FORMATION OF SALESIANS OF DON BOSCO PRINCIPLES AND NORMS RATIO FUNDAMENTALIS INSTITUTIONIS ET STUDIORUM Fourth Edition Rome 2016 1 Edizione online Direzione Generale Opere Don Bosco Via della Pisana, 1111 Casella Postale 18333 00163 Roma Bravetta 2 CONTENTS Contents Abbreviations Decree of promulgation Revision of the “Ratio” regarding the Prenovitiate: Letter of F. Cereda Revision of the “Ratio” concerning the Initial Formation of the Salesian Brother: Letter of F. Cereda Note to the Fourth Edition 3 CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................................................................................... 12 DECREE OF PROMULGATION ......................................................................................................................................................... 13 REVISION OF THE “RATIO” REGARDING THE PRENOVITIATE ............................................................................................... 14 REVISION OF THE “RATIO” CONCERNING THE INITIAL FORMATION OF THE SALESIAN BROTHER ........................... 16 NOTE TO THE FOURTH EDITION ................................................................................................................................................... 19 First Part SALESIAN FORMATION IN GENERAL .......................................................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER ONE SALESIAN FORMATION IN THE PRESENT-DAY CIRCUMSTANCES. THE RATIO .............................. 22 1.1 VOCATION AND FORMATION: A GIFT TO BE WELCOMED AND FOSTERED ............................................... 22 1.2 WITH OUR GAZE ON DON BOSCO, FOUNDER AND EDUCATOR, AND ON THE REALITY OF THE CONGREGATION ...................................................................................................................................................................... 22 1.3 REFERENCE POINTS FOR FORMATION AT THE PRESENT DAY ..................................................................... 24 1.3.1 Understanding the context: key influences and challenges .................................................................................. 24 1.3.2 The experience and the guidelines of the Church ................................................................................................ 26 1.3.3 The experience and the guidelines of the Congregation ...................................................................................... 27 1.4 THE RATIO: PURPOSE, CONTENT AND THOSE TO WHOM IT IS ADDRESSED .............................................. 29 1.4.1 The purpose of the Ratio ...................................................................................................................................... 29 1.4.2 The structure and content of the Ratio ................................................................................................................. 29 1.4.3 Those to whom the Ratio is directed .................................................................................................................... 30 PRACTICAL GUIDELINES AND NORMS .............................................................................................................................. 31 CHAPTER TWO THE STARTING-POINT AND GOAL OF OUR FORMATION: OUR IDENTITY AS SALESIANS ........... 33 2.1 OUR IDENTITY AS SALESIANS............................................................................................................................... 33 2.1.1 A project of apostolic consecrated life ................................................................................................................. 33 2.1.1.1 ANIMATED BY PASTORAL LOVE TO BE AN EDUCATOR AND PASTOR OF THE YOUNG .......... 35 2.1.1.2 RESPONSIBLE MEMBER OF A COMMUNITY ........................................................................................ 36 2.1.1.3 WITNESS TO GOSPEL RADICALISM ...................................................................................................... 36 2.1.1.4 ANIMATOR OF COMMUNION IN THE SPIRIT AND MISSION OF DON BOSCO ............................... 37 2.1.1.5 A PART OF THE CHURCH, OPEN TO THE FLOW OF EVENTS AND IN TOUCH WITH REALITY .. 38 2.1.2 The different forms of Salesian identity............................................................................................................... 38 2.1.2.1 THE SALESIAN PRIEST .............................................................................................................................. 38 2.1.2.2 THE SALESIAN BROTHER ......................................................................................................................... 39 2.2 FORMATION AT THE SERVICE OF SALESIAN IDENTITY ................................................................................. 39 2.2.1 Our formation is determined by our Salesian identity ......................................................................................... 40 2.2.2 Formation promotes our identity on a permanent basis ....................................................................................... 40 2.2.3 Formation links our identity with the cultural context ......................................................................................... 40 2.2.4 Formation fosters growth in our identity according to our personal gifts ............................................................ 41 2.2.5 Formation helps us to live out our identity within a communion of vocations .................................................... 41 PRACTICAL GUIDELINES AND NORMS .............................................................................................................................. 42 CHAPTER THREE THE ASPECTS OF FORMATION AND THE VALUES AND ATTITUDES TO BE ASSUMED ............. 45 4 3.1 HUMAN FORMATION ............................................................................................................................................... 46 3.1.1 Good health and the capacity to work .................................................................................................................. 47 3.1.2 Psychological balance .......................................................................................................................................... 47 3.1.3 Affective and sexual maturity .............................................................................................................................. 48 3.1.4 Relational ability .................................................................................................................................................. 50 3.1.5 Responsible freedom ........................................................................................................................................... 51 3.1.6 Openness to reality .............................................................................................................................................. 52 PRACTICAL GUIDELINES AND NORMS ......................................................................................................................... 52 3.2 SPIRITUAL FORMATION .......................................................................................................................................... 53 3.2.1 Giving the first place to God and his design of salvation..................................................................................... 54 3.2.2 Sense of the Church ............................................................................................................................................. 56 3.2.3 The presence of Mary Immaculate, Help of Christians ........................................................................................ 57 3.2.4 Young people, the meeting-place with God ......................................................................................................... 57 3.2.5 The experience of God in community life ........................................................................................................... 59 3.2.6 Following Christ in his obedience, poverty and chastity ..................................................................................... 60 3.2.6.1 FOLLOWING CHRIST IN HIS OBEDIENCE .............................................................................................. 60 3.2.6.2 FOLLOWING CHRIST IN HIS POVERTY .................................................................................................. 61 3.2.6.3 FOLLOWING CHRIST IN HIS CHASTITY ................................................................................................. 62 3.2.7 In dialogue with the Lord..................................................................................................................................... 63 PRACTICAL GUIDELINES AND NORMS ......................................................................................................................... 66 3.3 INTELLECTUAL FORMATION ................................................................................................................................. 70 3.3.1 Reasons for its importance ................................................................................................................................... 70 3.3.2 The nature of intellectual formation ..................................................................................................................... 71