The Natural and Supernatural Dimensions of Priestly Formation
The Natural and Supernatural Dimensions of Priestly Formation

Summary/Abstract: On December 8, 2016, the Congregation for the Clergy published a new document on priestly formation entitled The Gift of the Priestly Vocation: Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis on its website. The document introduces new elements of formation while still taking into account the Church’s previous teaching on the matter. In particular, the document defines the individual stages of seminary formation as the discipleship stage, the stage of becoming similar to Christ, and the stage of vocational synthesis. Preparation for the priesthood has Christological and pneumatological dimensions where man’s natural endowments are assisted by the supernatural dynamics of Christ’s grace and in reference to the Holy Trinity. The supernatural dimension of a vocation is emphasized in the very divine nature of the gift that is placed in the heart of a young person. This gift accompanies the seminarian as he is gradually formed into the image of the Good Shepherd and becomes a disciple of the Lord. This process can be lived only in profound submission to the formative action of the Holy Spirit.

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