Congregatio Servarum Spiritus Sancti de Adoratione Perpetua
(SSpSAP)

Phases of Formation

(Taken from the Constitutions and Directory of the Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration)

“Growth towards human and Christian maturity implies the harmonious development of a person’s physical, emotional, moral, and intellectual endowments, accompanied by a constant deepening of faith. While our young Sisters make the adjustment to the life in the cloister, we shall help them to overcome difficulties with steady courage and to acquire gradually a more mature sense of responsibility towards ennobling their lives, as well as towards pursuing the authentic freedom of the children of God (cf GE 1).”   

The purpose of the postulancy is to introduce the candidate to our way of life and apostolate. The postulant hereby has the opportunity of testing her suitability for our life. At the same time, the Congregation is able to form a judgment concerning her fitness for the novitiate.
The postulancy is preceded by a preparatory period (aspirancy) of six to twelve months.

The novitiate is a time of thorough preparation for total dedication to God in our way of life according to the evangelical counsels. Based on the gospel and on the spirituality of our Congregation, the formation aims at developing an attitude of openness to the Holy Spirit, so that faith, hope, and charity may mature and nurture the vitality of every other virtue. The instruction given should be founded on Holy Scripture and on the sound tenets of theology and psychology.

The years of temporary vows serve to further develop and test one’s ability to live according to the evangelical counsels, to carry out the obligations of our contemplative-missionary apostolate, and to find personal fulfillment in our calling.
This should be a time of progress in aptitude for living and working with others, in stability and readiness for service, and in living faith.

A period of immediate preparation precedes the perpetual vows. Its aim is to ready the Sisters for a final wholehearted surrender of themselves to Christ, one which involves their entire life. The more fully they ratify this commitment by perpetual profession, the more vigorous becomes the life of the Church and the more fruitful is its apostolate.

The process of formation does not terminate with perpetual profession. Throughout our lives we should earnestly endeavor to perfect our spiritual, doctrinal, and practical development. Therefore we gladly take advantage of all that is offered us for our growth and try to make it our own.

While our consecrated life foretells the resurrected state and the glory of heaven, we nevertheless experience the tensions and trials of this time of pilgrimage. Our united steadfast striving and loyal perseverance give testimony to the power of Christ and of his Spirit at work in the Church, effecting in its members that holiness which redounds to the glory of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (cf LG 44, 47)