Like the first Christians

November 1, 2011

Tags: Formation, Javier Echevarria, letter from the Prelate

Bishop Javier Echevarría

On the anniversary of Opus Dei's founding, the Prelate has written an extensive pastoral letter on the importance of formation for the spiritual life and the new evangelization.

"The easiest way to understand Opus Dei is to consider the life of the early Christians. They lived their Christian vocation seriously,
seeking earnestly the holiness to which they had been called by their Baptism."

DOWNLOAD here the letter

CONTENTS

FORMATION FOR THE NEW EVANGELIZATION
- Like the first Christians
- Need and importance of formation
- Freedom, docility, sense of responsibility

HUMAN FORMATION
- Temperance
- Fortitude
- Human tone
- The human tone of sacred ministers

SPIRITUAL FORMATION
- Identifying oneself with Jesus Christ
- The means
- The Sacrament of Reconciliation
- A spirit of initiative and docility
- Humility and prudence in giving spiritual direction
- Liturgical formation
- Liturgy of the Word
- The Eucharistic Liturgy

FORMATION IN CATHOLIC DOCTRINE
- Fidelity to the Magisterium and freedom in matters of opinion

FORMATION FOR THE APOSTOLATE
- Personal apostolate of friendship and trust
- Apostolate of family and youth
- Apostolate and culture

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND FORMATION
- Work and unity of life
- Right intention
- Apostolic spontaneity