Program of Priestly Formation (Ascension)

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Program of Priestly Formation

Formation to the priesthood is described in the human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral dimensions. However, one must always keep in mind that these dimensions are not compartmentalized but are held in concert with one another. In a similar way, discipleship, configuration, and vocational synthesis, while recognized as stages on the journey toward priesthood, are never finished. Following ordination, the priest always remains a disciple of Jesus Christ, who is called throughout his life to cooperate with God’s grace in configuring his life more each day to that of the great High Priest. Integral formation attempts to bring together, as much as possible, the four dimensions of formation in the seminarian as he matures into an authentic priestly identity. The four dimensions of human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation are interrelated aspects of a human response to God’s transforming grace. Without attention to integration in all stages of formation, the overall goal of formation, configuration to the heart and life of the Lord Jesus, cannot be achieved. While each seminary must have a structured plan of formation for all seminarians, the integration of the four dimensions must be personalized in each particular man “to achieve a serene and creative interior synthesis between strength and weakness.” 169 Through human formation the foundation is laid upon which the other dimensions can be received and lived. Through spiritual formation, the seminarian learns to bring everything from the other dimensions into his relationship with Jesus Christ. Through intellectual formation he comes to a deeper understanding of the truths of faith and the human person, enriching his relationship with God, his understanding of himself, and his service to others. Through pastoral formation he learns how to express the other three in pastoral charity, the overall goal of priestly formation. It is through

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169 Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 29.

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