PRESENTATION
Abbreviations used
Introduction
PART ONE: General Aspects
Ch. 1. The Word of God and Sacred Scripture
Ch. 2. The Word of God in Claret and in the Congregation
Ch. 3. The Ministry of the Word in Formation
PART TWO: Stages
Ch. 4. I. Stage of Preparation. Postulancy
Ch. 5. II. Stage of Initiation. Novitiate
Ch. 6. III. Stage of Development and Consolidation Missionaries in Formation
Ch. 7. Special Moments
Appendices
Appendix 1: What the Bible Tells us about the Word of God
Appendix 2: Vocation and Formation Texts of the Bible
Appendix 3: Texts of Claret on the Bible
Appendix 4: The Word of God in the Congregation (Pedagogical Orientations)
Appendix 5: Methods for Reading and Praying Sacred Scripture
Appendix 6: Project for Bible Reading during the Formation Process
Appendix 7: Survey on the Word for Postulants, Novices and Students
Appendix 8: Celebration of the Word
Appendix 9: Claretian Bibliography
“Our Founder’s practice of the daily and ‘vocational’ reading of the Bible, and our acceptance of it as God’s Word for us today, must be family traits that allow us to give constant proof that we are hearers-servants of the Word” (SW 14).
1. The Word of God in the Renewed Constitutions
1.1. Our Mission
“The ministry of the Word…is our special calling among the People of God” (CC 4, 46, 73; cf. 6).
“Before we dutifully proclaim the Word of God, we should first listen to it attentively…so that we ourselves may be conformed to Christ and set afire with his love, the force that should impel us” (CC 34).
1.2. Following and Conformity with Christ
“Therefore the following of Christ as set forth in the gospel is our supreme rule” (CC 4).
“We should listen to it…so that we ourselves may be converted to the gospel” (CC 34).
“We should also…examine our fidelity to the gospel” (CC 37).
“That we may be conformed to Christ” (CC 34).
1.3. Like Mary
“Pondering the word of God in their hearts…” (CC 37).
1.4. Community and Formative Dynamics
“And so we listen to the Lord’s words, eager to learn from him as he calls his disciples…” (CC 4).
“We should also share it [God’s word] with our brothers…” (CC 34).
“We should first listen to God’s word in attentive meditation” (CC 34).
“Our missionaries should spend some time daily in mental prayer, an hour when possible…also in spiritual reading, especially from the Scriptures” (CC 37).
“We should be diligent in sacred and human studies…” (CC 56).
“With those who feel they have a vocation, we should begin a process of discernment that includes listening to the word of God…” (CC 59).
“Our scholastics should be especially diligent in the pursuit of sacred studies” (CC 72).
“They should pray God unceasingly to make them fitting ministers of the divine word” (CC 73).
“The superior…offers the community his service…by offering the [his brothers] the ministry of God’s word, either personally or with the help of other members or, if it seems opportune, with that of others who are called to that ministry” (CC 104.4).
2. The Word of God in the General Chapters of Renewal
2.1. XVII General Chapter of 1967
1. DC nn. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.
2. SH nn. 6, 15, 31, 133, 135.
3. RL n. 10.
4. BB n. 8.
5. AP nn. 5, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 47.
6. F nn. 49, 50, 51, 52.
2.2. XVIII General Chapter of 1973
1. RL 2.c, 32, 33.
2. AP n. 96.
3. F nn 12.b, 13.b, 15.c,e.
2.3. XIX General Chapter of 1979
MCT nn. 51-53, 82-86, 143-148, 150-151, 153, 165, 223.
2.4. XX General Chapter of 1985
CPR nn. 55, 57.
2.5. XXI General Chapter of 1991 (SW)
1º. Disciples of Jesus in community: nn. 6, 7, 7.1, 8, 8.1, 8.2, 9, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3.
2º. Proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom: nn. 10, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 11, 11.1, 11.2, 11,3, 12, 12.1, 12.2.
3º. Our spirituality as hearers-servants of the Word: nn. 13, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 14, 14.1, 15, 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 16, 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4, 17, 17.1.
4º. Structures and means for renewed ministry of the Word: nn. 18, 18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 19, 19.1, 19.2, 20, 20.1, 20.2.
5º. Formative processes of initiation and enablement for the ministry of the Word: nn. 21, 21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4, 21.5, 21.6, 21.7, 22, 22.1, 22.2.