Program of Priestly Formation 6th edition

SPIRITUAL DIMENSION | 111

provide special opportunities for the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the seminary. It is also desirable that seminarians develop a habit of personal visits to the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. 324 Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, and to the saints must be encouraged. 325 Opportunities for devotional prayer should be made available and encouraged. The Rosary, “a compendium of the Gospel,” 326 is especially recommended as a means of contemplating Christ in “the school of Mary.” 327 Devotion to the other saints, especially St. Joseph, is also an important element of the devotional life of seminar ians and priests. 328 On appropriate occasions, the seminary should sponsor ecumen ical events, including prayer services, with other Christians. Consideration should also be given to interaction with those of the Jewish faith and other religions. The seminary should provide seminarians with training on the proper use of sacramentals, including consecrations, blessings, and rever ence for sacred things. 329 Spiritual Direction Seminarians must meet regularly with a priest spiritual director, normally biweekly. 330 The seminarian freely chooses an available spiritual director from a list prepared by the coordinator of spiritual formation. Spiritual directors should have proper training and adequate credentials for the work. These priests must be approved by the rector and appointed by the competent authority. 331 Spiritual direction should be offered in the language that allows the seminarian to best express himself. In the case of seminarians of an institute of consecrated life or society of apostolic life, the formation director or the competent authority of the institute or 256. 257. 258. 259.

324 See Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship, Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass , nos. 79-81. 325 See CIC, c. 246 §3; CCEO, c. 346 §2, 5°. 326 Pope Pius XII, letter Philippinas insulas to the Archbishop of Manila, AAS 38 (1946): 419. See St. Paul VI, Marialis Cultus (1974), no. 42, www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/ hf_p-vi_exh_19740202_marialis-cultus.html ; Rosarium Virginis Mariae , no. 1.

327 Rosarium Virginis Mariae , no. 1. 328 See Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 112. 329 See CIC, cc. 1166-1172.

330 See CIC, c. 246 §4; CCEO, c. 346 §2, 4°. 331 See CIC, c. 239 §2; CCEO, c. 339 §1.