What is a Vocation to the Brotherhood?

A common, negative misconception is that “a brother is simply someone who cannot become a priest” or “a brother is someone who does all the less important work for the priest.”

In truth, a religious vocation is positive and based on one sublime and continuous act: the complete gift of self to God. Since the virtue of religion is founded upon acts which render to God the worship that is due to His divine majesty, St. Thomas Aquinas defines brothers as “certain men who vow to give their entire life to the worship of God, detaching themselves from the world (2a, 2ae, q.81).” By immolating themselves for the greater glory of God and the good of souls, the brother, like the priest, becomes a man consecrated solely to the service of the Divine Will.

In fact, the brother embraces a higher state of perfection than the secular priest by taking the three solemn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience (the secular priest only vows chastity). Most souls realize that they must obey God’s commandments in order to save their souls; the brother not only fulfills this obligation, but, in his desire to attain perfect union with Our Lord, embraces the evangelical counsels.

What vows do Brothers take and why do they take them?

As stated above, all religious take the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Through these vows, the brother strives to strip himself of all self will in order to prepare a foundation upon which he will build an intimate union with God, a union that can only develop when pride and selfishness have been totally eradicated. These three vows are recommended by Our Lord in the New Testament and are the surest road to sanctity for a generous soul.

Poverty: "If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell whatsoever thou hast and give to the poor: and thou shalt have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me." (Matt. XIX: 16-21).

The vow of poverty detaches the religious from all exterior goods and attachments that might be an obstacle to his service of God.

Chastity: "All men take not this word, but they to whom it is given [for] there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take it, let him take it." (Matt. XIX: 11-12).

Since the religious desires to completely give himself to the Divine Spouse, Holy Mother the Church, he can have no other lover and forgoes the joys of raising a family.

Obedience: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matt. XVI: 24-28).

Finally, the religious renounces his own will in order to be completely docile to the movements of the Holy Ghost in his soul and the will of God expressed through his superiors.

Consequently, even the most menial acts gain a religious value and special merit because they are performed by a consecrated soul for the glory and honor of God. This is the beauty and grandeur of a religious vocation. No doubt God readily inclines His ear to the prayers of such generous souls.

What is the Role of the Brothers in the Priestly Society of St. Pius X?

First and foremost, Archbishop Lefebvre founded the Society of St. Pius X in order to ensure the continuation of the Catholic priesthood in these troubling, modern times. The brothers of the Society are, therefore, meant to come to the aid of the priests in all their duties, facilitating their apostolic task. According to the Statutes of the Society, brothers are to relieve the priests of material jobs (for example, handling finances, gardening, cooking, upkeep of buildings, secretarial work, etc.) as well as participate more directly in the apostolate by directing a choir, teaching catechism, working in the sacristy, teaching in primary schools, and other related tasks vital to the priestly ministry.

These are the temporal functions of a brother in the Society, but governing these daily activities, Archbishop Lefebvre established the following primary spiritual goal which must govern all of the brother’s life:

The Brothers, consecrating themselves to God in the religious life, have as their primary goal and purpose the glory of God, their own sanctification, and the salvation of souls. Since their entire life and all their actions are offered to God through Our Lord, especially at the holy altar, they must strive to understand the profoundly supernatural nature of this life, whatever their exterior activity may be. May they find in this conviction and in this reality, more heavenly than earthly, their unchangeable joy, their unceasing consolation, their steadfast serenity. May they avoid looking for any other solution to their desire for perfection.

Whatever his temporal function may be, the brother is above all a consecrated soul and, in the words of the Archbishop, must be a “guardian angel of the community,” always manifesting his profoundly religious spirit through silence, union with God, fraternal charity, and zeal to serve others while never neglecting the service of God.

How does one become a Brother?

No impediment should hinder the aspiring brother in his total gift of self to God, such as outstanding debts, administrative responsibilities concerning temporal affairs, or primary care for a family. To become a brother of the Society of St. Pius X, the applicant must be at least 18 years of age. It is strongly encouraged that, before entering the Brother’s Novitiate, the applicant make a five-day Ignatian retreat and visit St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary to get a better understanding of the vocation of a brother. To begin the process of application, the aspirant must contact the District Superior of the United States to explain his vocation and obtain a letter of recommendation from a traditional priest.

What is the Brothers' Novitiate?

The novitiate is the first stage of a brother’s religious life where he receives the religious formation which will serve as the foundation for his future life in religion. However, before a layman becomes a novice, he spends at least one academic year at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary as a postulant. During this time he tests his vocation and thoroughly studies the catechism and spirituality. If at the end of the postulancy he is found sufficiently disposed to the religious life, the brother is received as a novice during a ceremony in which he receives the traditional habit, donning the cassock, Roman collar, and tassel-less sash.

During the novitiate, the new brother will be taught the importance of the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and will continue his study of spirituality. Additionally, he will attend classes on the psalms sung daily in the Divine Office. At the end of the year, he will take his first vows before the Blessed Sacrament, on the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel (September 29th). This concludes his noviciate, although his training will continue.

A third and final year at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary follows, during which the brother receives professional development in the field where he shows most promise. He also studies apologetics and masters the catechism so as to be able one day to teach it effectively to others.

His formation complete, the newly forged brother is sent to one of the schools or priories of the Society where he begins his apostolic life.

After renewing his vows annually for three years, the brother twice renews his vows for a period of three years (six years total) and then takes perpetual, lifelong vows.

Throughout his religious life, the brother takes a month-long vacation every year with the approval of his superior. Also, an annual six-day retreat of prayer, rest, and recollection is held for all brothers.