Ongoing Formation of Religious - CMGlobal

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VINCENTIANA 1/2-2008 - INGLESEApril 17, 2008 − 4ª BOZZA120 Cyril de Souzathe way one perceives a particular situation and which urges one tobehave in a specific way. Because of a deeply ingrained characteristicof attitude, a change in attitude would involve a threefold action: 1. itfirst consists in letting go of the old outlook and old behavior; 2. itthen looks out for a new frame of reference, new knowledge and newbehavior models; and 3. it finally consists in establishing this newlyacquired outlook and behavior in such a way that this new attitudebecomes a permanent part of the person’s functional capacity.7.3. Stability of ValuesFor an individual, values refer to those choices in life that onetreasures and are considered important within the frame of referenceof the goals one expects to achieve in life; hence, they are offundamental importance in one’s life. 47 Values could be long termvalues (or terminal values), because they propose a life ideal and thepurpose of one’s existence; or, they could be instrumental values, inso far as they serve as strategies or ways of behavior in order toachieve these terminal values. 48 In this sense, the “imitation of Christ”is for a consecrated person a terminal value; whereas the vows ofpoverty, chastity and obedience, as also fraternal love in communityand the apostolate are instrumental values, because they are meansthat help the professed person to achieve that terminal value.Vita Consecrata broadens this terminal value and says that thevalues of consecrated life and the goal towards which consecratedpersons strive are the imitation of Christ and union with God (n. 2).The means and the tools to achieve these values are more specificallymentioned. They are charity as a sign of liberty of heart to betterserve others and to be available for the Kingdom, obedience to thedivine plan as an expression and means of the imitation of Christ,and poverty as a fruit of love for perfection and communion with thepoor. To wish to lose oneself for the sake of the Kingdom is anauthentic realization of the vocational values which allow thereligious to realize their full potential.With regard to the stability of values, it is required that theindividual, in growing to maturity, should be able to internalize thesevalues, so that they become stable and established in the individual.Thus the individual should move from an intellectual knowledge47Cf. B. GOYA, Bisogni e valori, consistenze e inconsistenze vocazionali (UPS:Rome 2000), [unpublished], p. 9.48Cf. L. RULLA, Antropologia della vocazione cristiana. 1. Basi interdisciplinari(Piemme: Casale Monferrato 1985), p. 338.
VINCENTIANA 1/2-2008 - INGLESEApril 17, 2008 − 4ª BOZZAOngoing Formation of Religious121of these values, and then pass over through a mere emotionalacceptance of these values, and arrive finally to putting them intopractice, or living them out and acting according to those values.This would be an important task in continuing and ongoingformation of the religious.A life that is clearly marked by correct values is important,because they provide motivation for vocation and the building up ofthe character of the person. Internalizing values is neither easy norspontaneous, and the acquisition of values usually requires thefollowing four stages: 1. have sufficient knowledge of the value,2. experience that value by putting it into practice, 3. reflect upon thevalue to appreciate its effects, and 4. develop an attitude by whichone lives according to that value. 49 As such, it is clear that the processof acquisition of values calls into play all the human faculties:cognitive, emotional and operational. Not only should the learner beenabled to know the right and the good, but also feel the appropriateemotions, concerns and commitment, and likewise exercise the willto do the right thing.Through constant value learning and acquisition, the consecratedperson becomes more and more like Christ, which is also thegoal of religious consecration. Only when one becomes mature canone understand the importance of the stability of these values in life.Thus the acquisition and stability of the right values help theconsecrated person to become a more authentic religious.7.4. Professional QualificationAcquiring professional skills and competence is absolutelyessential in the maturity not only of lay persons, but it is particularlyso in the case of consecrated persons. Living one’s consecrated lifeincludes, as well, living the professional aspect of one’s life whetherfor service in the apostolate, or for service in the community. Thisprofessional aspect of a consecrated person begins with the selectionof one’s professional career, which should normally be done inaccordance with one’s personal interests, ideas, values, meaning oflife, and, of course, capability. This is then followed by the wholeprocess of becoming truly professional in that aspect. When thathappens, one is in the process of becoming a more mature person.The responsibility of qualifying one’s professional competenceincludes and comprises all that any professional career would49Cf. H. CASTELLINO, “Paths to Value Education,” in Vidyajyoti Journal ofTheological Reflection 66 (2002) 4, p. 280.
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