During our minor seminary days, late coming to any activity was (and is still) a great offence. Once the prayer commences in the chapel, for instance, those outside are considered late and would receive adequate punishment. One day, I was just stepping onto the threshold of the Chapel alongside other junior seminarians when the signal for the commencement of the prayer came. We were stopped just at the threshold where there was an inscription “Domus Dei et Porta Caeli” which means “House of God and gate of heaven”.

We were asked to move to one side and behind us were others who had not reached the threshold at all, and they have been invited to move to another side. After a while, one of the auxiliaries (prefects) pleaded with his colleague to allow us to enter into the chapel since we were not as late as the lot behind us…