SEMINAR 2

Letter 3
Dear Students,

With and for you and your family, I pray: may you continue to bond more with your loved ones now
that we “begin the roadmap to a new normal” with our region under Alarm Level 1.

I shared with you the “Purpose of Seminar II”, the “Pedagogical Tool” that I will use, and the role
students play in this platform of instruction that I call, “Dialogue by Correspondence”.

The “School”, viewed from the Augustinian perspective, is a “Melting Pot of Love and Potentials”; and
“Pedagogy” is understood more as “Accompaniment”, the purpose of which is for the students to
learn to discern properly. As I used to say, the instructor (teacher) “walks with, works with…and
alongside each student” in his/her journey (study) toward the desired goal… and in your case, toward
“professional lawyering”.

Experience, however, tells us that the journey - the process of teaching-learning, the schooling and
the study – is never easy. How can the School help you? How must I, your fellow traveler,
“accompany” you? The exercise, “Draw your tree of life” was intended to make you aware of your
real need and present situation, now that we are in health and economic crises – how you are,
where you are - in the journey towards professional lawyering. If you notice that your tree is drying
up, that you’re losing energy …take care of the roots: “Are you worried that the tree has rotten
branches? Don’t waste your time; take care of the roots, and you don’t have to walk by the
branches”. This goes with the Augustinian pedagogy that exhorts educators to start from the present
situation and real need of educands.

In this Letter 3, I will show how importance a travel companion, a fellow traveler is in the school of
law as well as in the school of life. The journey in school and outside the school, is difficult…much
more so when we are in crisis. St. Augustine reminds us of this – that “Life is a Warfare” (cf.
Confessions Bk 10, Ch 28. 39); that nothing has a real stability in our lives, something is constantly
dying in us and around us as we move successively through time and situations. Continual learning,
progressive changes and renewing of opportune initiatives are needed. In summary, no one can feel
self-sufficient with regard to the demands of the study of law. And all students need help with
discernment, inspiration, and support, at all times, and especially under more difficult circumstances
(cf. Studium Sapientiae).

What can we do? What does Augustine say? “You say, the times are troublesome, the times are
burdensome, the times are miserable. Live rightly and you will change the times. The times have
never hurt anyone. Those who are hurt are human beings; those by whom they are hurt are also
human beings (Sermo 311, 8). And he continues: “So, change human beings and the times will be
changed”. And how can we change ourselves, in a way that the eventual difficulties will serve as
stimulus, aiding us in overcoming them through personal effort and the collaboration of all? (Studium
Sapientiae). Like St. Augustine, we can start with a prayer: “Let my soul rouse itself, Lord, from
weariness, lean on Your creation and hobble toward You Who made it all. For in You we are remade
and find true strength” (Confessions 5, 1). See also Augustine’s prayer: Let me know…(attachment).
Exercise 3: Tamquam flamma (As in a flame). This exercise is inspired in the saying: Tres in
flamma vires (There are three strengths in the flame). Flame is a symbol of desire, of love. For
the flame (that is, desire) to keep on burning, it needs fuel and protection from strong winds.
Your desire to pass the course and become a God-fearing lawyer is like a flame. The three
strengths of the flame, as well as the fuel and the protection, can be seen in the symbol of the
Augustinian Recollects:

The flame goes up, rises,

climbs, ascends to God;
strength to persevere… Heat expands, enlightens; love warms
and purifies; strength to love, to serve,
to help… sacrifices for the sake of …

Fire needs fuel, combustible, oxygen to continue

burning; it also needs protection from strong
winds; strength that is humble and needs others

Study this OAR-symbol and interpret the four

elements (heart, flame, arrow and book) that constitute the symbol. What do you think keep
the flame (desire) of Augustine burning? (My heart is restless until it rest in God). You may then
adapt the question and apply it to yourself and your study of law:

1. What fuel and protection do I provide my desire to pass the course and become a God-
fearing lawyer?
2. Is the fuel I use fit and proper for the kind of flame that I have?
3. How do I protect the flame? What safeguard (s) do I provide it?

Apply the 3R’s in the exercise:

Read and reflect (on letter and exercise);

Record your discoveries;
Recall what you have recorded and with joy share your discoveries or
questions (in dialogue with family members, friends, classmates or fellows at
your workplace)

Please keep a record (journal) of your reflections…because at the end of the Seminar you will be
asked to present in summary your discoveries and an evaluation of the exercises.
At the service of formation-education,

Fray Lauro Larlar

05 March 2022