Ongoing Formation of Religious - CMGlobal

VINCENTIANA 1/2-2008 - INGLESEApril 17, 2008 − 4ª BOZZA118 Cyril de SouzaPaschal Mystery, the foundation and basis of consecrated life,personal maturity seen in one’s attitudes, the stability of values andprofessional qualification.7.1. The Paschal MysteryThe Paschal Mystery is the most basic aspect in the life of areligious, and it should be, so to say, the heart of the program ofongoing formation, because the Paschal Mystery is the font of lifeand maturity of religious. 43 It is not merely an intellectual content,but the spiritual and real foundation on which the new person isformed. The life of a religious is centered on Jesus, because thereligious shares in the same mission that Christ Himself came tofulfill; namely, to build up the Kingdom of God, and thus thereligious represents Christ in and through the community and acts inthe name of Christ.The meaning of religious life and the essence of the spirituality ofreligious life are both connected with this intimate union that oneshould have with Christ. According to the depth of intimacy that thereligious is able to develop with Christ, the personality of thatreligious will also become more in accordance with the personality ofChrist, and, thereby, acquire the goals of the consecrated vocationand the spirituality of religious life. Since Christ is the only andultimate model of the personality of the consecrated person, thisintimacy is the only means to help the religious become like Christ,in his personality, in his attitudes, values and teaching. Such a unionis founded in and fostered by the Eucharist.Through the celebration of the Eucharist, religious participateclosely in the Paschal Mystery. It is also through that samecelebration that they receive the strength and the help to becomeintimate with Christ and thus participate with him in his PaschalMystery. When a religious allows Christ to become the centre ofhis/her life, not only will that religious person’s lifestyle change, butthat person will also be ready, like Christ, to give his/her life forothers through service in apostolate and ministry. Religiousformation, and particularly religious ongoing formation, is anitinerary of change and conversion towards perfection in charity. It isa journey that lasts the whole of one’s life and will be completed onlyin the final consummation of life. 4443Cf. A. PARDILLA, “Biblical Aspects of Formation in Religious Life,” inInternational Union of Superiors General (1997) 96, p. 38.44Cf. A. BEGHETTO, Crescere insieme in Cristo. La formazione permanente delreligioso (Città Nuova: Rome 1989), p. 79.