The SDC Rule couldn’t have been promulgated on a more appropriate day. Today we are celebrating the feast of the Presentation of our Lord, or Candlemas, which is the Feast of Light, Christ himself. The Founder considered Candlemas as the day when the Society of Christian Doctrine was founded, as the Kalendarju Museumin from the 1930s to the 60s shows clearly. It was precisely on this day that the Founder gathered the first members in the Church of Nuzzo, Hamrun, since they did not yet have their own premises. The Church is also dedicating this day to those people who consecrate their life to God and who live under a religious Rule. Today, another page is being written in the history of the Society of Christian Doctrine, an event which bestows yet another special significance to the date of 2 February.

The Rule, which is being promulgated today in such a solemn manner, provides valuable help and enables us to be truly consecrated souls and thus fulfill the Founder’s objective – being light to those with whom we are acquainted and strive to bring them closer to Jesus Christ, the true light.

After approving the SDC Rule on 12 April 1932, Mgr Dom Mauro Caruana OSB met all the members of the Society in the Jesuit Church of Valletta, on Sunday 1 May, and amongst other things told them, "This [Rule] is God’s will for you."

Being both bishop and, more significantly, a Benedictine monk, he was competent enough in this subject; thus for him, obedience to the Rule is intrinsically bound to the holiness of the members. Thus he meant, "The Rule is a manifestation of God’s will for you, and its observance will lead to holiness."

It was through observance of the Rule that so many people because great saints despite leading a life which to all appearances seemed to be a perfectly normal one.

When St Bernard speaks about people who observe a Rule, he puts it very aptly: "Whoever observes the Rule, rarely sins; if he falls he is back on his feet immediately; he behaves attentively; he acts with a pure intention; he is often enlightened by God; dies a holy death, is quickly interceded for, and is abundantly repaid."

All this is clearly illustrated by many saints. A case in point is St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother, who was reputed as a saint even though he died when he was twenty-two years old. An old monk commented, on his death bed "This youth has achieved such a high degree of holiness in just six years that exceeds the holiness which I have achieved in a far longer period of time." Gabriel became holy through perfect observance of the Rule.

Nevertheless the classical example of perfect obedience to the Rule is St John Berchmans. The son of a shoemaker from Flanders, (today part of Belgium), he travelled to Rome to join the Society of Jesus, determined, above everything else, to become a saint. He conceived this thought when he was still very young. "Either I become holy when I’m still young, or I’ll never become holy at all," he used to say. He attained this high degree of holiness by means Christ Crucified, the Rosary and the Rule.

His observance of the Rule was indeed meticulous. His motto has become famous: "Disrumpar potius quam minimam regulam transgrediar – I prefer to be torn to pieces rather than break the tiniest rule." Even when a rule caused him terrible suffering, he never asked to be exempted from it: "Odisse ut pestam dispensationem – I loath exemptions more than plagues."

He died a calm and serene death when he was 22 years old. Before his death, he asked for the three most precious treasures which he possessed – the crucifix, the rosary beads and the Rule. Just before his death, he confessed to Father Virgilio Cepari, "As far as I know, I have never committed sin consciously, or to have ever disobeyed the Rule."

During the process of beatification, it was pointed out that he had never performed any special or extraordinary feat, except observing the Rule perfectly. Nevertheless Blessed Pius IX Pope declared him blessed and a few years later, in 1888, Pope Leo XIII canonized him.

His canonization filled the Society of Jesus with exceptional joy. The Jesuits claimed that the Pope had somehow "canonized" their Rule since its faithful observance had led to such a high degree of holiness.

However these words do not only apply to the Rule of the Society of Jesus. They also apply to all those Rules which spring forth from the heart of holy Founders and are approved by the Church – our rule is such a case. This prompted the Founder to instruct us to kiss the book of Rule lovingly on the eve of our patron St John the Baptist’s feast.

The Rule which is being promulgated today is imbued with our Founder’s authentic spirit, just like the Rule which was promulgated in 1942. It has been adapted to meet the new reality which our Society has to face today, after our Founder’s death which has left us such a huge legacy especially through his writings and after the Society has gone beyond Maltese boundaries and is actively present in different environments and countries. The Rule is really imbued with the Founder’s genuine spirit – thus the Chapter members could approve it enthusiastically. One can discern this genuine spirit by examining it well, thoroughly abundant, especially in the footnotes, with references to his writings. Thus for those who take the Rule seriously, as it deserves, the Rule will be a great means to holiness. Once we acknowledge this great truth, we will certainly do our best to love, study and above all to put the Rule into practice.

Yes, the SDC Rule is indeed a great means to holiness. The list of people who have already become holy through its observance is quite long. The first members used to mention Jerry o’Shea. I personally remember Angelo Galea, Joseph Bonanno, Paul Cutajar, Francis Camilleri, Peter Sammut, Harry Xuereb, Vincent Xerri, Elvira Ellul, Edwige Buhagiar and so on and so forth.

The holiness achieved by these brethren, who lived our vocation intensely by fulfilling what the Rule demanded of them, fertilized the Society’s apostolate so that it brought forth much spiritual fruit.

However one name is missing in this list, a name that should come first – Eugenio Borg. Father Preca described him to some close friends as the most docile and obedient member. When Father Preca was frustrated about some members’ behaviour, Father Preca used to put his mind to rest when he remembered Eugenio’s faithfulness to him.

Yes, Eugenio, obeyed each single rule in a truly meticulous manner. He firmly believed - as he often expressed in our meetings - that "The Founder was undoubtedly inspired by God when he wrote the Rule." When anyone suggested any change, as Superior John Schembri sometimes did, he used to reply, "No, that is not the Founder’s wish."

The same words which were applied to St John Berchmans, "He was a living copy of the Rule" can certainly be also applied

to him. If, God willing, in the future, he is honoured as a saint, we could really proclaim, as the Jesuits did, that somehow the SDC Rule has been "canonized", since Eugenio Borg became a saint by means of the Rule. By observing the Rule which is being promulgated today, we can also become saints. Unfortunately we don’t have time to discuss this point today.

On this memorable occasion, which will go down in the Society’s history, we can conclude with the words Father Preca wrote about the rule. The Founder puts these words in the mouth of St Benedict Abbot, the famous author of the Rule which inspired literally thousands of saints, and who indirectly was instrumental for the evangelisation and civilization of Europe. In The new Synagogue, paragraph 80, Father Preca writes: "Brothers, the Rule is the shortest path to Heaven. The Rule is the guide to whoever seeks God in everything and for everything. Jesus is the model of those seeking God, who is the highest and the best goal which a human being can ever desire to achieve. Faithful observance of the Rule leads to Heaven."

May every member ponder these words of wisdom and put them into practice.

John Formosa
Blata l-Bajda - Malta