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College Leavers 2021
Message from the Dean
Dear Leavers,
It won’t surprise you to know, that what I want for you most is to be holy.
Pope Francis says to young people setting out in life:
Do not be afraid of holiness. It will take away none of your energy, vitality, or joy. On the contrary, you will become what the Father had in mind when he created you, and you will be faithful to your deepest self. To depend on God sets us free from every form of enslavement and leads us to recognize our great dignity.
I want you to be holy, because what I’ve learnt from my own experience is that happiness, and a sense of purpose, value and peace come from the commitments I make, not the options I keep open. Holiness is there for me when I put others first in charity, I’m honest about myself in humility, and I’m committed in faith. I usually find when I’m unhappy, whatever else may be going on in life, deep down something is causing me to hold back. I learnt this from St Benedict, though the lesson still needs learning as I grow older and discover more about myself, through experience and from those who know me best.
Above all, I want you to be holy, because it’s the best way of life really reaching the heart and bearing fruit.
If you accept to live life at depth, in gratitude and generously, you will find your heart opening up to welcome the full range of human experience, even the most unexpected and even difficult times, as a gift of God ‘in whom we live, and move, and have our being’, as St Paul puts it.
Pope Francis goes on to say to you:
He calls you and he waits for you to return to him and start over again. When you feel you are growing old out of sorrow, resentment or fear, doubt or failure, he will always be there to restore your strength and your hope.
I write these words at length because of our commitment to you as a Benedictine family, wanting always what’s best for you.
I wish you every blessing for this next great step in life. And as a parting gift, these words of St Catherine of Siena, who I’m sure prays for you: Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.
