Need of the Hour
Formation or Training?
Keywords:
Formation, Human Formation, Spirituality, Theological Formation, Liturgical and Missionary Spirituality, Holistic Formation, Transformation into ChristAbstract
Formation is a matter of spirituality after the models of Jesus Christ and His Blessed Virgin Mother Mary. This has to be distinguished from the mere training of some skills and practicing
many devotions. The spirit of prayer is an essential element of spirituality and is different from reciting many prayers. In the evaluation and promotion of the candidates, positive criteria of
spirituality should replace the merely negative norms of “having made no problems.” Formation also entails human formation and theological formation. Theological formation should promote liturgical and missionary spirituality and sound theological reflection which is at the service of faith. Theology is not to be perceived and pursued as a mere “objective” university discipline. The need of the hour is a holistic formation as conformation to and transformation into Christ, which is ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit!
References
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Vatican II. (October 28, 1965). Optatam Totius, Decree on Priestly Formation. Vatican, Rome.
Vatican II. (December 4, 1963). Sacrosanctum Concilium, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. Vatican, Rome.
