Program of Priestly Formation 6th edition

100 | PROGRAM OF PRIESTLY FORMATION

with the Lord and his Church. It also helps them to connect with the rich cultural diversity of devotional life in the United States and to appreciate devotional practices of other cultures. 294 j. Apostolic dimensions : “Spiritual formation also involves seeking Christ in people.” 295 Especially in a seminary context, seminar ians are to learn how prayer is to be lived out in service of oth ers, particularly the poor, the sick, sinners, unbelievers, and the stranger, but extended to all in the outreach of charity and mercy and in the quest for justice. Prayer is apostolic also in the sense that seminarians learn to pray for the needs of those they serve in order to teach others how to pray. Whatever growth and forma tion in prayer takes place, it is not simply meant for the personal enhancement of the seminarian but as a gift to be given in the course of his priestly mission and ministry for the benefit of the Church—for he is a servant of this body. k. Asceticism and penance : Spiritual formation initiates seminarians to a path of voluntary renunciation and self-denial that makes them more available to the will of God and more available to their people. Asceticism and the practice of penance is a path of learning to embrace the Cross and, in an apostolic context, a way of rendering priests unafraid to bear their “share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God” (2 Tm 1:8). l. Obedience : The obedience of those in spiritual formation for priesthood must be characterized by the willingness to hear God, who speaks through his Word and through his Church, and to answer his call with generosity. It is also a surrender of one’s own will for the sake of the larger mission. In this regard, the semi narian must develop a growing and deepening solidarity with the Church established by Christ; a solidarity with Church teaching so as to be able to present that teaching with conviction—hav ing appropriated it as true; and a solidarity with one’s diocesan bishop or superior to strengthen and sustain Church unity. 296 m. Celibacy : Spiritual formation in celibacy cultivates the evangeli cal motivations for embracing this commitment and way of life: the undivided love of the Lord, the spousal love for the Church, apostolic availability, and the witness to God’s promises and

294 See CIC, 246 §3; CCEO, c. 346 §2, 5°. See Evangelii Gaudium , nos. 122-126. 295 Pastores Dabo Vobis , no. 49. 296 See CIC, cc. 260, 273, 601; CCEO, c. 346 §2, 7°, and 370.