Program of Priestly Formation 6th edition

134 | PROGRAM OF PRIESTLY FORMATION

tion Catholic exegetes must never forget that what they are interpreting is the word of God . Their common task is not finished when they have simply determined sources, defined forms or explained literary procedures. They arrive at the true goal of their work only when they have explained the meaning of the biblical text as God’s word for today.” 390 This requires (1) attention to “the content and unity of the whole Scripture”; (2) reading of Sacred Scripture within “the living Tradition of the whole Church”; and (3) attention to the “analogy of faith.” 391 Otherwise, the study of Sacred Scripture cannot serve as the “soul of sacred theology,” 392 and a dichotomy will arise between the study of Sacred Scripture and the rest of theology. “This dichotomy can create confusion and a lack of stability in the intel lectual formation of candidates for ecclesial ministries.” 393 The study of Sacred Scripture and its interpretation should take into account the preparation of seminarians for the tasks of preaching homi lies and applying Sacred Scripture to the lives of the Christian faithful. 394 Patristic studies constitute an essential part of theological studies. Theology should draw from the works of the Fathers of the Church because of their lasting value within the living Tradition of the Church. The core should include patrology (an overview of the life and writings of the Fathers of the Church) and patristics (an overview of the theological thought of the Fathers of the Church). 395 In dogmatic theology, the core must include theology of the Blessed Trinity, Christology, pneumatology, creation, the Fall and the nature of sin, redemption, grace and the human person, ecclesiology, sacraments, eschatology, Mariology, 396 and missiology. 397 A separate course on Holy Orders, with a thorough study of the nature and mission 326. 327. 328. 390 Pontifical Biblical Commission, The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church ( 1993), III.C.1. 391 Catechism of the Catholic Church , nos. 112-114. See Dei Verbum , no. 12. 392 Dei Verbum , no. 24. 393 Verbum Domini , no. 35. 394 Because “in the sacred books the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them,” courses in Sacred Scripture must equip seminarians to identify those “divinely revealed realities, which are contained and presented” therein ( Dei Verbum , nos. 21, 11), so that they can share these riches with those whom they serve. 395 See Congregation for Catholic Education, Instruction on the Study of the Fathers of the Church in the Formation of Priests (1989); see also Optatam Totius , no. 16. 396 See Congregation for Catholic Education, The Virgin Mary in Intellectual and Spiritual Formation (1988). 397 Missiology may be treated as a separate component or integrated into ecclesiology; it must form an integral part of every treatment of evangelization. See Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 171.