JESUIT PAR EXCELLENCE. Fr. Reuter, SJ is a fine example of a Jesuit, University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ said. Photo by Kat A. Mallillin.
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ, shared his sentiments about the death of iconic Jesuit priest Fr. James Bertram Reuter, SJ, 96, in an exclusive interview with The GUIDON last January 11.
“Sometimes, people wonder how you can live a full life even as a celibate. You know you don’t have a family because you’re a priest. How can you live a full life? As an example, Fr. Reuter, he lived a full life,” Villarin said.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) officially announced Reuter’s death at 12:51 PM on December 31.
“He’s such an icon for us. When he was young, he was one of the model Jesuits. I’m saddened that he’s gone but grateful because he really enriched us,” Villarin said.
Reuter was a theater writer, producer, seminarian, academician, director and, among many other things, a mentor to several generations.
“Thank you for touching us [and] for moving us. Thank you for serving all the lives that you’ve served,” Villarin said, addressing Reuter. “You can see how he has changed lives, especially the young people then.”
Jesuits and obedience
Villarin recalled an article Reuter wrote in one of the issues of The Philippine Star. “He wrote something about Jesuits and obedience. We’re supposed to be known for obedience, but our obedience is not the military kind. It’s the active kind of obedience.”
“At that time, I was wondering what the Jesuits were all about. I was already a Jesuit, but what is it that propels us?”
“What matters for Loyola, according to him, is the bridle… the thing that controls the [horse]… and the focus. The analogy was this horse will really run fast… but then, what use is all that energy if it can’t be trained in a particular direction? That’s the role of obedience,” he added.
Villarin said he could not fathom the reason for being struck by the piece because it simply did.
“He is always Fr. Reuter”
Villarin was never in one of Reuter’s plays, but when Villarin was still a scholastic, he had met the esteemed Jesuit.
Villarin shared that Reuter would act as the conductor whenever they gathered to sing songs like “Hodie Christus Natus Est” and “Today Christ is Born.”
He added, “He just likes to conduct things because he’s musical. He’s an athlete, a musician. Well, he was really more [of an] icon. He was always Fr. Reuter.”
“I don’t think you can put the Jesuit in one mold and say, ‘Look, this is Jesuit,’ but at least in this person you can say, ‘That is Jesuit.’”
Updated 10:36 PM, May 18, 2013.
