The Essentials of Vinculum Formation

Editor's Note: This article touches on three important points as to our formation. 1. That formation is not an overnight success but a lifelong striving. 2. That it must be based, before all else, on a regular and healthy spiritual life. And 3. No one can be passive in formation, expecting just to be fed. We must all work together as the Faith Family that we are, improving ourselves, thereby improving Miles Jesu and the Church. Grasp the essential principles of this article and you will see a marked improvement in your prayer, in your spiritual life, and in your vocation as a member of Miles Jesu. You will be more patient with yourself and with others, find deep interior peace, and experience a greater fruitfulness in your personal life ' spiritual and emotional, domestic or professional.

"Holiness is never instantaneous; it requires time for practice and improvement. For this reason Miles Jesu formation includes mutual support and encouragement, along with goals and motivation.' So reads the Miles Jesu Faith Family Formation Handbook. As Joseph was formed by 14 long years enslaved and in prison, and as Moses was formed by his 40 years in Midian, the Faith Family Handbook observes 'formation is assimilated over a long period of time.' In fact, over an entire lifetime.

Formation is conveyed in many ways, for example: retreats, reunions, private reading, prayer, publications, studies, days of recollection, and especially spiritual direction, preferably with another trusted member of Miles Jesu. The international Path to Rome conferences Miles Jesu holds annually are exceptional opportunities to grow closer to our Faith Family. This article will focus on prayer.

The handbook continues, 'Our formation consists above all in living out our Miles Jesu commitment conscientiously in its call for the daily renewal of our baptism consecration in word and action.' Father General points out that vows'baptismal, marital or religious'are not made on one special day and then left behind. They need to be made every new day in prayerful commitment. Of the two Miles Jesu evening prayers which are mandatory, one is the renewal of our baptismal vows, praying 'I resolve to work for the salvation of souls, practicing and spreading the official teachings of the Catholic Church according to my own capacity. O Mary Immaculate Queen, keep me in your love and at the service of Jesus, and make my heart as immense as yours.' We pledge to serve and ask to be formed.

In the words of the handbook, 'We should strive to learn the charism of Miles Jesu and make it our own, study the Miles Jesu formation books, especially the writings of the Founder, and pray and meditate on the Miles Jesu prayers.

'The Latin maxim 'Lex orandi, lex credendi' (literally, 'the law of prayer is the law of believing') reminds us that what we pray is what we believe. Just as the official prayers of the Church form us in the doctrines and dogmas of the Church, so the prayers of Miles Jesu form us in the spirit and charism of Miles Jesu.' It is well worth obtaining the Miles Jesu Epiphany Prayerbook and begin to reap the benefits.

'The official prayers of the Church are full of deep theological ideas. How much dogmatic and spiritual theology is contained in them! But many who have been saying those prayers for years will not be able to express the dogmatic and spiritual truths in them...The Miles Jesu prayers have been very carefully selected to form apostles in the backbone ideas of the spirituality of Christianity. To really pray and get the full benefit from them we must stop frequently and choose just one of those ideas to meditate upon and digest profoundly, even doing it over and over again, on the same ones. This will truly make the heart be in communication with God, to actually pray (MJ Constitutions 212).'

It is Jesus who strengthens us. Before any man-made or external program can form our souls, we must come to Christ. Those precious 15 to 20 minutes following Holy Communion are privileged moments to approach Him. Miles Jesu members, daily when possible, give time adoring Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. By prayer we become conformed to Christ.

In the Vatican's recent document on the Holy Eucharist, Sacramentum Caritatis, Pope Benedict XVI writes, 'in God and with God, I love even the person whom I do not like or even know. This can only take place on the basis of an intimate encounter with God, an encounter which has become a communion of will, affecting even my feelings. Then I learn to look on this other person not simply with my eyes and my feelings, but from the perspective of Jesus Christ.'

Formation cannot be passive
'One's formation depends primarily from the individual's interest and efforts to assimilate the spirit of Miles Jesu and to grow in its virtues...Therefore, no one can be formed who has the passive attitude, 'Form me,' and takes no personal interest in his own formation (Constitutions, 228).'

Formation of individuals is provided as a response to the initiative and capacity of the individual. We read in Decisioni/Orientamenti (a document of the Sacred Congregations for Religious and Secular Institutes, December, 1978) that it 'must be actively willed and assumed by the person in formation and be seen as a personal responsibility, so that there is a continual striving for self-development in the light of faith. A formation limited to receiving would be ineffectual.'

'Each must improve him or herself. If we want to reform the Church we must start with ourselves. This way is the way of the Saints, and is the most practical and truly Christian way...Let us give good example, for example and love are the most powerful and contagious weapons for reform...When all the members of Miles Jesu do this throughout the entire world, there is no doubt that the Church and the world will feel the impact.'

Forming Responsible Leaders
So the handbook continues 'in Miles Jesu, no one can say, 'Feed me,' like a little child crying out to his mother. Here there are no mothers or babies, but only mature persons with healthy independence as leaders. Personal responsibility is essential in Miles Jesu, both in acquiring formation and in the daily work of the apostolate. Each member needs to take initiative, be creative, and use his intelligence to promote the apostolate and his own formation. These are the ingredients of mature obedience to our superiors in Miles Jesu.'

'...Years ago the tendency was for lay people to be very dependent upon the clergy, but today we should strive to discern, lead, and form other laymen in the teachings of the Church. While we respect all priests, we have the responsibility to discern the quality of their teachings and compare them with the Church's official teaching. If we cannot follow anyone blindly, neither can we be reactionary. Both responses are immature. Our independence as leaders in the Church must be healthy and according to the mind of the Church'not reactionary like a child's rebellion.'

As a new member to Miles Jesu i soon noted two aspects to the formation program. First of all there is a very strong emphasis on prayer, especially before the Blessed Sacrament. And secondly, that while there is also a call to social, intellectual, emotional and physical development, it is essential to use one's initiative to get the most out of the guidance the Institute gives. If i do nothing i will find myself in an empty space and wonder why. But if i am patient, attentive, and follow up those leads i am given, i find each of them bearing riches beyond description. Miles Jesu belongs to Christ and His Church, and in our faith family He feeds us the words of eternal life.

Close window