A Vocation Begins

SAINT Anthony and Pope Leo XIV have some points in common. They both have a connection to Saint Francis – Anthony became a follower of Saint Francis and Pope Leo’s baptismal name is Robert Francis. Both are promoters of the Holy Spirit. Both entered the Augustinian Order, where they received extensive training in theology and other subjects.

A forceful orator, Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430) initially embraced and promoted the Manichean heresy. Through his mother’s fervent prayers, the preaching of Saint Ambrose, and God’s grace, Augustine became a Christian, a priest and eventually a bishop. Recognized as a doctor of the Church for his orderly and thorough texts, Augustine gathered around himself like-minded Christian men who lived together. About the year 400 Augustine wrote their rule of life, which outlined how to live religious life in community. About 423 he wrote a similar Rule for nuns, emphasizing poverty, chastity, obedience, charity, detachment, labor, fasting and abstinence, prayer and the common life.

Shortly before Augustine’s death in 430, the Vandals, a powerful Germanic tribe which followed the Arian faith, invaded northern Africa and laid siege to Hippo, where Augustine lay dying. Arianism was a Christological doctrine which rejected the traditional notion of the Trinity and considered Jesus to be a creation of God, and therefore distinct from God.

After Augustine’s death the Vandals conquered and burned Hippo, causing its clergy and religious to flee to Europe, taking with them the Rule of Saint Augustine. Thus, the Rule spread throughout the known world.

Around 1147, Augustinian monks founded Saint Vincent’s Monastery ‘outside the walls’ of Lisbon, the birthplace of Fernando, the future Saint Anthony of Padua. It was here, around the year 1210, that a 15-year-old Fernando came to seek entry.

Lion of Judah

Deep in the airy monastery library of Saint Vincent’s ‘outside the walls,’ Father Paulo was preparing a sermon on Chapter 5 of the Book of Revelation. The Bible lay open on the solid pine table before him, its words swimming in the summer sunlight beaming through the open windows.

“Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals,” Paulo read.

The one on the throne was God the Father.

“And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.”

The only one worthy was on the throne.  

“I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’”

The Lion of the tribe of Judah was Christ, transformed into a Lamb in the next verse.

“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne.” In verse 7, the Lamb opened the seals.

No earthly ruler, not even Portugal’s King Afonso III, not even the Pope Innocent III, was worthy. Only the slain but living Lamb.

Noble descent

What did Saint Augustine say about the Lion of the tribe of Judah? Paulo walked to a dark stained bookcase and selected a volume. He thought the reference might be there. He was scanning the sermons when the porter’s bell rang. Three tolls. A pause. One toll. Only Brother Felipe rang this bell.

Paulo plucked two pieces of straw from a clay vase on the table and marked his place in the Bible and the sermons. Closing the books where they lay, he hastened down the corridor to a front office, his black, floor length tunic sweeping the gray tiled floor. Felipe’s tolling indicated that a new aspirant had knocked at the door. One of Father Paulo’s tasks was to gauge the suitability of new aspirants.

Sure enough, a handsomely dressed, clean shaven young man was standing beside Brother Felipe. Nothing about him was extraordinary. He was stocky, about average height, small dark eyes, plump cheeks, a small mouth.  

“Father Paulo, this is Senhor Fernando de Vicente Martins de Bulhões. He is requesting admission.” Felipe bowed, then backed out of the room, leaving the two men alone.

Paulo motioned to a chair near his desk. “Sit down, Senhor Fernando.”

Paulo pulled his chair forward from behind the desk and sat opposite the young knight. “I have heard of Senhor Pedro Martins de Bulhões.”

“My uncle,” Fernando smiled.

“You descend from a family of noble knights. Why do you wish to enter a monastery? Surely a future as a knight would hold more promise.”

Fernando’s gaze steadily met Paulo’s. “Father, if I stay in the world, I am in danger of losing my soul.”

Religious vocation

Paulo had not often heard that reason as motivation to enter Saint Vincent’s. Most aspirants wanted to be better educated, to preach the message of Christ, to participate in charitable ministries. The poorer aspirants simply wanted to be fed.

“What makes you feel that your soul is in danger?”

“The world is too attractive. Wealth. Honor. Stability. A noble wife. A villa. These things are empty, Father, but I will embrace them if I remain longer in the world.”

“Don’t your parents wish you to embrace them?”

“Most definitely.”

“You would reject your parents’ plans?”

“I must if I am to be at peace and serve God as I hope He is asking of me.”

“Is He asking this of you?”

“I believe so.”

“What do you know of our life here?”

“That you pray. Study. Preach. Help the poor. Tend your gardens.”

“You can envision yourself doing these things?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Are you educated, Senhor?”

“I have been instructed at the cathedral school.”  

“And that instruction has now ended.”

“Yes, Father. I am 15.”

“Return home and pray about this, Senhor. If, in two weeks, you still feel the same about entering, return here for admission.”

Fernando grinned. “Thank you, Father.”

Gift of memory

“Before you leave, did the canons teach you anything about Saint Augustine?”

“Yes.”

“Might you happen to remember what he said about Christ being the Lion of the Tribe of Juda?”

“I believe Saint Augustine mentioned this in his sermon on the parable of the sower. In Scripture, Christ is both a lion and a lamb. The devil is never called a lamb because lambs are gentle and non-threatening but, due to his savagery, the devil is called a lion in 1 Peter 5:8. ‘Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.’ Contrarywise, Christ is called a lion in Revelation 5:5. “Behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” Jesus is called a Lion because of his strength, authority, and majesty. However, in Revelations 5:6, the Lamb who was slain but lives opens the seals. Christ is both a powerful lion and a gentle lamb.  Only in God can such opposites co-exist.”

“God has given you a gift of memory, Senhor Fernando. I suspect you will remember your two week appointment.”

Fernando grinned. “Yes, Father. I’ll remember.”

Meditation

What is your vocation – the deep calling or purpose that gives your life meaning? How did you come to recognize this calling? What doubts, fears or external challenges have you had to overcome to follow your vocation? Who has supported you along the way? Whose guidance, encouragement or example helped you stay true to your path? How has your vocation shaped the way you live, love and serve others? In turn, whom have you encouraged or mentored in discovering and pursuing their vocation?