Ad Honorem Immaculatae Conceptionis Mariae Oblatio

151 and profess (even at the cost of his life) the Immaculate Conception. 42 The vows cannot be separated from the radical demands of discipleship to Jesus Christ that are made possible by the Holy Spirit (cf. Mt 19:26). Otherwise, legislation turns into attempts to domesticate the radical demands of Jesus, which is contrary to the Constitutions that enjoin the complete disposition of one’s entire life to the Gospel and to discipleship to Jesus. 43 The Primacy of Discipleship and Love in Marian Formation What is at stake here in formation is the necessity of forming Marians who are first and foremost disciples fascinated with the person of Jesus and the Immaculata. Only through the personal encounter with them – receiv- ing their gift of love – are men made capable of following their example in love. 44 Vocational crises arise not primarily from having discerned in- correctly one’s vocation, but rather, doubt that shatters the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ. 45 The root, then, of vocational crises - both the lack of vocation and the number of men who leave during formation and even after perpetual vows - is in part due to weak identity of a Marian as a dis- ciple of Jesus Christ. 46 That is, they lack the capacity to encounter Christ and respond positively to the demands not only of being His disciple (cf. Lk 14:25-33) but also of seeking perfection in sharing Christ’s way of life (cf. Mt 19:16-30). 42 Oblatio, in: Historical Writings , p. 29: “I confess that I believe in everything that the Holy Roman Church believes, and in what she will teach everyone to be believed in the future, I espe- cially confess, in truth, that Mary the Most Holy Mother of God was conceived without original sin, and I promise that I will spread and defend her honor even at the cost of my life. So help me God and this Holy Gospel of God.” 43 Cf. Constitutions , n. 22: “22The holiness of the Church of Christ becomes apparent and is strengthened in a special way by the observance of the Evangelical Counsels, which, rooted in the words and examples of the Lord, are taken up gratefully by the confreres and are employed as the most apt means for the purification of their hearts and for acquiring likeness in charity to Christ and Mary Immaculate.” N. 23: “Motivated by this charity, they should not only faithfully observe the evangelical vows, which they have solemnly pronounced, but should also dispose their interior and exterior lives entirely according to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and the laws of their own Congregation, thereby striving for the perfection proper to their state of life.” See also, n. 303. 44 Cf. Ratio Formationis, nn. 14-20. Cf. Constitutions, nn. 4-7. 45 Cf. Constitutions, n. 104. Cf. George Weigel, Evangelical Catholicism: Deep Reform in the 21 st -Century Church (Basic Books, 2014). 46 Cf. Ratio Formationis, n 29ff.