Program of Priestly Formation 6th edition

INTELLECTUAL DIMENSION | 117

philosophical studies in the discipleship stage. 340 Benchmarks related to intellectual formation in preparation for the study of philosophy and theology include basic habits of study, signs of intellectual curiosity, and love of learning. Finally, if necessary, the propaedeutic stage can help to make up for anything that is missing in a seminarian’s general education. 341

THE DISCIPLESHIP STAGE

272. A great number of seminarians enter the discipleship stage with a wealth of education and practical experience, yet many younger men enter discipleship stage with minimal or no higher education. The semi nary intellectual program must meet the various needs of these men. All men in the discipleship stage must receive philosophical formation to train their minds in right reason and prepare them to study theology. In addi tion, as future pastors and leaders, these seminarians need to be broadly educated in order to develop as Christian men and engage with society. Thus, the discipleship stage envisions benchmarks for intellectual forma tion with two aspects: a broad grasp of the liberal arts and sciences, and particular knowledge of philosophy. Seminarians who enter the disciple ship stage in possession of a broader intellectual formation (for example, with an undergraduate degree or more extensive education) may have already met the benchmarks for the liberal arts and sciences and will not need formation in this aspect but will focus on philosophy. Seminarians beginning the discipleship stage with minimal education beyond secondary school will need to pursue a liberal arts education as well as philosophical studies and should achieve a baccalaureate degree before beginning the configuration stage. The discipleship stage program promotes intellectual excellence and takes necessary steps to help seminarians to achieve it. Men who enter seminary without a substantial liberal arts educa tion follow a twofold course of intellectual formation. They first pursue the liberal arts, through which they acquire a sense of the great human questions and the responses to them presented in the arts and sciences. Then they also synthesize and organize their study of the liberal arts through the study of philosophy, which also serves as a preparation for the study of theology. 273.

340 See Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 157. 341 See Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 59.