WHAT IS CHRISTIAN FORMATION and in particular FORMATION FOR US SECULAR FRANCISCANS Written by BENEDETTO LINO, OFS, International Formation Director 1

WHAT IS FORMATION? Formation: 2 parts – “form” and “a(c)tion” Therefore: it is an action that gives form. So, what do we mean by “form”? Latin – formosus means “beautiful” Form implies a sense of harmony To form or to give formation means to give form to what has none or to what needs to be improved or perfected. 2

FORM OF LIFE Form of evangelic life – adopting a lifestyle according to the Gospel. Gospel – the Good News of God -- the Epiphany of Jesus Christ Therefore, The Form of evangelic life is the form of Christ. 3

WHAT IS FORMATION? For us Christians, Formation consists in taking and giving the form of Christ, the perfect man, according to the project God has for each one of us: His vocation for us. 4

START AFRESH FROM CHRIST Christ is the book of Life. Jesus Christ is our Formation Manual. Every plan of formation must look at Jesus, the Master, who personally formed his apostles and his disciples. Francis understood this: “I have done what is mine; may Christ teach you what is yours.” 5

GOAL OF CHRISTIAN FORMATION Provide for every person the most adequate conditions to open one’s soul to Christ and to concretely meet Christ. The center of formation rests on the event of the encounter with the living person of Jesus Christ. Franciscan formation must be a school in which we are taught to always start afresh from Christ, like Francis. 6

PROBLEMS WITH CURRENT FORMATION Swings between 2 extremes: 1. Concentrates on methodologies and intellectual teachings; OR 2. Remains at a simple devotional level. Doesn’t seem to change people’s lives – no conversion/transformation towards a Christ-shaped existence No “schools of formation” at regional/national levels taking 3-4 years 7

PROBLEMS, con’t. Formation in fraternities done by ill-prepared seculars or religious who know nothing about the OFS or the laity Common belief that the elected “formation director” must DO all the formation Most formation based on a one-way transmission of catechetical notions, devotional practices, narrations, and events in the life of St. Francis 8

PROBLEMS, con’t. Most formators don’t have a precise idea of what are the nature and identity of the OFS Most formation is superficial Attitude of most formators is that of a “teacher” 9

WHAT IS NOT FORMATION Not academic teachings Not culture: formation creates culture Not more or less impersonal conferences Not “materials”, paper manuals or audio-visual aids Not a series of devotional common places of Francis and Clare Not catechism; it presupposes it 10

WE MUST FORM OURSELVES TO BE AND NOT TO APPEAR (INTELLECTUAL) 11

THE HEART AND GOAL OF FORMATION The formation that must be implemented by a formator must be a living and impelling transmission: Of faith Of the personal discovery of God Of the truths that have opened our eyes and have given immediate and ultimate sense to our life Of the experience of living in and of Christ Of the beauty and joy of our common vocation Of the ardor to accomplish God’s project for us 12

FRANCISCAN FORMATION Purpose is to tive the form of Christ to the candidate according to the vocation by which God has called us, where Francis is the model of how we should follow Jesus 1 st element in vocational process of St. Francis is the personal experience of his relationship with Jesus Christ, shown by: Radicality Totality Permanence 13

MEETING JESUS The basis of our entire relationship with Jesus is prayer. The Franciscan journey begins with contemplation of the Holy Trinity. We also contemplate the humility of the Incarnation of the Son of God. The Lord is always the first who acts. He asks that, like Francis, we hold nothing of ourselves back, but give all to Him. 14

CONTEMPLATION Contemplation of the mystery of the Incarnation leads to progressive disappropriation of self, and a growing adhesion to Jesus Christ. Starting point of following Christ must always be contemplation. First formation “exercises” must lead to the candidate’s encounter with Jesus. Candidates must experience the gratuitousness of the call. 15

MEANING OF THE CALL Each of us is God’s project; to experience it we need to be called. The grace of obedience is the first sign to verify the authenticity of the call. Obedience in letting the Lord lead us is a sign of a vocation. Everything comes through prayer, which must be frequent and prolonged, learn to burn in the fire of love. 16

FORMATORS’ JOB Formators are to lead by accompanying candidates to the encounter with Jesus. The Holy Spirit brings God’s work in each of us to completion. Formators must help those being formed to withdraw from their own selves, to become familiar with the Spirit of the Lord and to let Him reshape and remold them. 17

CORNERSTONES OF THE FRANCISCAN FORMATION 1 st Pillar: the encounter with Christ 2 nd Pillar: the absolutely central place of the Word of God and of Eucharist 3 rd Pillar: preference for the poor 4 th Pillar: priority given to the brothers and sisters Sole goal of formation – the following of Christ. 18

HEARTS ON FIRE FOR THE LORD! Fire in Scripture – we are to “burn” with love of God Characteristics of Secular Franciscans: Passionate about Jesus Totally committed to Him In love with Jesus with your whole being Showing that love to everyone all the time Praying always Having only one focus – Jesus Christ 19