A friend of mine who is studying for a Doctorate in Rome at the moment rang this evening and told me of the Catholic life of the Pontifical North American College (NAC) in Rome. the photo above is from the collection on their website on the occasion of the feast of the Immaculate Conception this year. It is an important detail that the students are in clerical dress (as required by the Vicariate of Rome). A few years back, clerical dress was a casus belli in many seminaries, with opponents decrying "clericalism". This does seem a self-defeating cause in an institution which exists for the formation of clerics.My friend tells me that the NAC is thriving, full of students and priests making the very best of their time in the Eternal City. I think that Bishop Tim Dolan did a great job there as Rector and his work must be continuing in his successors. A book I recommend to seminarians and priests is Bishop Dolan's "Priests for the Third Millennium" which consists of some excellent conferences that he gave to students at the NAC.
Incidentally, one of the differences between Americans and English that I discovered when I was in Rome was the use of the definite article. We always used to speak of "the NAC" whereas the Americans spoke simply of "NAC". Rather as we would refer to finding something "on the internet" while Americans speak of finding something "on internet". I eagerly await erudite correction on this point :-)
UPDATE: It seems that I was talking complete rubbish in this paragraph - see comments passim :-)
33 comments:
They mostly call it "the NAC" now, or "the Hill".
The present Rector, Mgr Jim Checchio gave his students an excellent conference on Sunday evening. The NAC now has 185 seminarians, with another 85 priest students at the Casa Santa Maria (where, I understand, the food is better). Several of the student priests say the EF everyday.
Actually, I thought it was just the opposite. For instance, don’t you guys say “in hospital” rather than in the hospital, etc?? I always search on the internet and I would definitely say “the NAC ----- speaking of which – what a handsome bunch of young men!! I can say that 'cause I'm a little old lady!
Yes the food is better - and it is significantly less involved in the venerabile's - well let's not dwell detractively on things which will depress those in the know and bemuse and sadden those ignorant of it - needless to say priests who wish to actually study and keep away from the 'roman infection' jump at an opportunity to stay at the CSM.
Yes there is a difference in looks isn't there ? But it's more in the eyes than anywhere else - there's no mental/psychological/spiritual podgy effeminate shabbiness dulling the brightness that shines from their souls. They're a good bunch !
I have also heard in recent years that some refer to it as "PNAC" for PONTIFICAL North American College. However, everyone I know says "the" no matter what name they call it. Also, I've never heard anyone here in the States say "on internet". The thing that sometimes confuses folks not from here is that we speak of being on the internet as being "online" (one word) and we also refer to standing in a line (as in queuing up)as standing "on line" (two words).
Nah, Father, we Americans still use the definite article "the."
Like Adrienne, I thought it was British English to drop "the". If I recall, elder gents -- public school OBs or Officer types -- are usually parodied using clipped phrasing and upper received pronunciation.
However, Americans do reference groups in the singular, e.g.:
American English: "The band is coming out with a new CD."
British English: "The band are coming out with a new CD."
--Guy Power
I don't know what Americans you've been talking to but neither I nor anyone I know searching on anything other than THE internet. Don't know about the NAC comment. And I agree with Adrienne, Americans are always in THE hospital, not in hospital.
Spooky. Adrienne read my mind, I'd agree. What's even spookier was I was also going to use the example of "in hospital" as opposed to "in the hospital."
I'd say "on THE internet." I'd also say THE NAC.
Are those guys shaving yet?
Karen
As a student at the Greg its great to see the NAC-ers in clerical dress all the time. It's such a great witness, even in Rome where clerics are ten-a-penny to see young men dressed impeccibly as clerics. If only they would allow us to...
i recognise an MJ or two!
Sorry to take the gilt off the gingerbread. Why do the NAC seminarians dress so conspicuously in clericals? This was imposed some years ago to keep them out of the gay clubs.
I'm just back from Rome, and I met a few American seminarians out there. They proudly declared themselves 'NACers', a term which, in Ireland, means the equivalent of 'chav'!
I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the title of this post - I thought you were referring to the National Abortion Campaign and wondered what all those clerical-looking types were doing getting involved with it :-)
Dropping the definite article is probably in line with the American penchant for abbreviation and elimination of the 'superfluous'. Spelling is a case in point, as in: color, favor, etc.
It will only get worse due to the ubiquity of text messaging and the need for parsimony with keystrokes. Will English as we knew it survive?
2BRNOT2B...?
Adrienne, we say both, but to express different meanings. "In hospital" meaning somebody's receiving treatment, but the place isn't important to the meaning of this conversation. "In the hospital" where the specific location is germane and known to the listener. I'm taking my anorak off now.
Just a detail:
In Spanish there are those who say "buscar algo en Internet" and those who say "buscar algo en la Internet" for "looking up something in (the) internet". So... hoping for erudite correction.
I'm from right in the middle of the US and 'on the internet' or 'on the web' is used here exclusively.
Properly, I believe, we Americans would mentally expand the acronym before deciding whether to prepend the definitive article. So if you would in normal form say, e.g. "I am a seminarian at the North American College" versus just "I am a seminarian at North American College" then you would prepend the definitive article.
Of course, it's entirely possible that I'm assigning entirely too much credit to a thought process that doesn't exist since those same Americans probably don't think twice about a dangling participle. America and England - two countries separated by a common language, you know.
Ah, well I got that wrong, then! LOL
Anon #4 (gilt, gingerbread etc.)
I was in two minds whether to publish your comment because it seems a rather sweeping condemnation of a whole generation of students. (And even if things were as you say 'some years ago' then these seminarians will be a different cohort.) Nevertheless, I thought it would be worth offering some thoughts in reply.
Certainly if a seminarian is tempted to go to a gay club, wearing a collar will help him to overcome that temptation. Likewise with temptations to go out on a date with a girl, get drunk in the pub etc.
To be honest, I wouldn't pick on the gay thing alone - that can be a symptom of a loss of proper standards as was argued in the book "After Asceticism". Encouraging proper clerical dress can be a part of the reform and a step on the way back to sound priestly life. Only a part, but a significant one because what we wear is important for us.
I am encouraged by all that I hear of this seminary and I think that the Church in the USA will be the richer for these fine young men.
I would heartily second your recommendation for that book too, Father. It is wonderful, for those not yet in seminary too!
Fr. Guy, YOU are from New York. You are the only people in this country who say "on line" instead of "IN line." We won't hold it against you..because if we make fun of you, you'd probably send your Uncle Guido around with some dead fish. :-D
And Fr. Tim -- *I* was thinking too re: the clerical outfits as a sign to the ladies that "this one's taken, fergeddaboutit."
Karen
Karen - yes, that's important, too but there are problems with seminarians who are not yet in clerical dress. A young woman was explaining to me that at a youth event I help with, the girls have some kind of quasi-masonic signal to indicate "You're wasting your time".
As a Priest, I wear Clericals at all time; I am very uncomfortable with Seminarians wearing them except in hospital or prison pastoral work, as it helps to open doors.
My sad experience as a Seminarian was that those who wanted to wear clericals before Holy Mother Church ordained them were more interested in the sensation and status of wearing them. Most never got ordained because they were simply rushing to the altar.
Similarly, if you are wearing them in a normal parish context it causes confusion.
here-here for the PNAC - a fine group of young men who are faithful to the Church and its traditions for faith in the future!
deus vos benedicat!
To Karen (gemoftheocean)who said:
"Fr. Guy, YOU are from New York. You are the only people in this country who say "on line" instead of "IN line."
Yes, it's true I am from New York and it may very well be a "New York-ism" to say standing on line. However, we aren't the only ones in the country who say it. My parents lived in Florida for 19 years and people there said it; my sister has lived in San Francisco for 22 years and people there say it; I lived in Pennsylvania for 8 years and people there said it; I went to school for a while in Boston and people there said it; I lived for a year in Virginia Beach and people there said it and I currently live in New Jersey and people here say it. So, while it may not be universally true for Americans, New Yorkers are hardly the only ones who speak that way. But, that's OK. As Fred Allen used to say, "Once you leave New York...you're out of town!"
-Fr. Guy
Fr. Tim: I'm sure it's something really subtle. Like a finger drawn across the throat and a roll of the eyes skyward.
Karen
In Yorkshire we say "on t'internet" which strikes me as a reasonable compromise.
Anon priest - a problem is that there is inconsistency about when students should begin to wear clericals. The tonsure, given after two years, was a good point at which to begin to assume a more overt clerical identity. Nowadays, many seminaries delay "candidacy" as late as possible, partly to prevent students from routinely wearing clerical dress. This is a mistake, in my view. After a couple of years of discernment, students do well to experience the reactions of people to clerical dress and their growing commitment to the clerical state.
If there were a standard rule on this, it would largely eliminate the problems you are concerned about.
With regards to the definite article, I think it differs in different places in the US. The South (or those from non-Southern places that never-the-less retain Southern habits) uses it much more. For example, I might say that I am going to the Walgreen's instead of going to Walgreen's (a pharmacy for those who don't know).
With regards to Spanish, where I learned to speak it they were known to put definite articles in front of everything (the Robert, the NYC, etc.) but this is grammatically terrible and mostly carried over from the region's Italian heritage.
Father,
The reason you give for delay of candidacy is not one I was aware of in my time.
I agree a standard rule would eliminate both those who desire to do it for the wrong reasons, as well as those who think that they can relate better to people by not wearing clericals.
However, I still am uncomfortable with Seminarians wearing clericals purely because it causes confusion with people who are unaware that they are not Ordained.
Anon - it was certainly the case in my time. The Rome Vicariate insisted that candidacy was given before the other "ministries" and so we had to have the other "ministries" in the diocese of Albano.
I don't think that it is such a great problem that people are unaware that seminarians are not ordained. Many lay people have never met a seminarian and it is easy enough to explain the situation - quite a good conversation starter.
Your last comment hit the nail square on - Fr Tim. Conversation!
Engage in conversation with people and you will find out a thing or two - such as whether that young man is a priest or a seminarian!
Precisely the situation my wife and I were in some years ago when a young Polish 'cleric' came over to stay at our local parish. We were introduced and I called him Fr to which he replied that he was still a seminarian and not yet ordained and the conversation (in Polish) flowed from there. Couldn't be clearer than that! Since then we have become good friends and my wife and I were very privileged to have been invited to attend his ordination.
God Bless ALL men called by the Lord to become Priests. Personally I think that seminarians should wear clericals as it is good training for the soul and a much needed sign in the world that 'the Lord is with us'.
I also wish that all Priests would fearlessly wear their clericals in the local High Streets and Schools rather than roll-neck sweaters or tee-shirts. I know it's probably uncomfortable wearing the collar but whenever I'm in Rome or somewhere like Krakow in Poland you see Priests and Nuns wearing clericals and habits like it's an everyday no-problem thing.
Wonderful to see and such a fantastic witness to the Faith.
Dear Fr's and Seminarians please be assured that you are remembered, cherished and prayed for in this household and no doubt countless others around the world today and every day.
George,
I agree. I must admit it quite irks me when I see Priests in everyday (and non-threatening) situations wearing everyday clothes.
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