Rover Departure
The Rover Departure usually takes place at night, on a path. Standstill Rovers block the road, as much as possible on several rows. In front of them, the Leader stands with the religious adviser and a R.S. carrying the Baussant. The candidate, carrying his rucksack, comes towards them with his Godfather and stops at about ten metres from them.
Before applying for the Rover Departure, all candidates must have received the agreement of his general commissioner or possibly from one of the national commissioners who may delegate a Leader to receive the departure; the RS letters are given only after this agreement.
R = Rover. RL = rover leader. P = priest.
R: Leader, please God and with your agreement, I wish to become a European Rover Scout.
RL: You present yourself to the Road but do you know how the Road presents itself to you?
R: Yes, I do.
RL: Have you thought that to go on the Road, you have to leave your home and yourself, to reject your selfishness, your comfort and your security, to look for what is difficult and to want to live roughly?
R: Yes, I have.
RL: Do you want to remain virile and sober, and not to become a prisoner of your caprices, of trends, of the errors of society and to keep a pauper's soul during all your life?
R: Yes, I do.
RL: Have you understood through our love of nature and of camping that a Rover Scout should never get used to a false world in which cheaters are kings? Do you promise to shape your acts and your thoughts according to the requirements of reality?
R: Yes, I have.
RL: Through our communion to human sorrow that we met in our activities and services, have you understood that life has to be taken seriously and that all your acts count and involve?
R: Yes, I have.
RL: Now that you are on the Road, do you know that you accept to give yourself to anyone and that you do not belong to yourself any longer? Are you ready to serve?
R: Yes, I am. I want to be considered as always ready to serve.
RL: Have you thought that life does not stop at border lines? Are you ready to cover the distance between yourself and the others in order to meet them?
R: Yes, I am.
RL: Through our meetings and activities, have you understood that a Rover Scout must love truth deeply, that he is not satisfied with half done things or with ready-made truths? Do you want to look for truth in everything humble-heartedly? Do you want to serve freely recovered values without crushing the others under the weight of your discoveries?
R: Yes, I do.
RL: At last, do you know that a Rover Scout is never satisfied with himself and never considers himself at the end of the Road? Do you want to do better today than yesterday and tomorrow than today?
R: Yes, I promise to do so.
CL: Do you promise never to consider life as fun and games but as a mission from which nothing can divert you? Are you determined to work and to fight without ever forgetting that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is the aim of your Road?
R: Yes, I am determined to do so.
RL: So, as a Rover Scout, you may enter our community of men and renew your European Scout promise, knowing that from now on we may build a city upon your word.
(The Scout flag is then bowed in front of the Rover).
R: I have promised: on my honour, with God's grace, to do my best to do my duty to God, the Church, my fatherland and Europe, to help my neighbour at all times, to obey the Scout Law. Moreover, I promise to help (name of town) group and the Federation of European Scouting.
RL: You may now receive your new badges (the "R.S." letters).
Take this Y-shaped stick, symbol of faithfulness to the soil of your ancestors and of your open heart, which are the signs of a European Rover Scout.
Accept this axe, symbol of the willingness with which you will open your way through difficulties. And if the Road does not exist, make it!
Receive these silver letters which will show to everyone that you are a European Rover Scout. Remember that they should never be worn by a coward or a cheater.
At last, receive the three colours worn by all Rovers throughout the world. May they remind you what must never die!
· yellow, symbol of Wolf Cubs and of the sun, in order that your happy faith should enlighten those who surround you;
· green, symbol of Scouts and of growth, in order that hope should always bring you further;
· red, symbol of Rovers and of love and blood, in order that you should spare neither love nor blood during your life.
A Rover Scout who has not given everything has given nothing.
A Rover Scout who is not able to die is able to do nothing.
But remember that it is sometimes more difficult to live.
And now, brother, good bye!
P: Go. May you be nourished by God's word and by Jesus' comforting promises! May the eight-pointed scout cross remind you of the eight Beatitudes on the mountain:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 7 for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you”.
Now you can go, behind Jesus Christ. May the crowd of saints go with you, today, tomorrow and forever and ever !
May Our Lady help you! And may God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, come upon you and dwell on you forever.
For the blessing, the Rover has knelt down in front of the priest. He stands up and starts walking. His brothers move aside in order to open the path for him.
All now sing a song (l'Appel de la Route). The new Rover sings the chorus alone.