"He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion in the day of Jesus Christ." (Phil 1,6)
109. To anyone who is thinking of becoming a Salesian, an environment and suitable conditions are offered to enable him to discern his own vocation and to mature as a man and a Christian. In this way, and with the help of a spiritual guide, he is able to make a choice with greater awareness of what he is doing, and without any external or internal pressures.
R 88
A period of special preparation is required immediately prior to the novitiate to deepen the candidate's vocational choice and verify his suitability for beginning the novitiate. This preparation is made through an experience of Salesian community and apostolic life.
110. The novitiate offers the candidate the possibility of beginning the Salesian religious experience.
For this reason the novitiate community must always provide an example of life founded on faith and nourished by prayer, in which evangelical simplicity, joy, friendship and mutual respect create a climate of trust and docility.
With the help of the director the novice examines carefully the motives for his choice, makes certain of his suitability for the Salesian calling, and prepares himself to give his all to God for the service of the young in the spirit of Don Bosco.
111. In accordance with canon law,1 the novitiate lasts twelve months; it begins when the candidate, after being admitted by the provincial, enters the canonically erected novitiate house and places himself under the guidance of the director of novices.
R 93
The novitiate is invalidated by an absence of more than three months, continuous or broken. An absence of more than fifteen days must be made good.
112.
The director of novices is the spiritual guide who coordinates and animates all the work of formation of the novitiate.He must be a man of prudence with spiritual and Salesian experience and an up-to-date knowledge of practical psychology and youth problems. He should be able to relate easily to other people, to engage in dialog, and to inspire confidence in the novices by his kindness.
He must be perpetually professed and is appointed by the provincial with the consent of his council and the approval of the Rector Major. He remains in office for three years and may be reappointed.
Period of temporary profession
113. The first profession marks the beginning of a period of consecrated life. In this period the confrere, with the help of the community and of a spiritual guide, completes his maturing process with perpetual profession in view, and develops the different aspects of his vocation as a lay Salesian or as a candidate for the priesthood.
During the first three years of this period, profession may be either triennial or annual; in the next three years it will ordinarily be triennial.
114. The first profession is followed by a period of religious maturing which continues the formative experience of the novitiate and serves as a preparation for the practical training phase.
The deepening of the life of faith and of the spirit of Don Bosco, together with an adequate philosophical, pedagogical and catechetical preparation that interacts with the prevailing culture, disposes the young confrere to a progressive integration of faith, culture and life.
115. Throughout the whole period of initial formation, importance is given not only to study but also to the pastoral activities of our mission.
The practical training period provides opportunity for a deeper living experience of Salesian educative and pastoral action. During this time the young confrere gets practice in the preventive system, particularly in Salesian assistance.
With the support of the rector and the community, he is able to integrate his activity and the fundamental values of his vocation.
Specific formation of the Salesian priest and the Salesian brother
116. After practical training the Salesian goes on to complete his initial formation.
The specific formation of a candidate for the priestly ministry follows the norms and directives laid down by the Church and the Congregation, and has for its scope the preparation of a priest who will be a genuinely Salesian pastor and educator.
The specific formation of the lay Salesian offers him the opportunity to deepen his knowledge of the spiritual heritage of the Congregation. He receives an adequate theological preparation appropriate to his consecrated lay status, and completes his formation with a view to his subsequent apostolic work of education.
117. A member makes his perpetual profession when he has reached the level of Salesian spiritual maturity commensurate with the importance of such a step.
The celebration of this act is preceded by an appropriate period of immediate preparation, and is marked by the fraternal recognition of the provincial community.
R 94
Perpetual profession takes place ordinarily six years after the first profession; if he considers it opportune the provincial can prolong this period, but not beyond nine years.
118. In the context of a society characterized by pluralism and rapid changes, the evolving nature of each individual and the quality and fruitfulness of our apostolic religious life call for a continuation of our formation after the initial phases. We try to grow in our human qualities, to conform ourselves more closely to Christ, and to renew our fidelity to Don Bosco, so that we can respond to the ever new demands arising from the situation of the young and the poor.
Through personal and community initiatives we nurture our Salesian spiritual life, ensure our theological and pastoral updating, and develop our professional competence and our apostolic inventiveness.
Ongoing formation as a permanent personal frame of mind
119. Living in the midst of the young and in constant contact with working-class surroundings, the Salesian tries to discern the voice of the Spirit in the events of each day, and so acquires the ability to learn from life's experiences. He sees his ordinary activities as effective means of formation, and he also makes use of any other means of formation that may be offered him.
Even when he is fully occupied he finds opportunities for renewing the religious and pastoral meaning of his life, and of learning to carry out his work with greater competence.
He also feels it his task to make the best formative use of any situation, and to see it as a favorable opportunity for growing in his vocation.