VERNIAN PEOPLE FORMATION PROCESS 2 Out about nine in the morning, he saw others who were in the park idling and he told them; go you too to my vine. Mt. 20,3-4 Remain loyal to your calling L The words of Jesus You too go to my vine keeps resounding since that faraway morning in the course of history; it repeats itself in every man who is born to this world. The calling doesn t appeal only to the pastors, priests, religious men and women, rather it is extended to all: all the faithful lay people are called personally by the Lord, from whom they receive a mission for the Church and for the world. Saint Gregory Magnus remembers this when, preaching to the people, he comments on the parable of the workers at the vine: Pay attention to the way you live, dear brethren, and control if you are already workers of the Lord. Appreciate what you do and consider if you work in the Lord s vine (CfL2.
3 Inside the Vernian Family, which takes its name after the name or Mother Antonia Verna, everybody who is in it this way inspired (Sisters of Charity of Immaculate Concepcion of Ivrea, Charity missionaries, local lay people, individual faithful people), make up the Lay People Vernian Association, an association of people who wish to realize their Christian calling through the participation in the Charisma of the Sisters of Charity of Immaculate Concepcion of Ivrea, in accordance with their own lay status of life, in full communion with the sisters or the institute. The members intend to follow Madre Antonia s model of living the Spirituality of the Mystery of the Immaculate Conception, the gratitude to God for the gift of their Christian calling, and to give their own contribution to the apostolic zeal of the sisters in their charity service and their work of evangelization, in their own private ways(st n1) LAY PEOPLE FORMATION so that you may blossom (from chapter v from christifideleslaici) MATURE IN CONTINUITY 57 The evangelic image of the vine and the vine shoot reveals to us another fundamental aspect of the life and mission of lay believers: the calling to grow, to mature in continuity, to always give fruit In this dialogue between God who calls and the person questioned about his responsibility we can see the possibility as well as the need for an integral permanent formation of lay believers, for which the Faher Bishops have reserved a great part of their work.
4 DISCOVERING AND LIVING ONE S OWN VOCATION AND MISSION 58. Lay believers formation s fundamental goal is to discover their own calling more clearly, and also the availability to live it through the fulfilling of their own mission. God calls me and sends me as a worker in His vine, He calls me and sends me to work for the coming of His Reign in history. This personal calling and mission define the dignity and responsibility of all the formative work, which must be directed towards the joyful recognition and dignity and to the full assuming such responsibility. In fact, God has thought us since eternity, has loved us as unique persons, calling each of us with our own names, like the good shepherd calls his sheep by their names. But God s plan is revealed to each of us along our life, gradually, day by day. In order to be able to discover God s secret will for our life certain things are essential: listening to God s word and the Church s own, constant prayer, counsel by a wise loving spiritual guide, the reading of talents received in the light of faith and of the various social historical situations in which we are inserted. There are many particularly decisive significant moments in the life of any lay believer to discern God s calling and accept His mission. The Lord, at all times: that s the reason for vigilance, attention to God s voice, a fundamental permanent disciple disposition Here is the marvelous task of all believers, all Christians, without exception whatsoever: to know the richness of faith and Baptism, to live them more and more fully. Peter, apostle, talks about being born and growing up as two stages in Christian life and exhorts: like children just born, drink the pure milk of spirituality so that you can grow with it towards salvation (1.Peter2,2)
5 INTEGRAL FORMATION TO LIVE IN UNITY 59 When discovering their own calling and mission, lay believers must be formed in the unity marked by being members of the church and at the same time citizens of human society. There can t be, within existence, two parallel lives: the spiritual one, with its values and demands,and, on the other hand, secular life, family life, work life, social relationships, political commitments and cultural interests. The wine shoot attached to life that is Christ, carries its fruits in all sectors of activity and existence. In fact, all the areas of lay life come into God s design, who wants them as the historical place to reveal and realize Jesus Crhist s charity for the glory of God and at the service of brothers. Each activity, each situation, each concrete commitment, like, for example, competence and solidarity at work, love and devotion to family, children s education, social and political service, all proposals of truth in cultural environments, are providential for a continuous exercise of faith, hope and charity ASPECTS OF FORMATION 60 Spiritual formation must have a very important place in the life of anyone called to grow up in Christ s intimacy, according to the Father s will, in dedication to others in charity and justice Today it is urgent to form lay believers doctrinally, not only for natural dynamism of deepening faith, but also due to the demand to give reasons for hope(1peter 8, 18)in front of the world and its serious complex problems. A systematic catechesis action turns out to be absolutely necessary, graded according to age and different life situations, as well as a decisive christian promotion of culture, as a way of providing an answer to the eternal questions that agitate man and society today.
6 In particular, especially for lay believers committed in the social and political fields, it is absolutely indispensable to know exactly the Church s Social Doctrine, as is recommended by the Church. personal growth in human values is particularly significant for missionary and apostolic action in the context of integral formation of lay believers. In this respect the Council has written: Lay believers give great importance to professional competence, sense of family, community sense and all the virtues related to social relationships, therefore integrity, spirit of justice, sincerity, courtesy, strength of spirit, aspects without which it s not possible to have a truthful Christian life. Lay believers are guided and sustained by the Holy Spirit, in particular the spirit of unity and fulfillment in order to mature the organic synthesis of their life, which is the expression of their being and is condition for the accomplishment of their mission. FORMATION RECEIVED AND GIVEN BY ALL AT THE SAME TIME 63 Formation isn t the privilege of some, it s rather a right and an obligation for all. Our bishops have said: It must be offered to all the possibility of formation, especially to the poor, who can be themselvessource of formation for all and have added: means adapted to all situations must be used in order to ensure human and Christian vocation. INITIAL FORMATION In order to be admitted to the Lay people vernian Association, it is demanded from the candidates(men or women, married or single) that they be of age, practicing catholics, and, after adequate preparation, commit to realize the objectives of the association and observe the Statute with a fidelity promise to be emitted, with an appropriate formula, possibly during a Mass, preferably in a religious sisters community, promise that will be renewed every year on the 8 th of December.(St n9)
7 Item 9 of the Statute speaks about adequate formation before making the pledge. The word adequatemeans that there must exist a serious commitment on the part of the Association for providing friends who want to become members with all the formative elements in order to make the promise conscious. Time for formation Duration may vary, but mustn t be less than two years, except in particular cases. Particular cases must be presented to the regional President and his Council in accordance with the General President. People responsible for formation The general President, the Regional President and the local President are responsible for the formation of anyone in his place. In groups or regions it is good to individualize a Vernian Lay person who is discrete, wise, coherent, humble, simple, one who leads a solid life of prayer and faith. This person can be trusted with the task of accompanying the person who initiates his path in our Association. He/she may be helped by a sister who assists him spiritually in the formative course of the aspirant. In the case of failure to individualize such a person, it is possible that a sister or a priest may take on this role. The person responsible for the initial formation must work side by side with the Local President and the Regional President. It is good that the aspirants participate in all group encounters.
8 NOTE The person responsible for the formation accompanies the aspirant personally. The aspirant will be received in the group like a brother/sister in Christ, in order to get to know each other, to experience Vernian family s lifestyle and become faithful testimony. Process check During this process of initial formation, there must be moments of analysis of what is being done, especially concerning the real commitment of the aspirants. This check must be a moment of exchange of friendly opinions that may help the aspirant to clear his doubts and difficulties, as well as help him to follow his own vernian path. Being a friend doesn t force a person automatically to make the promise, this is a mature free choice of the candidate. STAGES OF THE FORMATIVE COURSE. The aspirant will be accompanied to 1.to look deeply into The idea of life as a vocation The vocation of being Christian. 2. to know His/her commitment and his place as a lay person within the Church. The vernianlay person s calling and mission. 3. To know
9 Madre Antonia s life and works The spirituality and charisma of the Sisters of Charity of Immaculate Conception of Ivrea. 4. To know and study the Statute. PRACTICAL NOTE Each stage includes: Meetings with the Vernianresponsable for the formation to provide a fruitful path at all levels, spiritual, contents and operative. Personal study Study with other suggested texts. Personal commitment. Meetings with the group for formation and retreats. It is possible to use cards with subjects for analysis. It is good to adapt the contents to the person and the culture where he/she belongs, keeping the two years period fixed. The demand for a deeper path may emerge, in the case of a lay person who is already prepared, who wants to know more about some aspects of the charisma, of the spirituality, of the Sacred Writings, of Faith. In this case the responsible person will seek for help from competent people, in agreement with the local leader and the Regional President. 1- LIFE AS A VOCATION A- CALLED TO LIFE
Point of departure: Salm 139 (138) Lord, you see through me and know me God created man at his image, at God s image he created him, man and woman he created him.(gn 1,27) Reading of passages of Genesis about man s crearion. Study of CCC nn 355-384 10 B- CALLED TO THE FAITH OF BAPTISM It is not an exaggeration to say that the whole existence of the lay believer has the objective of taking him to know the radical Christian novelty that arises from Baptism, the Sacramento of faith, in order to be able to live according to the vocation received from God. (Cf n 10) Consult tests The Sacraments CCC from n 1212 The ten commandments CCC or the compendium. Christian prayer CCC or the compendium Reading of some passages of the Gospel, especially by Mark, who shows clearly a path of faith. Holy Bible. Catholic Church Chatecism. Catechism compendium CONCRETE COMMITMENT Sunday mass Participation in group meetings. Charity gestures in everyday life, in the family, at work.
11 Everyday prayer at least in Crucial moments of the liturgic year. 2- THE LAY PERSON S MISSION IN THE CHURCH In particular: the vernian layman s vocation and mission. Studying and understanding the layman s mission in the Church. Reading and explaining ChristifidelesLaici, apostolic exhortation. For analysis Catholic Church Catechism: the lay calling. Chapter III, from n.97 to 913, and the Catechism Compendium, first part, second section, chapter 3 nn.188-191. Apostolicamatuisitatem (Council decree 18.11.1965 about Lay apostolate) Holy Father Benedict XVI at the Plenary Session of Pontificial Council for lay people(25.11.2011) CONCRETE COMMITMENTS: Active presence in church (participationin caritas groups, missions, organization of oratory) Participation of initiatives and moments of prayer, adoration, reading of the Bible. Aperture to collaboration with other beneficial actions. 3-BEATA MADRE ANTONIA S LIFE AND WORKS Spirituality and charisma of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of Ivrea
from which arise the specific aspects of the vernian lay person s obligation. Studying and analysing Beata Antonia Maria s life, spirit and charisma. How a lay person can live Madre Antonias four life rules, her spirituality, her gratuity. Go deeper into the mystery of the Immaculate Conception Reference texts F. Vallosio, A sister of Charity, Turin,, 1839 S. Majorano, Antonia Maria Verna, Writings, 1997 SCIC, Antonia Maria Verna, a sister of charity, 2010 A.Montonati, A gratis, for love, 2011 COMMITMENT To experience the gratuity in giving and receiving.(giving time, listening, patience, forgiveness, helping without expecting anything, with happiness, especially to those who are most needed) Getting involved in a deed of charity, voluntary work at church, (choir, catechesis, oratory, organizations ), with the sisters or anywhere else at the service of the poor. Praying a mystery of the Rosary every day. 12 4-THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF THE STATUTE Study and explain The Statute article by article. The formula of the promises.
13 Commitment: fidelity To the meetings To group fraternity To the charity dimension, especially to the poor To daily Rosary. PERMANENT FORMATION In this second part it is posible to go deep into some Church documents related to Vernian Lay carisma in a particular way. For example Education in the life of the Gospel. It is posible to develop the subject of educational emergenci in the light of what Madre Antonia has done.(cfr.for example the conference held in Piemonte when preparing for Antonia s beatification) New evangelization for transmitting the Christian faith. The transmission of faith The Church and the Pope s teaching on charity and education Pope Benedict s Wednesday s catechesis Pope Benedict s decree about the service of charity. The Church s intimate nature. The present formative itinerary is not final, it is to be experienced until 2015. Please write in the following page that you wish to contribute with.
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