Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests (Ascension)

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Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests

the sheep.” 201 Forming relationships with the poor, migrants and refugees, and others through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief Services—in other words, forming human relationships with those on the margins and those with whom he might be uncomfortable—helps a priest in his ongoing growth in all dimensions. 225 Many of the means of ongoing formation already mentioned in the human and spiritual dimension also strengthen a priest’s pastoral work. After all, though a priest spends much of his day doing the work of God, he must still conform his heart to the good work that he is doing. 202 He therefore strives to embody the markers of the pastoral dimension in an intentional, generous way. He sanctifies his priestly work by consciously uniting it to the Lord, rectifying his intention as often as needed so that he gives greater glory to the Father. 203 He is above all attentive to his life of prayer and other spiritual practices that foster his union with God, through whom his pastoral activity is made effective. 204 He may work to develop the habit of a daily examen to discern God’s hand at work in his ministry and express gratitude for that grace.

201 Francis, quoted in “Pope Francis: ‘Priests Must Be Close to the People,’” Vatican News , October 26, 2022. 202 “Are you in charge of a parish? If so, do not neglect the parish of your own soul, do not give yourself to others so completely that you have nothing left for yourself. You have to be mindful of your people without becoming forgetful of yourself.” St. Charles Borromeo, Acta Ecclesiae Mediolanensis 1599, 1178, quoted in Office of Readings for the Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo (November 4), Liturgy of the Hours (1974). 203 “The assimilation of the pastoral charity of Christ in order to make it become a form of his own life is a goal that requires the priest to live an intense Eucharistic life, as well as continuous efforts and sacrifices, since this charity cannot be improvised, knows no breaks, and cannot be considered as attained once for all. The minister of Christ will feel it his obligation to live and bear witness to this reality always and everywhere.” DMLP, no. 54. 204 “Born of these prayers and called to renew in a sacramental and bloodless manner a Sacrifice insep arable from them, priests will keep their ministry alive with a spiritual life, to which they will give absolute pre-eminence, avoiding any neglect due to other activities.” DMLP, no. 49.

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