Common Principles

The master is to oversee the spiritual life and discipline of those in his charge, as is required by the integral training of those in formation. However, brothers in formation have the freedom to approach other priests for spiritual direction of a more personal kind.

The purpose of formation is to introduce the beginners gradually to the full life and apostolate proper to the Order as laid down by our laws, and the Ratio Formationis Generalis.

To benefit fully from our formation, the candidate needs the following: physical health, psychological maturity corresponding to his age, ability to live with others, a sound Christian life, aptitude, the right intention and the free will to give himself to God and the Church in the Dominican way of life.

Ad ipsum candidatum sub magistrorum ac aliorum formatorum ductu pertinet prima responsabilitas propriæ institutionis in libera cooperatione cum divinæ vocationis gratia.

Those in charge of formation should be well chosen and carefully trained. While several can cooperate in the work of formation, there is to be one brother who ensures the harmonisation of the whole of formation.

The convent of formation should have everything required for formation, so that with due care for the demands of training, the candidates will be introduced gradually to the conditions of the real life which eventually they must lead.

Each province shall devise programmes capable of developing the candidates’ human and religious maturity and of preparing them for the apostolate. The programmes must be suited to their age and condition.

Even though the formation of the brothers continues over many years and is spread over various stages, though studies may be interrupted for the sake of gaining experience, nevertheless it is to be understood and practised as a continuous process directed to one end. In the light of this unity, the different stages of formation mentioned below are to be seen as parts of a whole.