Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests (Ascension)

GOFP 191

Chapter 5: Intellectual Formation

189 Intellectual formation is, then, not only for those priests who happen to demonstrate a more academic bent. It is a dimension of life important for every priest and one that will have a decisive influence on our personal maturity, interior life, and apostolic ministry. MARKERS OF THE INTELLECTUAL DIMENSION Catechetical and Theological Competence 190 The first and most obvious marker of intellectual formation for a priest is a deep knowledge of the faith. Much of the foundation for this marker will have occurred in seminary studies. There are two primary characteristics of the priest who is intellectually well formed. The first is objective, namely the doctrinal content of his formation. He should have a mastery of the teachings of the faith “drawn primarily from reading and meditating on the sacred Scriptures. But it should also be fruitfully nourished by a study of the Holy Fathers and Doctors and other annals of tradition. In addition, [so] that they may be able to provide proper answers to the questions discussed by the men of this age, priests should be well acquainted with the documents of the Church’s teaching authority and especially of Councils and the Roman Pontiffs. They should consult, too, the best, approved writers in theological science.” 155 The priest must know the teachings articulated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church . Beyond that, he should have an awareness of the theological background of those teachings and the overall historical arc of theology through the centuries. A faithful priest strives for ever more precision and clarity in his grasp of theological ideas and discourse.

191 The second characteristic of intellectual formation is subjective, namely a priest’s fidelity to Catholic teachings. 156 The priest—entrusted with

155 PO, no. 19. 156 “The awareness of the absolute need to ‘remain’ faithful to and anchored in the Word of God and Tradition in order to be true disciples of Christ and know the truth (see Jn 8:31-32) has always ac-

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