Program of Priestly Formation (Ascension)

PPF 284

Intellectual Dimension

e. The study of natural theology, which treats of the existence of God and the attributes of God by means of the natural light of reason, provides a foundation for the seminarian’s study of theology and the knowledge of God by means of Revelation. f. The study of philosophical anthropology helps seminarians understand “the authentic spirituality of man, leading to a theocentric ethic, transcending earthly life, and at the same time open to the social dimension of man.” 352 The philosophical study of the human “person, his fulfillment in intersubjectivity, his destiny, his inalienable rights, [and] his ‘nuptial character’ as one of the primary elements which is expressive of human nature and constitutive of society” 353 provides a foundation for the seminarian’s study of theological anthropology. g. The study of ethics, which treats of general principles of ethical decision making, provides seminarians with a solid grounding in themes like conscience, freedom, law, responsibility, virtue, and guilt. Ethics also considers the common good and virtue of solidarity as central to Christian social political philosophy. Ethics should consider the Church’s social doctrine as central to Christian social political philosophy. 354 The social encyclicals and other documents foundational to the Church’s rich social doctrine should be utilized in the study of ethics. These principles and documents provide a foundation for the seminarian’s study of moral theology. 355 “Philosophical instruction must be grounded in the perennially valid philosophical heritage and also take into account philosophical investigation over the course of time. It is to be taught in such a 352 See Congregation for Catholic Education, The Study of Philosophy in Seminaries (1972). 353 Congregation for Catholic Education, Directives Regarding the Formation of Seminarians for Ministry to Marriage and Family (1995), no. 21, www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/priesthood/priest ly-formation/upload/marriage.pdf . 354 See Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church , nos. 160-208. 355 See Pope Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum (1891); Pope Pius XI, Quadragesimo Anno (1931); St. John XXIII, Mater et Magistra (1961); St. John XXIII, Pacem in Terris (1963); Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes (1965); St. Paul VI, Populorum Progressio (1967); St. Paul VI, Octogesima Adveniens (1971); St. John Paul II, Laborem Exercens (1981); St. John Paul II, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (1987); St. John Paul II, Centisimus Annus (1991); St. John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae (1995); Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est (2005); Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate (2009); Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (2013); Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ (2015).

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