Components of Formation: Intellectual Formation

Seminary / Components of Formation: Intellectual Formation

 

“Candidates for the priesthood should have diligent care for the quality of their intellectual formation in their education and pastoral activity. For the salvation of their brothers and sisters they should seek an ever deeper knowledge of the divine mysteries [...] Theological formation [...] should lead the candidate for the priesthood to a complete and unified vision of the truths which God has revealed in Jesus Christ and of the Church’s experience of faith.” (PDV #51, 54)

 

The Program for Priestly Formation states: “In a significant way, intellectual formation for priesthood means a theological education in which a thorough and comprehensive grounding in the Catholic faith is conveyed” (#334). The seminary’s academic program resonates with the Program of Priestly Formation: “The goal in intellectual formation is the conversion of mind and heart, which is the only sure foundation for a lifetime of teaching and preaching” (#335).

 

Although intellectual formation has its own specific program and characteristics, it is deeply connected with human, spiritual and pastoral formation, since through it one “participates in the light of God’s mind and seeks to acquire a wisdom which in turn opens to and is directed toward knowing and adhering to God” (PDV #51). Through study, the future priest assents to the word of God, grows in his spiritual life and prepares himself to fulfill his pastoral ministry. St. Bonaventure speaks of this synthesis: “Let no one think that it is enough for him to read if he lacks devotion, or to engage in speculation without spiritual joy, or to be active if he has no piety, or to have knowledge without charity, or intelligence without humility, or study without grace, or to expect to know himself if he is lacking the infused wisdom of God.”

 

To achieve this synthesis, intellectual formation has two phases. The first is the understanding of the word of God as set down in the Sacred Scriptures, celebrated and lived in the living tradition of the Church, as authoritatively interpreted by the Church’s magisterium. The second phase is the application of the same word of God by the one who is called to believe, to live, to communicate to others the Christian faith and outlook (PDV #54).