Page 13 - Y Mind

Justin SJ

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Novitiate
Novitiate - the core oF
core
the
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uit
JeSuit FormatioN
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ormatio
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ave you ever considered falter at any moment. This spiritual root-
Hwhich stage of formation is edness is formed in the novitiate through
the most important one for you? the Spiritual Exercises, where everything
I am pretty sure that each one of (that is) around us becomes alive, and
us will have different answers and opin- meaningful and other aspects like per-
ions because each stage of formation sonal devotions, Eucharist, and so on. It is
is very important. But, I feel that novi- here where that a person discovers God
tiate is the most important one for me in his life and discerns his vocation un-
Why is the novitiate the back- der the able guidance of the novice mas-
bone and the core of Jesuit formation? ter, who is ever ready to help and prune
Gordon B Hincley says, “You cannot build us so that we may become a good Je-
a great building on a weak foundation, you suit. In the autobiography of St. Ignatius
must a solid foundation if you to have a no 27.4, he told that God taught him just
super structure”. The novitiate is where as a school-master. Novitiate is the time
the person is formed to be a jesuit.it here where you are in the school of heart. It

where a Jesuit learns about the Soci- is here where God takes control of you.
ety of Jesus. It is here that a person is Another important aspect which a
formed to be a contemplative in action. Jesuit learned in the novitiate is account-
We cannot become a good religious with- ability and humility. He is tested for his hu-
out a strong foundation. The quality of mility and virtues. All these may seem to
one’s religious life will be determined by be the training of a military general. This
what type of structure or foundation one military aspect is what Ignatius wanted
built in the novitiate. The dependence of from his men, to be a soldier for Christ and
God comes from this stage of formation. to defend the church in any circumstances.
One is helped to realize one’s own fra- Are you convinced of the impor-
gility and makes the individual become tance of the novitiate in Jesuit life? Do you
aware that without God we are nothing. feel it is the core of the Jesuit formation?
As the saying goes, “Three Je- Well, the answer is yours ……… but we need
suits, four opinions”, No doubt this to remember that novitiate is the cradle

attitude comes from the novitiate. of our religious life. Try to feel the same
To develop this attitude we need to be vigor you felt in the novitiate and march
grounded in our spiritual life, else we may forward. I am sure you will never regret.

Young Minds 2020 12