Rover Scout Departure of Association des Scouts et Guides de Riaumont

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Rover Scout Departure of Association des Scouts et Guides de Riaumont's Rovers Scout (Catholic Scouts in France).

Source

This ceremony should be performed in a solemn and serious way. It is essential that it takes place in the open air, for instance at camp, in front of a calvary,at a fork, or a crossing, at a viewpoint overlooking a wide valley, etc…

It should be preceded by a prayer vigil for the companion ( future Rover Scout), adssisted by his proposer with the Companion Scouts of the Crew surrounding him. At the end of the ceremony, the new Companion Scout will leave and camp out alone a night long or, better, a whole day.

Crew's song.


Companion : Sir, if it so pleases God and yourself, I request to become a Companion Scout.

Leader : Before agreeing your commitment in front of the Crew, I am going to to remind you of the main requirements for your Exode's Departure.Have you understood that to begin your "Exode" you must first begin to get out off your home and yourself, renounce your egoism and your security, seek what's difficult and try to live hard ?


Companion :Yes sir.

Leader : Do you wish to remain always virile and sober, not to be a slave either to your caprices or to your comforts, and keep a spirit of poverty all your life?

Companion :Yes sir.

Leader : Have you understood, through our love of nature and camp, that a R.S. does not fob oneself with words and does not believe that talking is equal as acting ?

Companion : Yes sir.

Leader : Have you understood, through the sharing of others' pain which we seek in our service and our undertakings, that life should be taken seriously and that that every Rover' action counts and engages ?

Companion :Yes sir.

Leader : Have you understood, through our activities and discussions, that a Rover has an unselfish love of Truth, does not rest content with half-truths, or with the easy possession of ready-made truths? Do you want, in all things to seek humbly the Truth, serving it as a free man, but without crushing others by the weight of your own discovery ?

Companion : Yes sir.

Leader : In leaving on your Departure, do you understand that you no longer belong to yourself, and that you consent in advance to self-sacrifice ? Are you ready to serve ?

Companion :Yes sir, I request to be considered as always being in Service


Leader : Have you understood, through the demanding life which we seek to lead, that a Rover Scout is never self-satisfied and never thinks that he has arrived ? Are you determined to lead a life of perpetual progress in Christian spirit, self-control, strength of character, integrity, dedication and purity, and to strive constantly and in every way to do better today than yesterday, and tomorrow than today?

Companion :Yes, I want it.

Leader : Will you be able to walk alone, and to give more of an example to others than to be dependant on the example of others? Are you determined to live a manly life, relying, after God, only on yourself ?

Companion : Yes sir.

Leader : Have you understood, through our brotherly friendship and the meetings we had together along the road, that each person is unique, and that in the most disgraced man as well as in the most obscure the eternal divine spark is burning which deserves your love ?

Companion :Yes sir.

Leader : Are you prepared to scorn no one, to converse with each man fraternally, and to learn from all ?

Companion : Yes sir.

Leader : Do you understand, through your own failures, that you must not condemn others, but that you owe them the same kindness which God himself lavishes on you ? Do you promise, for the glory of God, to seek in others the good which is in them, and, for the sake of His love, to bear with their imperfections ?

Companion : Yes sir.

Leader : Finally, are you determined, as far as you are able, to pursue your work, marriage or priesthood as a vocation, taken on in a spirit of service to the Church and to your Country (France) ?

Companion : Yes sir.

Leader : May God give you grace to persevere, so that sin, disillusions, money and honours do not blunt your generousity, and so that your heart may remain youthful in you until the end of your days, as the Lord has willed.


The Leader then asks the Rover Scouts present : Brothers Rover Scouts, will you accept [...NN...] as a fellow brother ?

The others R.S. : Yes sir.

The Rover Leader : Welcome, then, as a Rover Scout in the Scout Order .

Companion : I know that the greatness of man is his fidelity. Aware of my weakness, I ask God for his grace and promise to lead a worthy life as a man and as a Rover Scout of Riaumont.

Leader : Be, then, one of us, and, on the flag of France (your Country), renew your scout promise which is your comfort and support.


Companion : On my honour, with the grace of God, I will do my best to do my duty to God, the Church, and my Country; to help other people at all times, and to follow the Scout Law.

Leader : Take this bread, food for your journey and sign of human solidarity. It induces you to work, to share, to fight for justice, but do not forget that there is another Bread which is even more necessary for life ! (The Rover puts the bread in his rucksack.)

Leader : Take this tent, shelter for your journey. It will remind you that on earth we have no permanent dwelling. (The Rover puts away his tent and puts on his rucksack)

Leader : Take this light to dispel the darkness on your journey. Seek the Truth and let it shine it forth, for in you lives the Lord, the Light of the World. (The Crew Leader gives to him a torch lit in the left hand).


Leader : Take this axe, symbol of the vigour which will clear the way for you through the difficulties, and if you cannot find any way to God, then open one up. (The Crew Leader slides the axe under the Rover's belt, on the right-hand side.) Leader : Take this walking-stick. It's two-pronged handle simulates Good and Evil between which you must constantly choose, and, for God, make always the good choice. (The Crew Leader places the walking-stick in the Rover's right hand).


Leader :Take these scalps (coloured bands), worn by all the Rover Scouts in the world . They are a reminder of things which you must never let die in you, whatever your age :

-yellow, the Cub scout colour, the colour of the sun : may your joy always shine on those around you.

-green, the Scout colour, the colour of all that grows : may Hope always lead you on.

-red, the Rover Scout colour, the colour of blood and love : may you never begrudge neither the one nor the other in all the days which God gives you. It will remind you of the example of your older brothers who died along the crossroads of the sacred ways or in (Vendée) our motherland : remember that a Rover Scout who is not prepared to die for his ideal is good for nothing. Even though it is sometimes just as difficult to live.


Take, finally, these silver letters which show everybody that you are a Rover Scout. But remember that they must never be worn by a coward or a liar.


And now, brother, Godspeed ...


Rover :Father, I will not go until you have given me, once more, the Word of God.


The Chaplain : "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven ;

Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted ;

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth ;

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled ;

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy ;

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God ;

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God ;

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven ;

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."

My son, as the Divine Master said to his apostles, so I say to you: "Go now to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and say unto them: the kingdom of God is near." (the Chaplain puts a Bible or New Testament.) These words of life, do not keep them to yourself: proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God ; give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, hospitality to those who knock on your door, clothes to those who do not have any; visit the sick, help those who are in prison; and if you are persecuted for the sake of Jesus Christ, make no preparations for your defence, for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who will speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Never forget that your way is a passage, beyond this earthly life, towards the country of eternal youth, and that, together with all the people of creation on their way to the brightness of resurrection, you will not find your rest, after the labours of the road, until you are received by the Father in the glorious Holy City, divine camp of rest and eternal joy.

Now leave, following Christ, the immortal Shepherd of men. May Our Lady, Mary, the Morning Star, guide you; may the archangel Raphael, Saint James, Paul the apostle and all our Rover Scout saints protect you and remain with you today and tomorrow and forever.


(The Chaplain blesses the Rover).

Rover : Amen.

The Crew circle opens, the Rover Scout goes on his way, singing "The Call of the Way. He leaves to camp on his own for one night, and, if possible, also the following day.