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Christus Vita Vestra CHRISTUS VITA VESTRA RATIO INSTITUTIONIS OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST ROME, 2017 © 2017 Legionaries of Christ. All Rights Reserved INDEX INDEX ..................................................................................................... iii Presentation ........................................................................................... ix Some Notes on the Writing Process ................................................. xv Abbreviations .................................................................................... xix INTRODUCTION SIGNIFICANCE AND VALUE OF THE RATIO INSTITUTIONIS .................................... 1 A. Nature, Purpose and Juridical Value ......................................... 1 B. Intended Audience ....................................................................... 2 C. Sources ........................................................................................... 3 D. Structure ........................................................................................ 4 FIRST PART LEGIONARY FORMATION: A RESPONSE OF LOVE ....................... 5 Chapter One Fundamentals of A Christ-Centered Formation ............................................................... 7 A. Human Vocation and Formation .......................................... 7 B. Formation as Transformation into Christ ............................ 8 C. Some Premises of Formation ................................................ 9 1. A realistic anthropology .......................................................... 10 2. Attention to cultural influences ................................................ 13 3. In step with the Church ........................................................... 20 4. In fidelity to a common charism ............................................... 21 Chapter Two Identity of a Legionary of Christ ................. 25 A. Vocation and Identity ........................................................... 25 B. Identity and Charism ............................................................. 27 C. Essential Traits of Legionary Identity ................................ 28 1. First trait: A Legionary loves Christ passionately .................... 29 2. Second trait: A Legionary participates in Christ’s mission according to the Congregation’s charism ................................ 31 3. Third trait: Legionaries serve the Church and Regnum Christi as religious and priests ............................................... 39 iv Christus Vita Vestra D. Legionary of Christ: A Particular Style .............................. 42 Chapter Three Dimensions and Objectives of Formation ........................................................ 47 A. Spiritual Dimension .............................................................. 50 1. Life in Christ: fostering the gifts received at baptism ................. 51 2. Remaining in an attitude of profound humility ......................... 56 3. Bearing fruit constantly in acts of love ...................................... 59 4. Love for and active participation in the liturgy ......................... 61 B. Dimension of the Evangelical Counsels ............................ 63 1. Chastity: Following Christ, the Chaste One ............................ 65 2. Poverty: Following Christ, the Poor One ................................. 69 3. Obedience: Following Christ, the Obedient One ....................... 72 C. Human Dimension................................................................ 75 1. Persevere in the effort to get to know oneself with realism .......... 77 2. Acting with interior freedom .................................................... 79 3. Following a well-formed conscience ........................................... 80 4. Cultivating sincerity and coherence ........................................... 82 5. Strengthening the will through the formation of habits .............. 83 6. Growing toward affective maturity ........................................... 85 7. Being responsible for one’s life and mission ............................... 89 8. Maintaining details of distinction and conduct as an expression of charity ........................................................... 91 D. Intellectual Dimension ......................................................... 93 1. Seeking the truth and fostering a passion for communicating it . 95 2. Developing a unified and organic world-view ............................ 97 3. Bringing knowledge and experiences together in dialogue ........... 99 E. Dimension of Communion ............................................... 100 1. Learning to be a brother among brothers: spirit of community . 101 2. Learning to be a member of the Congregation and Regnum Christi: esprit de corps.............................................. 107 3. Learning to be a builder of communion in the Church and in society: spirit of service ....................................................................... 112 F. Apostolic Dimension .......................................................... 114 1. Forming the priestly heart of the good shepherd ...................... 116 Index v 2. Learning the art of apostolate: forming oneself to be a formator of apostles and a team player ..................................................... 119 3. Developing an enterprising spirit at the service of the new evangelization ................................................................. 122 Chapter Four Characteristics of the Formation Process ............................................................. 125 A. Personalized Formation ....................................................... 125 B. Integral Formation .............................................................. 127 C. Formation Motivated by Love ........................................... 129 D. Formation Based on Convictions ..................................... 131 E. Experiential Formation ....................................................... 133 F. Formation in Relationship .................................................. 135 G. Gradual Formation ............................................................. 136 H. Ongoing Formation ............................................................ 138 I. Formation for the Mission .................................................. 139 Chapter Five Agents and Intermediaries of Formation 143 A. God, the Formator Par Excellence ................................... 143 B. The Legionary, Responsible for his Formation .............. 144 C. The Church, Mother and Teacher .................................... 146 D. The Blessed Virgin Mary, Model and Formator of Consecrated Souls .............................................................. 148 E. The Formators ..................................................................... 149 1. Major superiors..................................................................... 154 2. Rectors, directors of novices and assistants in the houses of formation ............................................................................. 155 3. Superiors of houses of apostolate ............................................ 159 4. Professors and prefects of studies ............................................ 161 5. Spiritual directors ................................................................. 164 6. Confessors ............................................................................. 166 F. The Community ................................................................... 167 G. The Formative Environment of the Houses .................. 169 Chapter Six Activities and General Means ....................... 173 A. Activities of Ordinary Life and Their Formative Sense 174 1. Expressions of Eucharistic life .............................................. 174 2. Penance and conversion of heart ............................................. 176 vi Christus Vita Vestra 3. Expressions of Marian devotion ............................................ 178 4. Liturgical year ...................................................................... 180 5. Liturgy of the Hours ............................................................. 181 6. Mental prayer ....................................................................... 182 7. Spiritual reading ................................................................... 186 8. Spiritual exercises and retreats .............................................. 188 9. Conscience examen and practical examen .............................. 189 10. Spiritual direction ............................................................... 191 11. Personal review with the superior ......................................... 194 12. Apostolic mentoring ............................................................ 195 13. Means for sharing spiritual goods ........................................ 197 14. Fraternal correction in the spirit of the Gospel ..................... 198 15. Studies and classes .............................................................. 200 16. Conversation ...................................................................... 201 17. Meetings ............................................................................. 203 18. Work around the house ...................................................... 204 19. Rest ................................................................................... 205 20. Meals ................................................................................. 208 B. General Means of Formation ...........................................
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