A Would-Be Actor Who Became a Capuchin, Soon To Be Ordained a Priest

An inspiring story from Slovenia. From an aspiring actor to a Capuchin Deacon, soon to be ordained to the Priesthood.

From Aleteia

By Lojze Grčman

A chat with transitional deacon Ambrož Brezovšek – whose father is a permanent deacon —relaxed and profound amid raindrops in an idyllic Slovenian village.

The editor of Aleteia's Slovenian edition shares this inspiring conversation.

The places where interviews are conducted vary greatly. I’m certainly very grateful for this one. I could hardly have wished for a more pleasant setting than the peaceful garden of the Capuchin monastery in Vipavski Križ, Slovenia, with its wonderful view of the Vipava Valley.

The location of the interview changed during the conversation, however, as rain drove us into the ancient monastery library. In any case, here is an extensive conversation — just the right amount of serious and relaxed — with the newly ordained Capuchin friar Ambrož Brezovšek.

“God wants me as I am”

"The decision to become a priest was the result of a long period of soul-searching; it was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. The approach of my ordination and then my first Mass therefore isn’t such a big change for me. I came to the realization that I’m not worthy of this gift from God. By my own standards, I’ll never be good enough.

“However, I’ve accepted that God is calling me and that through His grace I can serve him. God is my father, who wants me as I am, with all my shortcomings, to work for the growth of His kingdom," Brother Ambrož explains.

Since last fall, he has been living and working at the Capuchin monastery in Vipavski Križ. He comes from Vojnik, but spent his childhood in Celje, a city with roots dating back to the Roman Empire. “You can't eradicate the Celje in me,” he says with a smile in his native dialect.

Father and son deacons

He has five brothers and sisters. With such a large age difference, he learned to change diapers quite spontaneously. The family is very close. "We nurture our relationships and keep in touch, even though two of my brothers live abroad. Our parents instilled in us a desire for connection.”

“It’s also important to actively live our faith, which isn’t only a connection to tradition. My father's service in the permanent diaconate also shows the role that faith plays in our family," he says. Both father and son are currently deacons. His father Karli is a permanent deacon, while Ambrož was ordained a transitional deacon last year.

Siniša Kanižaj | Družina

His uncle on his mother's side is also a priest. At his uncle’s first Mass, the then eight-year-old Ambrož said with childlike simplicity that he felt sorry for Pope John Paul II and that he would become pope because someone had to replace him.

The family was also friends with many priests, but Ambrož's decision to become a priest came as a big surprise—even a shock, when he announced that he was going to join the Capuchins. “It took me quite a few minutes to convince them that I was serious.” His mother said, “Oh, you're going to the Capuchins for spiritual exercises. No? Do you need a break? No? You must be joking.” Once the disbelief had dissipated, he received the full support of those close to him.

Giving priority to the priesthood

He heard his unique calling to the priesthood at a young age, but resisted it at the time. It was always present in his life, but played a secondary role. This becomes even more meaningful when we learn that Brother Ambrož actually wanted to become a film actor and even studied abroad for this purpose. However, during that period, he clarified his ideas and realized that the priesthood would take precedence in his life.

A guiding principle we can take as an example

Before Vipavski Križ, he was in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Life in a monastery alongside other community members can be very intense. Brother Ambrož refers to this as dying to oneself and one's ideas. "It’s something you never reach the end of. If you’re calm at one moment, something can upset you the next.”

“The Lord gave us brothers and sisters, and if we accept them with the awareness that He placed them in my life, as He placed me in theirs, beautiful things can happen." This is a guiding principle that we who don’t live in monastic communities could also take as an example...

He adds meaningfully: "If you don’t live with your brother constantly bickering, nitpicking and pointing out shortcomings, but accepting what each person is like, beautiful relationships are built. Our gaze must always be directed towards the Other (God) and the other (our neighbor). 

“Our ego doesn’t allow this, but God is greater than that. Obedience is in purifying the promptings of the Holy Spirit. For us, it’s not blind obedience, but dialogue. It’s seeking solutions in conversation."

Thank you for your time, Brother Ambrož, and many blessings on your journey!