TITLE II:
ACCEPTANCE
INTO THE ORDER
Chapter 1
Constitutions
THE INCREASE
OF VOCATIONS
11. The responsibility for the increase of vocations rests on
the whole fraternity and on each individual friar. This responsibility
comes from the consciousness of offering to others a way of life rich in
human and Gospel values.
All the friars should fulfill their duty to promote vocations first of
all by the example of their lives, and also through evangelizing
activities and constant prayer.
General Statutes 1, 2, 3, 4
Chapter 2
Constitutions
FORMATION IN GENERAL
Our blessed Father Francis with great diligence personally formed his
new sons by teaching them, with new principles, to walk rightly and
steadfastly on the way of holy poverty and blessed simplicity.
(1 Cel 26)
12. The candidates in formation are to receive a complete
education: human, religious, Franciscan and apostolic.
General Statutes: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Chapter 3
Constitutions
HUMAN FORMATION
13. The purpose of human formation is to help the candidates
develop their natural talents, to gradually acquire a more mature sense
of responsibility and to learn to use their freedom to overcome
obstacles to growth.
14. This formation is to be carried out in a family atmosphere
that fosters a well integrated personal and social formation and is
totally consonant with the Franciscan tradition.
15. The candidates are to be trained in strength of character
and learn to prize qualities which are held in high regard such as
sincerity of heart, constant concern for justice, fidelity to one's word
and work, courtesy of manner, discretion and kindness in speech.
General Statutes: 9, 10
16. Discipline must be regarded as a strong support of
fraternal life and as an integral element of the entire training
program. It helps the candidates to be able to accept the authority of
the ministers because of inner conviction and spiritual motivation.
Chapter 4
Constitutions
FORMATION IN
RELIGIOUS LIFE
17. The aim of formation in the religious life is the
development of our candidates as religious so that being formed in the
spirit of the Gospel and the Rule they may persevere with joy in a life
of ongoing conversion.
18. This aspect of formation should be based on an adequate
knowledge of the theology of religious life, so that the candidates may
value the gift of their own vocations.
19. Candidates in formation are to become accustomed to live
intimately united with Christ as friends. They are to learn how to seek
Him faithfully in meditation, to communicate with Him by active
participation in the Sacred Mysteries of the Church, especially the
Eucharist, to see Him in their ministers and their brothers and to
experience Him in the common life, in their daily activities and
especially among the poor and marginated.
20. They are to love, venerate and follow the example of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, the servant of the Lord, the " virgin made church"
who listened to the Word of God and meditated on it in her heart. (SalBVM,
1)
21. Candidates are to be carefully trained for the life of
religious chastity, so that, while they rightly understand the dignity
of Christian marriage, they may also understand virginity consecrated to
Christ and generously choose this virginity after mature consideration.
22. Candidates are to be introduced to a personal and communal
style of poverty so that they may be able to live in conformity with
Christ and share in His poverty.
23. With special care they are formed into a religious
obedience that is free and responsible and through which they choose
true Gospel freedom and a total surrender to God.
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