The magnum opus was entrusted to Rev. Fr. Carlos de Melo, S.J., who was given just a few months to complete it. Though some might think that Fr. de Melo being a professor emeritus would have the time required, but he is as busy as any of the other professors in the Papal Seminary. He kept aside nearly all his other commitments and took up the challenge.
The term "Home of Love" which was formerly used frequently to characterize the Papal Seminary in Kandy inspired Fr. de Melo to make a "Work of Love" of what he has undertaken. I have had much experience of this in my recent visits to the Papal Seminary. His conversations were full of what he had discovered in letters and documents, on how many chapters had been written already, and what difficulties he was facing.
This book demonstrates how the vision of Pope Leo XIII in establishing one general seminary for the whole of India has been realized. So great was his prophetic thrust and the trust that on one side of the medal struck in 1894 on the occasion of his sacerdotal silver jubilee was the inscription "Filii Tui India, Administri Tibi Salutis". The sons are now bringing salvation to people in many parts of the world.
For us the saying "Bloom where you are planted" is important. But equally if not more important is to "Bloom where you are transplanted". Transfers, as we priests and bishops know, are an uprooting and transplanting, and can be painful. The transfer of the Papal Seminary from Kandy to Poona in 1955 was not different. What would become of the "Home of Love" and the "Kandy Spirit"?
The lush greenery of Kandy gave way in 1955 to the brown aridity of Ramwadi, Poona. I joined the Papal Seminary in 1955 and sensed that it was faith and obedience that prevented the professors and students from behaving like the Israelites in the desert and yearning for a return to the past.
History is very important for every individual and institution. Studying the history of Papal Seminary gives us an opportunity to come to know the great personalities who shaped Papal Seminary. It also tells us about the various attempts made over the years to form effective priests for India and abroad. The present has to be built on the past. Therefore, unless we know what has gone in the past, we will not be able to mould the present and the future in a meaningful and constructive way. Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat the same mistakes.
Papal Seminary has a glorious history. Over the last 123 years it has been able to train thousands of priests, sisters and lay people. Until it was shifted to Pune, Papal Seminary (Papal Athenaeum) was catering almost exclusively to the Papal Seminarians. After it was shifted to Pune, it started accepting students from other religious congregations and lay men and women.
Four Cardinals and 72 Archbishops and Bishops have gone through the training in Papal Seminary. At present, there are one Cardinal, 23 Archbishops and Bishops and 16 Archbishops and Bishops Emeriti. We are happy that we get students from large number of Archdioceses and Dioceses from all over India.
As I carefully read de Melo's history, it became clear to me that it is remarkably a good book. All I sought to do was to correct a few mistakes and cut out some paragraphs which I thought were unnecessary.' I also added one chapter to the book, narrating the story of the last twenty-two years.
It is my fond hope that this revised and updated history of the Papal Seminary will appeal to the staff and students of the Papal seminary, past, present and future. I wish to thank all those who helped me in the revision and updating of this book.
I would like to place on record my grateful thanks to A. Francis for his competent secretarial assistance.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
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