By T. Samuvel Devaraj MSFS

The First chapter is descriptive in nature, the second is both descriptive and narrative and the third chapter descriptive and analytical. In the first chapter we try to understand the concept of religious life and formation in general from different perspectives. This chapter begins with the history of religious life and the meaning of religious life. It proceeds further on vocation, the theology and spirituality of religious life. This section ends with the evangelical counsels and the community life. As formation for religious life is very essential and important, so the next section deals with formation in general. These days in many of the formation houses, the formators and others talk about over all formation of candidates. We are living in a challenging world so each one of us should be formed in all the fields, to be effective in the ministry. In this Integral Formation is being dealt and special emphasis is given for human and spiritual formation.

The second chapter is dedicated to Religious Life and Formation according to St. Francis de Sales. St. Francis de Sales as a Bishop, reformed, guided and helped many religious congregations. He was also the founder of the Visitation of Holy Mary. So he can be the apt person to give us an example and guidance towards Religious life and Formation. This chapter begins with formative guidelines from the life and teachings of Francis de Sales on Religious Missionary formation; this is further developed in founding the Visitation Order and its goal. So the emphasis here is to understand the person of Francis dc Sales and his influence towards religious life. This chapter also deals with formation for community life, spiritual direction and pastoral spirit. This chapter ends with formative guidelines from the teachings of Francis dc Sales and then it is developed further in reforming and helping of the religious orders.

The third and the final chapter goes further saying that Francis de Sales is model and guide in Fransalian religious life and formation. Fr. Mermier, who founded the congregation of Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (Fransalians), chose him to be his guide and master. He also requested his followers to imitate him in their day today life. So the third chapter begins with Fr. Mermier and his aim of starting the congregation. It is further developed in giving identity to Fransalian religious life and formation, the importance of evangelical counsels and the community life. Fr. Mermier derives the missionary spirit from the Apostle of Chablis- St Francis De Sales, so this is given much importance in our missionary journey. The next section deals with integral formation which consists of Human and Spiritual Formation.