Does clay have a particular identity, or does it have a general one? Clay cannot just form itself, as if it can will itself into whatever shape or object. It requires an agent, i.e. molding hands from outside of itself to act upon it. The best it can do is to be itself and make itself ready to receive the help. Each one of us novices is this clay. We are gathered together under one roof, at the beginning of a religious formation i.e. the novitiate, just for this only purpose: to be molded. We do not yet have an identity because our true selves are to be discovered. We can only identify ourselves when we are being instrumental, being of good service to others. But to become a good instrument entails lots of communal efforts, not only of this visible community, but also of the unseen ones. We need all the supports and help and prayer we could receive from our fellow friends, families, teachers, superiors, benefactors: living and deceased, all saints and holy souls and especially from every member of our community where we have direct interactions with. They are the ones who form us, who help us discovering our true selves. By nature, we know that every member is made and formed in the same way as a social being. Therefore we are supposed to fulfill our natures within a structural, social environment. As a community we need to work together; we need to share the work and the fruits both of corporeal and spiritual for the salvation of souls. This is how from the beginning our Order of Preachers was founded. It followed the archetype of the foundation of the spiritual society, the Church, founded by Christ Jesus, our Lord.

 

Though today society promotes independency, we are dependent on one another, and we are responsible for one another’s well being. This dependency and accountability not only help us to discover our true selves so that we can carry out our tasks in day to day pilgrimage but it also assists us to reach for our salvation as a whole in the next life. Yet time flows, a year of novitiate is passing away quickly, we also will pass away in no time. What can we gain from this valuable but rather short period, for the rest of our lives? We have once received assistances from others without cost, shouldn’t we do the same? For in busying ourselves, giving ourselves away by helping others discovering their true selves, we can hope at last to find our true and lasting identities.