Program of Priestly Formation 6th edition

ADMISSION INTO A FORMATION PROGRAM | 33

57. Once an applicant is admitted to the propaedeutic stage, the application process contributes to the seminarian’s personal plan for priestly formation. Specifically, the observations and conclusions that emerge from the admissions process serve as a significant resource for the seminarian’s human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation. The sharing of this information presumes a due respect for the rights of the seminarian and a strict maintenance of confidentiality. A written consent, signed by the seminarian, is required before any confidential information can be shared. Without denying the importance of evaluating minimal thresh olds in all areas of an applicant’s development, high standards and strict vigilance are especially necessary in evaluating human thresholds pertaining to sexuality. “ Sexuality affects all aspects of the human person in the unity of his body and soul. It especially concerns affectivity, the capacity to love and to procreate, and in a more general way the aptitude for forming bonds of communion with others.” 105 For the seminary appli cant, thresholds pertaining to sexuality serve as the foundation for living a lifelong commitment to healthy, celibate chastity. In forming a prudent judgment about the suitability of an appli cant for priestly formation, the principle of gradualism should be used. According to the principle of gradualism, progressively higher levels of expectations should be sought as an individual advances to progressively higher levels of preparation, moving from the propaedeutic stage into the discipleship, configuration, and vocational synthesis stages. In short, the further a seminarian advances in the program toward priestly ordination, the greater should be his development of the requisite qualities. The prin ciple of gradualism recognizes that it would be unrealistic to expect an applicant for seminary formation who is beginning the propaedeutic stage to be fully mature in all areas. The time devoted to the propaedeutic stage is especially important in determining if the seminarian has the qualities necessary for further priestly formation in the stages that follow. The principle of gradualism, however, does not deny that a minimal level of development is necessary for admission to a priestly forma tion program. The minimal qualities necessary for admission are prop erly understood as thresholds or foundations. All applicants need to have 58. 59. 60.

105 Catechism of the Catholic Church , no. 2332.