The Heart of the Matter

The Heart of the Matter | Bishop Edward M. Rice | Homiletic & Pastoral Review



In Pastores Dabo Vobis, Blessed John Paul II offered to those charged with seminary formation the framework by which to form men for the priesthood, namely, the four pillars of priestly formation: spiritual, intellectual, apostolic and human formation.

I am a practical man when it comes to the spiritual life. My own
spiritual journey has been marked by ordinary, mundane experiences in
prayer and liturgy, and that is fine. Actually, it is more than fine, I
prefer it that way.  I prefer to “trust in the slow work of God,” as
Teilhard de Chardin would say.  And yet, daily, I present myself before
Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, offering that first hour of the day,
with the conviction that this is the best place for me to be, that my
fidelity to that hour is pleasing to the Lord and fruitful for me.  I
think St. Thomas Aquinas would say that to trust in that slow work of
God results in virtue, “the habitual and firm disposition to do the
good.”

Seminary programs are guided by the fundamental principles expressed in Blessed John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation, Pastores Dabo Vobis,” (I Will Give You Shepherds, PDV) and the Program of Priestly Formation (PPF) of the USCCB.  In Pastores Dabo Vobis,
Blessed John Paul II offered to those charged with seminary formation
the framework by which to form men for the priesthood, namely, the four
pillars of priestly formation: spiritual, intellectual, apostolic and
human formation.   These four guiding principles operate together with a
beautiful complementarity and interplay, enhancing the desired goals of
each individual pillar.   It is important to recognize the goals
specific to each area while appreciating their interdependence.  This is
clearly recognized in PDV and the PPF.  Paragraph 73 of the PPF states:
“Spiritual formation informs the other three. Intellectual formation
appropriates and understands the other three.  Pastoral formation
expresses the other three pillars in practice.”   Pastores Dabo Vobis,
paragraph 57 states “The whole formation imparted to candidates for the
priesthood aims at preparing them to enter into communion with the
charity of Christ the Good Shepherd.”  What I purposely left out of the
quote above from the PPF is the reference to human formation, “Clearly
human formation is the foundation for the other three pillars.” (PPF 73)
  In order to have an authentic, integrated approach to the formation
of future priests, and a thorough implementation of the goals specific
to the remaining three pillars, the role of human formation must be
appreciated.  Again, Blessed John Paul II acknowledged this point in
paragraph 45 of PDV, “Human formation…leads to and finds its completion
in spiritual formation.”

The goals of spiritual formation are clearly outlined.

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