Program of Priestly Formation (Ascension)

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Program of Priestly Formation

Conferences that teach a man how to pray, especially scriptural meditation and the art of lectio divina , are essential to the propaedeutic stage. Time for silence, mental prayer, and spiritual reading will help to lay a solid foundation for future stages of formation and ongoing formation. It is encouraged that men in this stage experience retreats that focus on an ability to discern the promptings of the Holy Spirit, an opportunity to develop a strong relationship with Jesus Christ, and vocational discernment.

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The propaedeutic stage must always be the first of the four stages of initial formation. 178

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The propaedeutic stage is “not to be less than one year or more than two”; 179 the minimum one-year duration of the propaedeutic stage is twelve calendar months (not an academic year). A third year is permissible provided that the overall character of the stage is preserved throughout. A three-year propaedeutic stage presumes two years of full-time academic studies of a general nature (without philosophical studies, which are restricted to the discipleship stage), followed by one year focused on human, spiritual, and pastoral formation. If this option is utilized, the first two years are not considered part of the discipleship stage, which must not begin until the propaedeutic stage has been completed. The propaedeutic stage should not be confined to times in which a university or college is in session. There might be fewer vacation periods during the propaedeutic stage. For example, while a break may be envisioned for the Christmas holidays, the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter might take place within the propaedeutic community. Further, since this period lasts a full year, a set period at the beginning and again at the end of the propaedeutic stage,

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178 See Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 59. 179 Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 59.

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