Summary

A SUMMARY OF CHAPTER V OF THE APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION PASTORES DABO VOBIS OF JOHN PAUL II TITLED “HE APPOINTED TWELVE TO BE WITH HIM”

   By: Nwabuisi JohnPaul

INTRODUCTION: Jesus after calling his disciples for the purpose of sending them out to preach, decided to accompany them during a period of formation. The aim of this period was to help them develop a deep communion and friendship with Him. The same accompaniment is lived out in seminaries during the days of formation to enable the candidates develop a deep love and communion with Christ the High Priest.

Human Formation: This is the basis of all priestly formation. The priest is called to be a living image of Jesus Christ and should seek to reflect in himself, the human perfection in the name and for the person of Christ. Future Priests are to exhibit certain good human qualities; they must be men of communion, ready to serve, and quick to understand, forgive, console and through affective maturity love all genuinely and spread the Gospel by his life.

Spiritual Formation: The Spiritual formation entails that man enters into an intimate relationship with God wherein the Holy Spirit engages the candidate in his totality to submit his will in filial attitude to the Father and trustful attachment to the Church. Hence, the Spiritual formation is very essential for without it the Pastoral formation would be left without a foundation. The candidate is to pray and meditate on the Bible and develop a love for the Holy Mass and Holy Eucharist which is the source and summit of one’s life for it is the highest Christian prayer, which unites the church. However, the candidate is to value the sacrament of Penance.

Intellectual Formation: This is a necessary expression of both human and spiritual formation: in which the candidate participates in the light of God’s mind and seeks to acquire a wisdom open towards knowing and adhering to God, thereby communicating the mystery of God to the people. An important aspect of the intellectual formation is the study of Philosophy, which makes the candidate develop a reflective awareness of the fundamental relationship that exist between the human spirit and truth, that truth which is fully revealed in Jesus Christ. However, the theological formation is directed towards the study of the Bible and a man who converses with God.

Pastoral Formation: All other parts of formation is geared towards the pastoral formation, as they enter into communion with the charity of Christ the Good Shepherd. The pastoral formation develops by means of mature reflection and practical application through involvement in certain pastoral services. The seminary initiates the candidate into being a shepherd who evaluates problems, establishes priorities and seeks honest motivations of faith according to the theological demands inherent in pastoral work. Hence, the candidate comes to full recognition of the Church as “a mystery, communion, and missionary.”

The Major Seminary: The Major Seminary though an educational community is a place of detachment established by the Bishop to offer to those called by the Lord to serve as Apostles; the possibility of re-living the experience of formation which our Lord provided for the twelve. Therefore, in the Major Seminary, the candidates develop a communion between the Bishop and the Presbyterate in such a way that they share in their hopes and anxieties and learn to extend this openness to the needs of the universal Church.

The Minor Seminary: The Church looks after these seeds of vocations sown in the hearts of children, by means of the institution of a Minor Seminaries, where they are provided preliminary discernment, accompaniment and an adequate and solid foundation for entering into the Major Seminary.

The Church and the Bishop: The first representative of Christ and part of the agents of priestly formation is the Bishop. The interior call of Jesus to his disciples is the same as the authentic call of the Bishop who is a Shepherd and Father to all. The Bishop should be with the candidates by visiting them often. This way the candidates will be encouraged pastorally as he shares experiences with them. Indeed, the Bishop offers a central spiritual and pastoral value in exercise of the priestly ministry.

The Seminary as an Educational Community: Those involved with the training of candidates for the priesthood should be in communion with the Bishops they represent. Hence, they must exude exemplary life styles and be able to safeguard internal forums from external forums. They are also involved in the evaluation and suitability of the candidates of which the final evaluation ends with the Bishop.

The Professors of Theology: The teachers of theology are to teach in accordance with the Magisterium of the Church, they are remember that they are only representing the Church. Hence they are to communicate the sacred doctrines with humility and be true witnesses of the faith they teach.

Communities of Origin and Associations and Youths Movements:. The family, parish community, association and youth movements should always encourage the future priest and never seek to bring him to worldly things.

The Candidate Himself: The candidate must realize that he is an irreplaceable agent in his formation. He must always cooperate with the Holy Spirit who is the Agent par excellence, and conforms his heart to Christ the good Shepherd.

Relevance: The Seminarian is a principal agent of his formation, hence he is to dispose himself properly to all areas of formation and ensure that his heart and mind is configured to Christ the good Shepherd.

Conclusion: In the course of this summary, we have seen that the Church cherishes the Priesthood of Christ, and so writes on the training of Priest, that they may all come to serve like Christ did. Hence, Pastores Dabo Vobis should be a must read for all in priestly formation.