Spiritual formation
Spiritual formation refers to the intentional practice of disciplines aimed at cultivating a deeper relationship with a divine being, primarily within the context of Christianity. This process involves strengthening one’s faith and connection with God through various activities such as prayer, meditation, and scripture reading. Historically rooted in Roman Catholic traditions, it encompasses both formal training for individuals pursuing religious vows and personal practices for laypeople who seek to fulfill their spiritual responsibilities following baptism.
The term has evolved to include a broader movement that gained traction in the 1970s, emphasizing individual interpretation and personal spirituality alongside communal practices. Spiritual formation may involve structured programs offered by churches or seminaries, as well as informal approaches that include working with spiritual advisors or participating in retreats. Central to this practice are key elements such as repentance, community worship, and stewardship, allowing individuals to express gratitude, share their gifts, and support one another in their spiritual journeys. Overall, spiritual formation is a diverse and evolving practice that seeks to deepen one's faith and align their life with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
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Spiritual formation
Spiritual formation is the practice of following certain disciplines for the purpose of developing a deeper connection with a divine being. The term is usually associated with Christianity. Spiritual formation is most commonly the general process used by an individual to strengthen his or her faith and relationship with God, but it can also refer to a specific semiorganized process known as the spiritual formation movement.
Background
The word formation comes from the Latin formare, meaning "to form" or "to shape." It can refer to both the process of forming or shaping something and the resulting action of taking that form. The term spiritual formation was first used in Roman Catholic institutions and religious communities to describe the techniques used in shaping or training an individual to become more like Jesus Christ and to learn to better love and worship God.
Originally, spiritual formation referred specifically to the period of time when a candidate considering religious vows first entered training. The process of adopting the practices of prayer, reading of Scripture, and other activities that were traditional for the order or institution the candidates were entering was considered to be their spiritual formation period. The candidate taking vows as a religious sister or brother or who was considering ordination into the priesthood—both processes that indicated a commitment to lifelong obedient service to God through a formal religious organization—would begin a time of study, prayer, service, and discernment to determine if religious life would be a good match.
The use of the term spiritual formation to refer to this process is relatively recent. However, the process of using specific spiritual disciplines such as prayer, fasting, and reflection to develop one's own relationship with God has existed for centuries. These disciplines were part of the daily life of ancient religious people known as the desert fathers and mothers. The desert fathers and mothers were monks and nuns who moved into the deserts in and around Egypt beginning around the third century CE to dedicate themselves to spiritual pursuits. Some of them attracted followers who would adhere to the same spiritual disciplines as their chosen teacher.
Overview
Eventually the process of using these spiritual disciplines to form a deeper connection with God spread to many laypeople, or people who are part of a religious tradition but do not take vows or pursue ordination. The majority of people in any Christian denomination have received baptism—the right of initiation into Christianity—but have not taken any formal vows of service. In church terminology, they are known as the laity, or laypeople. Although they have not sought a specifically religious life, Christian theology holds that baptism includes the inherent responsibility to know, love, and serve God in whatever station of life the Christian finds himself or herself. Spiritual formation is the way a person learns how to fulfill these responsibilities.
In the 1970s, there was an increased interest in a movement that was also called spiritual formation that began in the Roman Catholic Church and spread to some Protestant denominations. It was based on efforts to form a deeper relationship with God through such practices as meditation; praying or reflecting on God or Scripture; and contemplative prayer, in which one considers some aspect of God or the Bible or the life of Christ and tries to understand its meaning in his or her own life. Some believed these practices put too much emphasis on the individual's interpretation of God's actions and words and not enough on the literal words of the Bible.
While the goal of spiritual formation is always to develop a deeper relationship with God, the structure of spiritual formation differs depending on the person who is undergoing the formation and path the person has chosen in life. Those who profess vows to a religious order will naturally require more formation to help them develop not only their relationship with God but also their abilities to help others. For instance, some priests, ministers, or other clergy members might need special training to travel to a foreign country and teach people there about God, and nearly all members of the clergy need to be able to explain biblical texts and offer at least some faith-based counseling. Developing the skills needed to do this will be part of their spiritual formation.
Most people, however, will find their spiritual formation focused more on developing their own relationship with God and living a life that is in keeping with the teachings of Jesus and the word of God in the Bible. There can be many different ways to accomplish this. However, spiritual formation usually incorporates several specific aspects. These include reading and reflecting on God's word and the teachings of others further along in their formation; becoming aware of sins, or times when a person has failed to keep God's instructions and expressing repentance, or sorrow for the sin and intention not to repeat it; prayer, which is at its most basic a conversation with God about the things one is thankful for, in need of, or sorry for; community worship, through which those who share common beliefs come together to worship God and support one another in developing faith practices; and stewardship, or sharing one's gifts, talents, time, and possessions for the benefit of others. Some people also incorporate specific disciplines, such as fasting, praying with prayer beads or rosaries, or undertaking a pilgrimage.
Spiritual formation can be part of a formal study program offered through some colleges, seminaries (places where those intending to take religious vows study), or churches and church organizations. Attending communal worship is part of the formation process, as is attending Bible studies and similar small group workshops. An individual may also pursue spiritual formation by working with a spiritual advisor found through a religious denomination, with a pastor or minister, by taking a retreat (a set period of focused prayer and reflection, often held at a monastery or special facility), or through reading and studying the Bible and materials written by Christian authorities.
Bibliography
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French, Katie. "What is Spiritual Formation-And Why Does It Matter?" Word By Word, 3 Jan. 2023, www.logos.com/grow/what-is-spiritual-formation-and-why-does-it-matter/. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
"The History of Spiritual Formation – James Houston and Bruce Hindmarsh." Open Biola, 25 Nov. 2013, open.biola.edu/resources/the-history-of-spiritual-formation-james-houston-and-bruce-hindmarsh. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
Howard, Evan B. A Guide to Christian Spiritual Formation: How Scripture, Spirit, Community, and Mission Shape Our Souls. Baker Publishing Group, 2018.
Johnson, Jill M. "Is Spiritual Formation Important?" Ministry Matters, 23 Jan. 2017, www.ministrymatters.com/lead/entry/7951/is-spiritual-formation-important. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
"Research: Spiritual Formation." Christian Research Network, christianresearchnetwork.org/topic/spiritual-formation/. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
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"Understanding Desert Monasticism." Northumbria Community, www.northumbriacommunity.org/articles/understanding-desert-monasticism/. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.