Components of Formation: Human Formation

Seminary / Components of Formation: Human Formation

 

“In order that his ministry may be humanly as credible and acceptable as possible, it is important that the priest should mold his human personality in such a way that it becomes a bridge and not an obstacle for others in their meeting with Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of humanity [...] Future priests should therefore cultivate a series of human qualities [...] needed for them to be balanced people, strong and free, capable of bearing the weight of pastoral responsibilities”
-John Paul II, Pastores Dabo Vobis #43

 

The goal of this component of the formation program is to assist the future priest to develop his personality “in such a way that it becomes a bridge and not an obstacle for others” in their meeting of Jesus Christ. In his years in formation, this inevitably requires of the seminarian a deep and thorough reflection on himself. The seminarian must come to understand his gifts and talents, as well as those aspects of his personality that are an obstacle to bringing others to Christ.

 

Jesus Christ is what God wills all of us to become. All human ministry depends on Jesus’ ministry and is a continuation of it. Following the example of Christ, the candidate for Holy Orders must become more human, not less, by growing in human maturity that manifests itself in the natural virtues.

 

The future priest will be entrusted with a community of faith. Such a call and trust requires that during his seminary years, the seminarian be formed “to love the truth, to be loyal, to respect every person, to have a sense of justice, to be true to his word, to be genuinely compassionate, to be a man of integrity and, especially, to be balanced in judgment and behavior” (PDV #43).

 

In order to foster relations with others, the seminarian should be educated to be “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 #43).

 

Human formation builds upon affective maturity. This basic factor in the formation of candidates for the priesthood presupposes an awareness that love has a central role in human life. This is a love that involves the entire person in all his aspects – physical, psychological and spiritual – and that is not impoverished by linking it solely with the body and selfish pleasure (PDV #44).

 

It is within the context of responsible love and affective maturity that formation for celibacy takes place. The seminarian, who is called to celibacy, should find in affective maturity a support to live chastity in faithfulness and joy by bringing to human relationships a strong love for Christ which overflows in love for the Church and the whole human family. Moreover, candidates to the priesthood need to be formed in an affective maturity that is “prudent, able to renounce anything that is a threat to it, vigilant over both body and spirit, and capable of esteem and respect in interpersonal relationships between men and women” (PDV #44).

Finally, human formation requires a clear and strong training in freedom that allows the future priest to be “truly master of oneself [...] ready to open out to others, generous in dedication and service to one’s neighbor” (PDV #44).