5. Docibilitas and permanent formation

In the end one may say that formation ultimately implies the instilling in the young the willingness to go through this process which should not be required only in special cases of uncertainty or when discernment is needed, it should rather be an approach characterising the whole institute, as it seeks to find new meaning in the gift given to it by the Spirit. This is what we call docibilitas, that is, the inner freedom which enables us to remain constantly open to learn anew from every event and every person, for the whole of our life.

It is worth noting however, that it is not the same docibilitas imparted by the formation of once upon a time, since to be docile does not only mean to be open to the wind of the Spirit, but it requires courage and imagination as well, passion for the truth and affective intelligence; in short, one must have learned how to learn.

Therefore formation must last all our life through, as the individual continues to peer into the gift he has received, to see it evermore as his own identity, and to increasingly feel its attraction. Initial formation is successful only in the measure that it has been able to create in the person this disposition of allowing himself to be formed throughout his life. Indeed it is this very attitude that gives rise to the creative interpretation of the charism and keeps it ever young . (together with the person who lives it).

Obviously such docibilitas cannot be taken for granted, but ought to become the goal of the educational process. Whoever does not learn it, will never know how to learn from life, from others, hence will never have anything to give of himself to life and to others.