VICE-PROVINCE OF THAILAND - SAMPRAN

some thoughts of Thai seminarians to their Betharramite Brothers

In September 2008, young Thai  religious deepened the St Michael's spirituality with Missis Isabelle Pommel, teacher in theology. Through the final text, they deliver us the fruits of their thoughts.

Vocation

What is the real meaning of "vocation" for us ?

Are we ready to leave everything to follow Christ?

Many people think that to be a priest is to choose a comfortable life. In fact, it is very difficult to deny our own desire, our own-will, to follow God's will. Every vocation is good if we respond to our own vocation.

Love

St. Michael said : "More for love than any other reason."

We want to practise love in our own vocation and in our seminarian life. Love is inconditional. We have to practise love like Jesus loves.

Love is in everything and can help us in every trial. We are nothing if we have no love.

Love is the most important thing in our community life. We cannot live in the community by ourselves, but we need others to be our companions. Community life makes us united with the other members. We should act in accordance with community life.

Cross

Every one should carry his own cross.

Our cross is our difficulties in everyday life such as studies, duties, responsabilities, contacts with whom we don't like.

We cannot compare our cross to Jesus'one, it is just a piece of Jesus' cross. We cannot carry it by our own, but with God's help, we can carry it.

Obedience

Obedience is the first step of following Christ. We would like to live obedience as the Son of God did, unto death.

When we obey God's will, we are like His faithful servants. But obedience should not be a blind obedience.

Poverty

Poverty is the renuciation of wealth, family and friends, and so on, so that we may follow Christ whole-heartedly. Poverty is self-denial of what make us comfortable.

Poverty is to give ourselves totally to God.

Poverty means to be poor in ourinner life : trying to empty ourselves to ask God to fill us.

Brothers Andrew Athit, David Pitak, Gabriel Suphot, Gabriel Chaowit,

Albert Sa-at and Dominic Athit