Criteria for an integral formation

10.  We need some reference points and criteria to define integral formation.  It seems to me,

in this further phase of our journey, we can recognize them²¹ in the so-called “four fidelities” described in RPU: fidelity to man and his time; to Christ and the Gospel; to the Church and her mission in the world; to religious life and the charism of the founder. An analytical consideration of these criteria permits us to understand the meaning, to identify the constitutive components and specific aspects, the culture peculiarities and so forth. In the formation process they must be seen, however, in a dynamic way, that is, in relationship among themselves and with the person growing toward maturity. Distinguishing them leads back to the unity of all; unity qualifies and requires distinction and respect of differences, precisely because every thing bears the Trinitarian imprint.

            I will limit myself to a few highlights for each of them.  Still, first I wish to locate them together in a framework.  When we talk about formation---initial and ongoing--- we always talk about:

-         persons, their dignity, their specific vocation, their future and their task for the good of the Church and of society;

-         a plan of God for humanity (Cf Eph 1:3-14). It is in this plan that our life, our vocation and the mission of the Institute have meaning,;

-         a living tradition of which we are expression and continuers, in creative fidelity. Living tradition that is peopled by the “fathers” of religious life (Anthony, Pacomius, Basil, Benedict, Francis, Clare, Ignatius…) and by men and women, laity and consecrated, priests and deacons…

-         a task and mission in the organic communion of the Church, according to the Lord’s assignment (Jn 20:21);

-         a “today”,  that of humanity, of which we are citizens reaching toward the future, and a humanity on which the Spirit “who makes all things new” hovers.

I found it useful during my experience as formator always to keep in mind these

parameters, which developed as I followed the young people, in order to avoid treating integral formation solely by overcoming limitations of the past---we would be conditioned by them----or to prize the data of pedagogical sciences as something apart. Integral formation is bound to the person, to his situation in society with his own identity (“his own face”), and to the responsibilities in building his today and future along with others.