Didier Grandjean, a former Swiss Guard, has embarked on a profound spiritual journey by leaving his role to join the seminary in Fribourg. His service during the historic 2013 conclave deeply moved him and solidified his vocation to the priesthood. Grandjean highlights the parallels between the disciplined life of a Swiss Guard and that of a priest, emphasizing that selfless service is at the heart of both roles. Now, he continues his mission in the sacred ministry, carrying forward his commitment to serving the Church.
Tags: #Vocation #FaithJourney #SwissGuard #Priesthood #CatholicChurch #Spirituality
Editorial (09/08/2024 15:58, Gaudium Press) The Vatican News portal reports an interview with Didier Grandjean, 34, who exchanged his job as a non-commissioned officer of the Swiss Guard for a vocation to the priesthood at the seminary in Freiburg.
Born and raised in a religious family in the Canton of Fribourg, Switzerland – a region that hosts one of the four Catholic theological faculties in Switzerland, along with Lucerne, Chur, and Lugano, and is often referred to as the “Rome of Switzerland” – Grandjean is trained in landscaping and served in the Pontifical Swiss Guard from 2011 to 2019.
The Impact of the 2013 Conclave
Immersion in the world of the Vatican allowed Grandjean to deepen and further strengthen his faith. However, there was something that touched him deeply and made him realize that his vocation would be the priesthood:
“During my service, there was a decisive moment: the 2013 conclave. It was impressive to see how significant this event was, both historically and spiritually. Greater things were happening than ourselves. We were there to serve and accompany this process, and it was impressive to witness the greatness of the Church and its supernatural nature beyond human weaknesses. This impressed and moved me deeply. The contact with the two popes, Benedict XVI and Francis, was also very formative.”
When he finished his service in the pontifical guard, he entered the seminary. Or rather, he left the guard to enter the seminary in Fribourg. Now he wears “a kind of uniform, but not so colorful,” he jokes.
Bridging Military Discipline and Priestly Life
Grandjean believes there are bridges between life in the Swiss Guard and that of a seminarian: “First of all, the awareness of service is important, whether in the Swiss Guard, in the seminary, or as a priest. Service is at the center; that is the main message.”
His vocation was defined progressively: “The word ‘vocation’ comes from ‘vocare,’ which means ‘to call’ in Latin. It is a call, something you feel inside. For me, this call developed gradually. It was not a sudden illumination. I think it varies from person to person, but for me, it was a gradual process in which I realized that God was calling me to something else,” says Didier.
For him, “discipline plays a role not only in a military context, such as in the Swiss Guard, but also in a priest’s life of prayer. A priest prays the Liturgy of the Hours, and sometimes prayer resembles a struggle.” “But the true essence of discipline is in selfless service, the central parallel between the uniform and the cassock,” emphasizes Didier Grandjean.
He will now develop his mission in the sacred ministry.
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
