Program of Priestly Formation (Ascension)

PPF 60

Program of Priestly Formation

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 principle 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 formation program. The minimal qualities necessary for admission are properly understood as thresholds or foundations. All applicants need to have reached certain thresholds of human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral development, which will serve as foundations for further development. Applicants for admission should have attained, at least in some measure appropriate to their chronological age, qualities in those areas represented by the integrated dimensions of formation identified in Pastores Dabo Vobis : human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral. In trying to determine what is sufficient growth or development in these areas, admission criteria must be clear and specific. For example: a. Thresholds in the human dimension considered sufficient for admission into the propaedeutic stage mean not only an absence of serious pathology but also a proven capacity to function competently in ordinary human situations without a need for extensive therapeutic or remedial work to be fully functioning, a psychosexual maturity commensurate with chronological age, a genuine empathy that enables the applicant to connect well and personally with others, a

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