PART V. ON-GOING FORMATION
On the way Francis discussed
with his companions how they A. Description 133. When their initial formation has been completed, the friars must continue their spiritual, doctrinal, apostolic and practical formation incessantly, so that their vocation may persevere integrally in creative self renewal, following the example of Saint Francis 165. Ongoing formation fits in harmoniously with our penitential charism, that is, into continuous evangelical conversion 166. 134. The Order has the right and duty to plan and realize an adequate ongoing formation for all of its members l67. B. Objectives 135. Ongoing formation is the continual renewal of the basics of one's own religious life and also includes participation in various initiatives of professional and practical �updating> in what concerns our activities. C. Content 136. Ongoing formation includes all the dimensions of formation (human, Christian and religious). Its content is to be in harmony with the charism of the Order and with the fundamental dimensions of religious life (the personal, community and apostolic dimensions). Spiritual formation 137. Spiritual formation must be at the center throughout the whole of one's life. It particularly includes concern for the personal and communal fidelity to the charism and mission of the Order in the Church and the world 168. Care should be taken to foster an ever greater knowledge of the origins, history and present of the Order and of one's own province. Community formation 138. Community formation should cultivate: 139. Forms for cultivating the fraternal life may be as follows: - the spiritual sources of the fraternal life: Eucharist, sacrament of Theological formation 140. The content of theological formation and updating may be as follows: - Biblical studies Apostolic and professional formation 141. The content of the apostolic and professional formation can be as follows: - social and political life D. Agents 142. The general formation director, in collaboration with the provincial formation directors, <<shall promote courses of study for on-going formation which are proper to our charism>> 172. 143. The Inter provincial conferences should explore the methods of 144. It is the duty of the provincial council, according to various circumstances, to study the most effective means for realizing ongoing formation 173. In this task it is to be helped by the provincial formation commission and other specific commissions. Each friar 145. After solemn profession each friar enters into the dynamics of ongoing formation. He is to develop his own vocation in the various circumstances of his life, collaborating with the local minister and the minister provincial and participating in the ongoing formation programs. Minister provincial 146. The minister provincial, in his capacity as animator of religious life and of ongoing formation, is to provide the friars with the most fitting means for each to continue his own formation and update the knowledge and skills. that are indispensable and useful for their service 174. Together with his council, he should encourage and propose concrete initiatives for this purpose. The provincial formation director 147. The provincial formation director is chosen by the provincial council, and has the task of: - organizing provincial gatherings for ongoing formation, in harmony - informing the friars and the fraternities about opportunities and Local fraternity 148. The local fraternity, the ordinary locus of ongoing formation, should make use of all the opportunities for it: prayer, chapters, various meetings, collaboration, exchange of experiences, etc. 149. The local minister, the leader of the fraternity in this field too, has the duty and responsibility of guaranteeing an atmosphere, time and means for ongoing formation, also sponsoring meetings among neighboring fraternities 175. E. Methodological guidelines Special times of ongoing formation 150. The friars should use the opportunities and means for spiritual renewal that already exist: liturgical celebrations, community prayer, community reading, days of recollection, retreats, etc. 176 151. The various chapters, canonical and fraternal visits, and other meetings among the friars are true occasions for exhorting, encouraging and correcting, so that everyone may be committed at the personal and community level, in study, work, meditation and prayer. 152. The celebration of a Penitential Chapter or some similar practice whereby the local fraternity can examine the vitality of its common life is recommended 177. 153. The beginning of the postulancy or novitiate, temporary and solemn professions and the conferral of sacred orders should be for those who participate in these occasions, for the local fraternity and the province a special time for renewing their own fidelity and their common commitment. 154. Solemnities, feasts and liturgical memorials of the Order should be an occasion for the renewal of our religious life, especially: the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the Franciscans, the celebrations of Saint Francis, of St. Clare, St. Louis, St. Elizabeth, of the patron of the province and of the fraternity and of other saints and blesseds of the Order and of the Franciscan family. Periods of ongoing formation in the life of the religious 155. The programs and initiatives concerning ongoing formation should take into consideration the present circumstances of the friars and the various stages of their lives so that their needs can be addressed in a concrete and valid manner. At every stage of life a person seeks and finds a new task to fulfill, a particular way of being, of serving and of loving 178. Some periods of religious life demand greater attention for the renewal .of one's own ideals. 156. The years after solemn profession. After initial formation the young religious may experience difficulty in adapting to the new environments of religious life and of apostolate, when their enthusiasm comes meets reality head-on. The provincial formation director should be in contact with the young friars to offer them fraternal assistance. He is to organize annual meetings for them so that they may deepen their sense of fraternity and to help them balance the various dimensions of religious life. 157. Middle age. A new period of life and of ongoing formation begins approximately ten years after solemn profession, after the friar is fully inserted into fraternal life and the apostolate. This period can bring about a sense of routine, dissipation of energy, a vocation crisis or a lack of enthusiasm. It is necessary to reinterpret daily life in the light of the Gospel and of the spirituality of the Order. Special attention should be given to the friars in this age group, encouraging them in their process of maturation. It is recommended that they change their residence and their work and that they be given a period of spiritual, apostolic and theological renewal. Meetings of a fraternal and formational nature should be organized for them. 158. Mature age. In the mature age the profound sense of one's own vocation, consecration to God and service of others becomes more generous. This period, however, may bear without a certain degree of individualism or disappointment. The deepening of the spiritual and contemplative life, renewal programs and special periods of recollection are to be recommended. The friar should collaborate in the initial and ongoing formation within the province, in order to pass on his own knowledge to the new generations and share his experiences with his brothers. It is fitting that after twenty-five years of religious life the friar is offered the opportunity for a period of spiritual and theological renewal. 159. Advanced age. The friars in their advanced years form an intergenerational bond, hand on the spiritual experience of the community and are capable of stimulating and helping the life of the fraternity. Gradual withdrawal from activity, illness and forced inactivity constitute a particular experience and can be a new way of living the religious consecration 179. Conformity to Christ is not dependent on the efficiency of one's work in government or the apostolate. The friars should participate in the life of the fraternities and collaborate in initial and ongoing formation. The religious and the fraternities should stand by them and help them to overcome the difficulties caused by their age. 160. All the periods mentioned above offer opportunities for human and spiritual maturation or for a renewed commitment. There are also various critical situations in every age caused by
external factors (misunderstanding, change of residence or work, failure,
etc.) or by more strictly personal factors (sickness, affective problems,
spiritual aridity, etc.). In these situations the directors, ministers and
fraternities should be close to the religious and help him overcome these
difficulties. Suggestions concerning the forms
162. In the Order -
meetings at the level of the Order: general chapter, plenary council,
gatherings of formation directors, of friars, of candidates, etc. 163. In the Province 164. In the life of the religious
Interdependence of initial and ongoing formation 165. Today formation is rightly considered to be one of the fundamental dimensions of human life. The friar who has finished his initial formation must realize that he has received only the basis of a formation that must be extended throughout his whole life 182. The friars and fraternities which cultivate ongoing formation create an environment in which the formation of candidates is able to take place. There is truly a close vital bond and an intrinsic unity between initial
and ongoing formation. THE END OF THE RATIO FORMATIONIS
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