Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests (Ascension)

GOFP 200

Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests

cultural, historical, artistic, or scientific focus. These sources might derive from a priest’s own intellectual interests or aim at broadening his knowledge of certain social themes. They can keep him grounded in the important trends of the age, assist him in his work with souls, and provide illustrations and matter for his preaching. 168 200 It may be very helpful regularly to provide an output for one’s study, such as guiding an adult formation program or a Bible study. Teaching the faith can result in the priest-teacher growing in his own faith. Fraternal Means 201 As is the case with any human virtue, the habit of study is strongly influenced by the example and encouragement of those around us. Priest friends who take seriously the intellectual life will help us sustain good academic habits with their encouragement, affirmation, and accountability. This support happens informally through ordinary conversations when friends share the fruits of their reading with each other. The exchange of interesting intellectual ideas with friends is one of the great joys in life, a way to expand our own horizons, and— even more significantly—a means to spur the friendship toward new depths of mutual understanding and affection. 202 More formally, fraternal groups can also contribute to our ongoing intellectual formation. Many priests take part in theological or book discussion groups on a regular basis. By jointly selecting the material to discuss, such groups give direction to priests who might otherwise be unsure of what to read. By holding each other accountable, they 168 “In order to be a good guide of his People, the priest is also to be attentive to the signs of the times; from those that have to do with the universal Church and its journey in the history of man, to those closest to the concrete situation of a particular community. This discernment calls for constant and correct updating in the study of the sacred sciences with reference to diverse theological and pastoral problems, and the exercise of a wise reflection on the social, cultural and scientific data characteristic of our present day and age.” DMLP, no. 78.

90