AN INSIGHTFUL DISCOVERY

In February 1997 the Society acquired a document which no one thought existed and which was to shed new light with revealing insights on the Founder's vision and mission. It was an unexpected and important discovery which Providence brought our way. The manuscript we are referring to here was in fact salvaged from throwaways by a now ex-Member from Óamrun. Little did he know what a treasure he was saving for posterity! How marvellous and admirable was his generosity in deciding to hand it in to the Society! Henceforth, the name of Mr Gaetano Cilia from Óamrun will in deed forever be associated with the finding of the Regula Eptangelorum!

The document is handwritten in clear, readable and almost impeccable Latin by Fr George Preca who knew the language very well. The manuscript consists of 33 chapters with a final exhortation. There are slight corrections here and there in another's handwriting, probably of Fr Louis Galea who was the confessor of Fr Preca till his death and whose advice the Founder cherished and obeyed.

The manuscript is undated and unsigned, so we have to rely on internal evidence in order to reach some tentative conclusions. But the authorship is definitely certain: the caligraphy is undoubtedly Fr Preca's.

A short presentation letter at the beginning of the Regula has to be studied carefully for clues as to its date. The letter is reverently addressed to Pope Pius X, though he is not specifically mentioned. He is referred to as: "Beatissimo Pater, Holy Father, At the beginning of your Pontificate, your motto of 'Renewing everything in Christ' ensued from your heart, troubled as it is by the lukewarm attitude of many sheep in Christ's fold and by the loss of the little ones, and your concern to provide a remedy, encourage me to humbly present to You this Rule in order for You to read and approve if You judge it is coming from God, and to refuse it if judged to be coming from my pride." The letter is signed by "Sac. NN." which stands for sacerdos (priest).

Pius X became Pope on 4th August 1903, and his first encyclical E supremi, dated 4th October 1903, explains his motto of Instaurare omnia in Christo (Total renewal in Christ). It set the tone of a pontificate which must have had some bearing on the inspiration of George Preca.

The Pope lamented his election to such "a formidable burden", and that he was "terrified beyond all else by the disastrous state of human society today." Then, among the remedies "to restore the empire of God" in people who are "led by reason and liberty", he singles out "the principal way" of religious instruction (par. 12). "How many there are who mimic Christ and abhor the Church and the Gospel more through ignorance than through badness of mind, of whom it may well be said: 'They blaspheme whatever things they know not' (Jude 2:10). This is found to be the case not only among the people at large and among the lowest classes, who are thus easily led astray, but even among the more cultivated and among those endowed moreover with uncommon education. The result is for a great many the loss of the faith. For it is not true that the progress of knowledge extinguishes the faith; rather it is ignorance, and the more ignorance prevails the greater is the havoc wrought by incredulity. And this is why Christ commanded the Apostles: 'Go forth teach all nations' (Matt 27:19).

Another monumental encyclical was the Acerbo nimis which followed soon after on 15th April 1905. It explained at length the urgency of setting up the organised teaching of the Catechism in parishes in order to combat the widespread ignorance in matters of the faith, for "the corruption of morals and depravity of life is already so great, and ever increasingly greater, not only among uncivilized peoples but even in those very nations that are called Christian" (par. 3).

On 23rd December 1905 George Preca was among 27 clerics who were ordained deacons by Archbishop Peter Pace at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valleta. From then on, by right, George Preca could be called "sacerdos", one year before his priestly ordination in December 1906.

From this brief analysis it follows that, if the corrections in the Regula are definitely by Fr Louis Galea, then George Preca must have written it between 1904 and 1905. Since Fr Galea died on 8th April 1905, the Regula was ready before the publication of Acerbo nimis, but it reflects strongly the urgency of E supremi. The signing as sacerdos might indicate either that Fr Preca was hiding his name, as was to be customary with him, or that it was not yet time to really sign it since the document was then only a draft.

The Idea

The Regula proposes the permanent diaconate for seven deacons in every parish who in turn form in the faith twelve men so as to be able to teach catechism to children, and also "sinners and adults who do not know their duties as Christians". And this project ensues from 2Tim 2:2: "You have heard everything that I teach in public; hand it on to reliable people so that they in turn will be able to teach others."

Chapter one opens with a very telling paragraph: "Since the apostles of Satan roam the world to corrupt the faith and morals, similarly, in these times, it is also necessary that true apostles of Christ go round the world in order to enkindle the faith so that by word and example they strengthen the good life and restore evil behaviour by gentleness. Evil is remedied by goodness."

Apart from a world-wide vision present so early in the mind of George Preca, these words are also indicative because they reflect the spirit of E supremi and also Acerbo nimis. Interestingly enough, in E supremi in par. 13 Pius X also suggests that people wouldn't be converted if their vices are reproved "with asperity", and "that no means is more efficacious than charity". Later Fr Preca was to emphasise the role of gentility and meekness much more.

Then in chapter after chapter, the Regula details everything that Preca envisioned for this new system and apostolate of his. He makes it clear that holiness was to be the driving force throughout.

Chapter 33, the final one, is a long compendium of the basic tenets which are proposed for the formation and spiritual edification of the 7 deacons and 12 men. Significantly, the chapter is called: "A Wealth often to be used. All bequeathed to us by our Forefathers". The final word of encouragement exhorts: "So let us resolve to devise how to make God revered throughout the whole world after He himself has given us all benefits through the shedding of the blood of his Holy Son."

To conclude, though the Regula was never implemented, since Fr Preca eventually went for a total empowerment of dedicated lay people, but most of the fundamental insights and spiritual maxims which he was to propagate later in life are present here in the Regula Eptangelorum which definitely merits more study.