|
From our Pastoral Intern Eben MacDonald
In my last article I discussed the Program of Priestly Formation, the
document of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that guides seminary
formation in the United States. If you recall, I described the four
“pillars” of formation: human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral.
This week, I want to discuss the pillar of spiritual formation.
The seminary can fill our heads with lots of fancy theology to teach us
ABOUT Jesus, but unless we get to KNOW Jesus and develop a personal
relationship with the Master, we will not be effective priests. The goal
of the spiritual formation program at the seminary is to help
seminarians develop good spiritual attitudes and practices that will
continue after ordination. To help reach this goal, the seminary focuses
on a life of humble service, active participation in liturgy, faithful
meditation on the Word of God, and faithful prayer.
To aid seminarians in becoming deeply spiritual men who are grounded in
prayer, each seminarian selects a spiritual director; a priest who
serves as a companion on the journey to deeper relationship with Christ.
The seminary community gathers for Liturgy of the Hours, praying morning
and evening prayer in common. Seminarians also gather for daily
Eucharist. On Sundays, seminarians travel to various local parishes to
experience the diversity of worship in our multicultural Archdiocese.
Seminarians also participate in monthly days of recollection and an
annual retreat. Twice during our seminary formation, each seminarian
participates in two four-week periods of intensive spiritual formation
during the summer to expand and solidify the habits and practices of the
spiritual life. All of the spiritual formation is aimed at helping the
seminarian to develop the spiritual characteristics of the diocesan
priest. I have sometimes found it a challenge in the seminary to make
time for prayer amidst all the other priorities, but prayer is essential
to the life of a seminarian and the life of a priest.
A priest can’t be expected to help others know Christ if he doesn’t know
Christ himself! |
