’s session was a preparation for tomorrow’s “Lasallian pilgrimage through Rome.” Virtually simultaneous with De La Salle’s founding of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (1680), he sent a Brother – Gabriel Drolin to Rome (1702) for the twin purposes of establishing a school and, over time, preparing the way for Papal approval of the young religious congregation. While this topic may appear to be out of sync with the issues that we have been considering so far (the historical roots of the vow of Association, the understanding behind the choice of the word “Brother” to characterize the members of the new congregation and its significance in the changing world of the new millennium), in some ways it was a perfect “pit stop” for what we will be studying in the next several sessions (the growing understanding by successive General Chapters of the importance attached to including lay people in the “Shared Mission” of the Christian Brothers): even at an early stage of the Institute’s development, De La Salle was looking towards the future and what needed to be in place to ensure the Mission of providing a “human and Christian education for the young, especially the poor” would outlast him. Our presence at this special session of CIL is a modern expression of that same approach. By walking in the footsteps of Brother Gabriel Drolin, we can connect the challenges of a future only dimly perceived with the experience of the Founder over three hundred years ago.
There isn’t room to go into all that we learned about Gabriel Drolin except to say that, by any measure, he was a remarkable man. Born 13 years after De la Salle, Drolin was one of the early participants (1684) in the Founder’s enterprise and quickly earned his trust and affection. He was one of two Brothers, along with De la Salle, who took the “Heroic Vow” (at a terribly low point in the enterprise, De La Salle and two of his most trusted Brothers vowed, in secret to remain together to ensure that the Institute would survive – even if they had to live on bread alone) in 1691 and was one of 12 Brothers who professed perpetual vows with De la Salle in 1694. In 1702, when it appeared that the Institute would survive, De La Salle sent Gabriel and another Brother to Rome. The second Brother lost heart and returned to France. Brother Gabriel remained in Rome for the next 26 years, returning only after the second objective – obtaining the Pope’s approval of the Institute – had been realized.
We had only a short afternoon break so I took the opportunity to hop on the Metro to the Vatican, where I’m told, the only reliable postal service in Italy exists, and mailed some postcards. If you don’t get it before I return, blame the Pope.
*It's not at all unusual to wander the streets of Rome and come across religious art work attached to public buildings - seemingly at random. This piece of art work- reminiscent of the Della Robbia style - is mounted on the corner of Banco Roma on Via Sistina.
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I look forward each evening to reading Richard's blog. Its facinating to learn about the history of the brothers. I am hoping for an evening seminar upon return.
ReplyDeleteScott Hancock