Priors’ Course, Rome 2003.

Input by Avali.

The following notes were taken during the Priors’ Course which took place in Domus Carmelitane from January 29^th to February 14^th, 2003.

Authority Today

Authority, in general life, is in crisis today. In a cultural way it is there everywhere especially in the Church. The word comes from the Latin ‘augere’ – to grow. So all people have to make the community in order to grow. There is a weakening in adults to do so. It has come about in a very short space of time. Some ten years ago religious life was seen as a state of perfection and the superior was a presiding officer. The new millennium has presented something quite different. The common subjects now feel that they want someone to listen to them. It has evolved to the point of negotiations between superior and subjects and while it can be done in an easy way with small communities it is not so easy in larger ones.

How do we understand the role of the Prior?

Opinion 1:      That there is no need at all for authority. All the brothers have the authority. Some Superiors passed on the role to the subjects. Then there is optional obedience. You tell me what you want and I’ll tell you if I’ll do it.

Opinion 2:      Absolute power so much so that some need to be told just what to do. In young congregations there is authoritarianism in young people.

Today the Superior is seen as an animator but it is a very difficult role. There has been in the past a view that the Superior was a sort of ‘puppet master.’ At Chapter level the idea is that decisions are passed down the line. So there can be sub-strata in communities and in provinces. There can be different degrees of understanding religious life. There is really no longer a unified way of looking at religious life. One author says that different things have different meanings to different people. In community living there can be the tendency to separate from the central authority. It’s not always easy to understand these modern currents and they do need to be anticipated. A religious institution needs a long time to change course. These changes can’t be made quickly.

Types of Superior.

1.      Spiritual – whose  emphases is on prayer and spirituality.

2.      Pastoral – who is influenced by the pastoral approach.

3.      Manager – who approaches community like a manager and is interested in functional side of life.

4.      Bureaucratic – who likes to be bound by the rules and regulations.

5.      Professorial – who is intellectually superior.

6.      Dismissive – tells you to get on with the job.

7.      Silent – who has nothing to say.

8.      Rhythm – works in his own parameters, work schedule, accommodation, timetable.

The Community members.

One of the real problems we face at this level is the way in which individualism shows up at community level. Some members can be so subjective and can only run with what suits their own opinion. There can be the attitude that all that matters is one’s own subjective desire or opinion. This will often show up in decisions made at provincial or community level. What really should take place is that, because it is a provincial or community decision, it should get priority but that does not happen with these individuals and so the project is done in a half hearted way. The project could even be left for some other time or person. Often no effort is made to see if the project is achievable or not and what is inclined to happen, especially with serious projects, is that it does not get the attention it deserves. So the whole reform of community is left hanging. What is at stake here is where the true value of the decisions lie – the individual or the community? The real charism lies with the community and not with the individual. So belonging to community is vital when it comes to all events especially that of making serious project decisions.

The Wisdom required.

The problems of Solomon are the problems of all in ministry. It’s the problem of inheriting the kingdom. How can I manage this? How can I survive? Solomon is wise because he sees the wider picture. He has not the gifts necessary by nature and so he humbly asks the Lord for help He sees and says that he is only a child in these matters and what’s required is more then just knowledge but wisdom which will guide him to correct decisions. That comes from prayer/relationship with God rather then just brain power. He has already made an important discovery – that the gift comes from a higher power.

In recent times there has been significant growth in the number of courses available for formation of animators. This shows a real understanding of the difficulties of the job people are called to. It’s a growth in awareness and wisdom in religious communities. We are coming to realise that people can face up to these positions on their own. We need to see just where God comes into all of this. It’s not simple even after the initial realisation of what is involved. Solomon, in his old age, sets out to worship the gods of his newly acquired wives. He has to face again who he is to serve – the God of the covenant or the God of the Canaanites

The animator: Titles.

1.      Where he stands re the world.

2.      Crisis.

3.      World.

1.      The animator has to be open to suggestions by other members of his community. Not so easy for some to arrive at. So the question is has he this capacity to listen to others? Can he enter the situation the other is presenting? When a brother says he has a problem do I really take that as serious?

2.   The animator has also to examine the community in the light of the gospel values. Insights now available to us can help us compare reality and ideal. The animator does not have all the answers. The fullness of discernment is not with the superior alone.

3.   When crisis arises with a project we can turn it to something positive. In this way we express our humility (we don’t have all the answers). We need to abandon our ideology. The very role of being a superior can be the first of these ideologies. We need to remember just where others may be. We have to divide ourselves in two to try and float a new project. A new project can allure us into new search for mystery.

Interim in Crisis.

To enter an evangelical group is to enter the daily problems of life. So we have to use the authority to grow in the evangelical sense. We can overcome the problems which arise. We come from a background which embraces authority. We need to work with an attitude of reconciliation. The community has moved away from tradition. The religious life then has to come to terms with how to exercise authority. We have to keep in mind the values of the kingdom. We have to absorb the values of the kingdom. Our goal is to be charism filled, which are proper to the Carmelites, and make me a disciple and leader of the community. We also have our own personal charism as well as community charism which we use for the good of our work. Charism and vows play an important role for each order so remember their importance. They will all assist in a genuine programme of evangelisation of others.

Signs of dysfunction.

1.      Lack of personal respect with no self worth. A person lacks healthy judgement of self and there is a sense of shame.

2.      A person is lacking in self confidence which shows itself in doubt in their apostolate.

3.      A person is disengaged from horizon values and not able to make out universal horizons. There is a lack of joy in one’s life. It can be seen in practical and general attitudes.

4.      Identity crises: we can expect one every ten years or so according to Avrali. The important thing is to face up to the problem. We need to have an overall look at our lives for a system of values.

Basis of Authority.

Mark 10:35: The question from the Lord is ‘what do you want me to do for you?’ He cant give them what they look for (through the mother) but he does promise part in his baptism (suffering). In short they don’t know what they are asking for. He then adds that they must not be like others who desire material benefits. We can conclude that that while we must not be broken, at the same time we need to keep our capacity not to be self-motivated. We need to be made small for the service of all. We are called to serve the minority. That is the way leadership should be. I need to be sincere to serve. Authority then is in the community for the service of the group. It’s not above community but within and for the community.

Four Styles.

1.      Autocratic – the style of one who knows he’s right and he just gives it as he sees it and passes on the order.

2.      Permissive – one who more or less leaves things to the others to do as they wish.

3.      Confused – does not know how to turn. He can be both hard and easy at the one time.

4.      Sharing – makes others responsible for the community and it has to do with calling people into service and drawing out new charisms. It draws out the joy of working together. The Prior should be able to call them in joy to work together.

Some skills required are more helpful than others to help people to grow. The Lord looks at different ways of leading. Jesus showed that he could be harsh or determined when the occasion demanded it. He was curt with Peter (‘get behind me’) and he was harsh with the money dealers in the Temple. He also invites the disciples to take part in his mission and to participate in his power. It helps to recognise the style you see at any one time. Democratic at all times but firm in your decision. We need also to know when it is and when not appropriate to be involved. While we share authority at the same time someone has to call the shots, often at little notice (e.g. during a fire).

How then do we as individuals live out the role? Have I grown accustomed to a definite type of role which may be off centre? Each of us gives body to the role in reality. The demands of the job should not dictate the role. The role is different to what the demands are. So we can see objectively where we stand. Are my ideas of the role and the real needs of the role parallel? The reversal could be disaster. So am I on line with what is expected? The Prior should be in line with what is expected. The mind of the Prior will affect the way the role is fulfilled. If you allow your own ideas or agenda to be tops you will be in trouble. It will cause problems. If you attempt to follow out Christ’s will for the role then you will be more effective.

What gives me joy and what makes me afraid?

In our personalities we have natural tendencies, e.g. to enjoy others and to maintain relationships or simply to be open to others. We can allow for extroversion or the opposite in people. All these traits can be positive and all tendencies can be helpful as they can help us to encourage the weaker members of community. Some however, we will want to control, e.g. exercise of power over others. While we need ordered discipline and to influence others we also need to evaluate the consequences of our actions. As Prior you may wish to influence things in a certain way or direction so you will have to set things up and put things in place in order to fulfil your intended programme.

Character traits can also be very negative on us and our role as Prior. There are those that block our role, e.g. domination, aggression, etc. These can be destructive of the other person. It could be that, as Prior, you have an inferiority complex and are afraid of making a fool of yourself. You may on the other hand be an exhibitionist and try to hang onto emotional areas of your life. That could lead us to be blind to others and learn or be supported by them.

All of these tendencies are quite normal and will emerge from time to time. We will also meet with others in similar circumstances who are fearful, anxious, wounded and at times we will also be in those states. Our own past will, at times, surface and we also risk the danger of transferring our ways of doing things in the course of our life. These likes and dislikes could lead us to use our knowledge for our own benefit.

The Role Of The Prior – Personal Approaches.

Selfish and Dominant.

The role can be fulfilled by our own ideas. One such is that it would be used to dominate others. We could use the role for our own gratification. There could be use of it for success at personal level. This is true for both subjects and superior. We can think we are the ones that count.

Insecurity can affect the role. The role can bring out the character of the individual. Some can’t say ‘no’ so there is a tendency to extend limits of self and others. Indecision can lead to problems for person and community.

The role can be brought alive. This is done by the confident superior who is not afraid to delegate. He has to do so without loosing control. The confident man will delegate with freedom to others. The role can be exercised in that way without loosing control.

Place of Poverty and Humility.

As Christian leaders there is the necessary step of humility/poverty to be entered into. We need to return to this idea to understand role of Christian leadership. Poverty then creates its own limit on the role as exercised. It has to do with spiritual littleness. We need to be able to discern the potency of the role in the light of salvation. While it is an individual’s journey the Bible tells us that man is incomplete and split on his own. So how can we face up to this brokenness within our own personalities and personalities of others? Modern spiritual insights recognise this dilemma and point towards a contemplative acceptance of the other.

As he or she is. So how do we understand/ see the other person?

How then do I intuit the other? That’s an important question. If I am involved with others then I need to get to know them. How can I come to terms with what will help change me/other person? To do so successfully we may need to expose ourselves spiritually. That can be an intense moment. It will be a requisite of the animator – one who has undergone himself such a journey. The animator then should, in love, be able to make the first step. He will be able to call on others to be involved in his decisions. He should be the one to show interest and gather others to help in what the community have decided on. He should be in contact with the simple procedures around the community and have a grasp of them and what they entail and who can and should do what with the aim of encouraging others in the community effort. He knows how to be patient with the aggressive and enlightening to the lazy. He is able to take time out and encourage the weaker members. He knows how to listen and generally just what makes others tick. He has to pay attention to the deeper side of the personalities. The danger can be in allowing the more dangerous part of a personality to take over in an individual. When one sees really obstructive behaviour we have to ask why the person is like that? To love the other means to open to him/her in honesty.

Can I know before I set out what lies in store?

Not at all. What really matters is the poverty of spirit with which you accept the role. What matters is how open you are to your own inner self and to the inner self of others. There are central conflicts common to each appointment. Included are: needs, tendencies, reasoning process, being loved by others, altruism of soul, poverty of spirit, need for love, fear of loss, reintegration with Christ. We are on a journey to Christ and all of these will be there from time to time but should pan out to a sense of joy and hope that, as we make this journey together, God will bless the efforts.

Community as Gift.

Community life is a gift from God and we all have to make a response to the call. We have to make a journey of liberation and we must do so in an interdependent way. It is never complete and we have to make social interaction rules. We are tested. There are rules and don’t think you can do it on your own. You do it with and for the group. The Prior has to make what is implicit explicit. All these ways of living compose the climate of the community. The animator thus makes his contribution. The animator has to work for unity. The animator has to try and bring together the different types into a community. This is the role of the animator to bring unity where there is individualism.

His role is to create a climate of sharing. He has to promote co-operation and dialogue. He is responsible for setting up the community meetings on a regular basis. They have to be regularised. Clarity is required on what the meeting is about, e.g. economic, spiritual etc. The community needs to know what the evangelical programme is for the year. The animator simply encourages towards the future.

Part of his role will be to ensure that the members trust in themselves, that they can carry out what they are asked to do. There is a need to relate positively and definitely to the members. Be sincere when complementing them. A hurt person finds it hard to accept a compliment as they are closed in on themselves and have no self esteem. That can lead to more lack of trust or self confidence. Trust can produce trust. To produce real core to the community you really need trust. There is a real need to delegate jobs to people as we see the Lord did so. To share our power is to create trust. People are demoralised by not delegating. It’s true that the community can influence me but equally I can influence the community. If you are dominated by fear then you loose what you have. So the animator has to encourage people to do the best that they can. Mistakes are not all that bad when you learn from them. Try not to procrastinate.

Positive relationships.

Try to tell people how you feel they are doing in a positive way. People have a right to know what you feel about them. Prior has the duty to let them know. You can tell them how grateful you are for carrying out a duty.

Belonging: People like to know they are of value to the community. If their opinions are not listened to then it can be destructive. As long as I can air my views then my opinion is being listened to.

Distrust: is really destructive and negative.

Personal interests: Our interests and that of our community can be in conflict. We need to reach an agreement through a third party. Passion for the kingdom should help us to find a road to harmonise and make the project work. Everyone will have to make some sacrifice.

Outside environment: The part I play in community will play a role is the local community. We can test and see how we are affecting the local community.

All the above help towards self identity – I have an identity and a name and a community which tells just who I am. This can cement bonds in community.

Conflicts.

It is always a conflict to live in community. It does not come from being immature. The conflict is not always negative. If the conflict is carefully studied it can be for growth. These sorts of conflicts can open us to new solutions in our living together. We may want to ignore it or at least in answering it to keep it under control. Trouble about conflict resolving is that we cure the symptoms but leave the disease rooted in place. The way we face up to them is important so that we can get at the root of the problem. In medical terms the symptoms that are treated with anti-biotics can cause long term damage if the disease is not properly tackled. Some conflicts are easy resolved, e.g. timetable, but others take longer time, e.g. new ministry. In cases where the usual negative aspects are rolled out it makes you aware of the under-currents – things might be alright on the surface but underneath there will often be pain present. When it comes to community discussion you will see lobbies emerge – those for, those against and those who don’t really care. It’s not impossible to see what is going to happen when a topic is introduced. There are methods of dealing with pain.

Methods of dealing with pain of conflict.

You don’t show any emotions and hope that the temperature will lessen. There is continuity of the community life but what is life really like? Some will move out of community to overpass the meetings. They live in a house but outside it, e.g. the young religious who says that he is not part of the community. In this way a person feels that he is outside the community.

Another way out is to resign ourselves to our fate or take part in power play . Relationships can be manipulative. Set pieces go on in this type of situation. There is however, no improvement in the trust required in community life. The result is that community will disintegrate.

Action One.

This should include the effort to recognise the problem first of all and not to hide or deny the problem. It will become destructive in the long run if the effort is not made to come to terms with the exact nature of the problem. You should also avoid overload of effort and of course you will probably want to deny the problem when you are in the midst of its solution.

Action two.

You will have to ask around the community and see what the needs of individual members are or their feelings in the situation that has presented. What ideas do individual members offer to the situation. Little by little you outline the situation and use an intelligent strategy towards its solution. It’s important to work towards resolution rather then blocking (the opinions) of the others. We can put ourselves in harmony with the brothers and their state of mind in the conflict. The personal quality of our openness is important. Bring the community to listen to each other’s viewpoint. Look out for the obstinate person who won’t recognise the facts of the situation.

Action three.

Don’t think in terms of percentage of right and wrong. Work on what will be of benefit to the community. The diversity of opinion can be to the benefit of the community. What does the Lord want to do in this situation?

Who will animate the animator?

It happens that having tried your best and feeling you have failed people end up disillusioned. So who will animate the animator? Francis of Assisi ended up saying that the brothers did not think he had anything more important to say. Our motivation and our ministry can be tested. A young Prior can commence an energetic prophetical period of service and then there follows a time of wisdom. During that sort of period you restructure and rethink. Moses stood ready to lead into the Promised Land but it did not happen. One theory is that only God could so do. Francis also experienced the frustration of trying to lead men towards community and was given the stigmata and yet his brothers said that they did not really need him anymore. He came to understand that he did not have all the answers. Moments of change and guidance of community help to highlight my relationships with my brothers.

The Lord is always teaching something new and leading you to see you are a mediator, which leads also to a greater humility.

A Prior is authorised to try and solve the problems in obedience to the Spirit and the Lord.

What then holds a group together?

1.      The history of the group. Each group has its own identity and when the identity weakens that leaves one, in effect, leaving the group. Those who leave live out a crisis of identity. They have a crisis with the group and have lost the joy of being part of the group.

2.       The positive aspect of the group. This brings greater freedom. If there is unity then you can be fairly sure how others will react to you but if unity is not present then you keep quiet.

3.       When there is respect within the group then there is greater serenity and honesty (a good emotional climate in the group). If there is a positive aspect within the group then members experience its joy.

4.       We need all the time to remember to pass from present to a more perfect level with the group. This is described as a mystical journey.

5.       Do I follow through on my commitment to the group? If so what is my co-operation and productivity like?

Negative side of group dynamic.

1.       Some behaviour can demoralise a group. It can also destroy the unity of the group. A serious effort may be needed to block this effect.

2.       Mistrust can be sown and effort to take away the good a person is trying to do. It can amount to old fashioned detraction behind backs or murmuring about the person. The local prior or Provincial is fair game for such warfare.

3.       Projects either local or at Provincial level are criticised and to manage it we need to speak positively of such ventures.

4.       There will be a tendency at times for people of that ilk to form a group of its own and try to make things seem like a failure. We may have to call for outside help to sort it out. This group-within-group has the intention of destroying the main group. People who act in this manner have to be faced up to publicly and now or else real damage will take place. These persons have to be faced and reminded that they are destroying the community by undermining it.

Balanced View Point.

What’s required in community is to arrive at a balanced viewpoint. Sometimes the problem lies with the set, older generation or from people with a poor or inflated self image. There can be a tendency to shut out the youthful views. Youth will want to share with others who will listen and it’s essential they get this opportunity. This is the way forward to engage with the community.

What about the Prior who is never present? He is not suitable for leadership. There needs to be some investigation and discernment of how a Prior is elected.

When questions about modern formation turn up? Formators are often the most isolated of individuals. They need the support of the province. You need correct structures of formation in place. You need points of reference.