HuMAN FORMATION
Highlighting the human formation Pastores Dabo Vobis explains following elements: “The whole work of priestly formation would be deprived of its necessary foundation if it lacked a suitable human formation… The priest should mould his personality in such a way that it becomes a bridge and not an obstacle for others in their meeting with Jesus Christ… The priest should be able to know the depths of the human heart… They need to be educated to love the truth, to be loyal, to respect every person, to have a sense of justice, to be true to their word, to be genuinely compassionate, to be men of integrity and, especially, to be balanced in judgment and behaviour… Of special importance is their capacity to relate to others… This demands that the priest not be arrogant or quarrelsome, but affable, hospitable, sincere in his words and heart, prudent and discreet, generous and ready to serve; capable of opening himself to clear and brotherly relationships and of encouraging the same in others, and quick to understand, forgive and console” (PDV, No. 43). “Affective maturity presupposes that love has a central role in human life. In the Encyclical Redemptor Hominis it is stated, ‘Man cannot live without love. He remains a being that isincomprehensible for himself, his life is meaningless, if love is not revealed to him, if he does not encounter love, if he does not experience it and makes it his own, if he does not participate intimately in it”” (PDV, No. 44).
All priests are bound together by an intimate sacramental brotherhood; but in a special way they form one priestly body (presbyterium) in the diocese to which they are attached under their bishop. Whatever be the task of each one, they all contribute to the building up of the body of Christ. For this reason they should help each other, so that they may be fellow-workers of the truth (PO. No. 8). Community life in the seminary serves as a training for this fellowship.
Community life is much more than living together for the sake of convenience. Pope Francis emphasizes, “Formation must be undertaken in community… This community life is essential… And here I would like to stress the importance, in this community life, of relations of friendship and brotherhood that are an integral part of this formation.” (L’Osservatore Romano, 17 July 2013, p. 8). In the words of Pope John Paul II: “I would like that the community life is not reduced to a mere set of exterior relations… This is what the seminaries must be… real Upper Rooms, in which a life of interior personal and community prayer is breathed; a life of reciprocal, active and hard-working charity. a life of mutual spiritual aid to be always faithful to one’s vocation and to sacred commitments assumed before God, the Church and one’s own conscience” (L’Osservatore Romano, 26 March 1979).
The ‘Fellowship Groups’, demanded by the Charter, should be accepted as a great help in acquiring human qualities (cf. Charter of Priestly Formation for India #3.1.6). Once a week there will be a meeting of the fellowship groups. Personal sharing in a spirit of brotherly trust and confidence would be of great help in building a family atmosphere. Such meetings should not be seen as meant only for recreation. Once a semester, there will be Eucharistic celebration in fellowship groups. Permission of the staff in-charge is required to cancel the meeting.
As the Rector, the other members of the staff and the students ought to constitute one body, each member accepts his responsibility in realizing the common goal. The staff have received from the Holy See the mission of forming the future priests, and the bishops have entrusted the students to their care. Their responsibility requires them to be attentive to the behaviour of each seminarian to act individually or collectively, and to recall to mind the aims and orientations of the seminary as a training for future priests. 6. As the seminarians strive to resemble Christ as closely as possible, each one is to dedicate his own will in faith to the service of God and his brothers through obedience, so that in all things he may be led by the will of God. Superiors are there to help him in his search to know God’s will.
As superiors and seminarians have only one end in view, the seminarians collaborate fully with their superiors and professors in their formative role, and look upon them as exercising a pastoral function rather than an invigilatory one.
The students must recognize in their Rector a father to whom they owe filial love and prompt obedience. Similarly they will show respect and regard towards the other members of the staff and towards the officials of the section according to the offices entrusted to ‘them. Frequent visits to the Rector and the spiritual director will be found of great advantage, especially when one is troubled and one feels the need of guidance and direction.
The Human Formation Director (Section Minister) or Moderator is the moulder of the individual seminarian’s character and the guardian of the right atmosphere in the section in which each one can attend to his self-formation within the living framework of the seminary. Knowing each individual seminarian, he will correct the erring, stimulate the sluggish, direct the groping, unveil to each his hiddentalents and point out to each the path of making himself a well-equipped pastor. Seminarians will, therefore, go to him for guidance and help, as well as for their temporal needs.
Likewise they should receive calmly and with humility any remark, reprimand or corrective coming from the superiors, and should show that they draw profit from these, by trying to correct their faults with great diligence and perseverance (cf. Charter of Priestly Formation for India #3.2.2.h).
Since a priest must become all things to all, the seminarians must begin the practice of this quality in the seminary with the members of the community. “This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 15:12).
The spirit of charity should be the characteristic of seminary life, making the seminary a community of love. All should consider it their duty to help fellow students with service and encouragement, and when necessary with the gift of a friendly word or brotherly correction. Petty feelings of likes and dislikes or considerations of diocese or region should not lead to exclusive friendships or groups. Mixing with all and keeping to the community language will help a great deal in this regard.
They owe one another the help and support of good example in the faithful observance of seminary life.They will therefore try to be an element of inspiration, optimism and peace in the community, and avoid anything which may cause ill-feeling, suspicion or discouragement. Let them practice unfailing courtesy and avoid rudeness in action and speech in their manners and general bearing.
The section officials will accept their appointment as an opportunity to serve the community. They will give their best to the work assigned to them. In this way they will also acquire personal training for their future work as priests.
Christian charity will prompt everyone to deal kindly and politely with all. Hence the seminarians should remember that the domestic staff of the seminary is also contributing in its own sphere to the good of the community life. In their relations with them, let all, keeping before them the example of Christ, the worker, show respect, discretion and appreciation, avoiding, however, undue familiarity. Should anyone of them give cause for complaint, let seminarians not reprimand him/her, but refer the matter to the right person to whom they are responsible.
They will not deal with the domestic staff directly, nor demand service from them; any transaction that may have to be carried on shall be done through those appointed for the purpose.