Part 5 – Laying the Foundation: A Priest Is Still Human

There are four pillars, or dimensions, of priestly formation: Human, Intellectual, Spiritual, and Pastoral. At each of the stages that we have covered, there are different benchmarks that need to be met before moving forward. The pillars act as cornerstones to the seminarian’s development so he can continue to progress and grow even after completing seminary. Similar to a college education, a seminary cannot teach everything, but can give the tools and foundations that will be used after graduation. The first and most foundational of these dimensions is Human Formation.

God, in His infinite wisdom, decided that His work of redemption will be completed through the Son taking on a human nature. When Jesus came into the world, he entered with a complete and perfect human body and soul. Jesus could not truly suffer and die on the cross without a human body, so His body is rightfully called the instrument of salvation. The humanity of Christ is a bridge that connects us to God. Similarly, a priest’s humanity is also supposed to serve as a bridge between Christ and His people. (PPF 181-182) Therefore, before even looking at other areas of formation, the first focus is on the human person. By the end of seminary, the seminarian should be: a man of strong moral character, prudent and discerning, a good communicator, mature, takes proper care of himself physically and mentally, relates well to others, good with material possessions, and able to act as a public person. (PPF 183) Most of all, he must have a full understanding of the charism of celibacy and the desire to live that state of life. The path of progression in human formation is three-fold: first, by self-knowledge; second, by self-possession; third, by self-gift. (PPF 188) You cannot give what you cannot control, and you cannot control what you do not understand.

Celibacy is the most important example of this process. In the propaedeutic stage, the seminarian is tasked with reflection upon his personal history and the habits he had formed. By understanding his origin and his upbringing, he gets a better understanding of the behaviors he has and the changes that need to be made. His views of sexuality, marriage and family life, mature relationships, and setting of boundaries all need to be understood in light of Church teaching. He also must come to understand the nature of celibacy as a higher state of living. Celibacy is not a merely a sacrifice for the ministry, but a specific gift that is given by God for a higher form of mature love. “Not all men can receive this precept, but only those to whom it is given.” (Mt 19:11) This gift given to a priest is to be given back as an act of continual service to his entrusted community. Now with a proper understanding of both himself and his goal, the seminarian in the discipleship stage can now look towards the control of his desires. Controlling something does not mean to suppress it. Suppressing emotions cause more harm than help, and the same is true for sexuality. If you do not consume the drive, it will consume you. Usually, this drive must be spent through exercise, athletics, or some form of hobby that can tire the body and focus the mind. Along with this, the seminarian must develop other habits of self-control through asceticism and discipline to master control over his passions and emotions. Finally, after full knowledge and control of self, the seminarian in the configuration stage can prepare himself as a gift to others. His new habits and hobbies that were developed are now tools to be dedicated to the service of his community. He looks no longer toward himself, but outward to the people he wants to serve. When the priest has his humanity well-formed and everything about his life is ordered toward God, Christ’s own humanity will be able to reveal itself and His divine power can work more freely. Human formation is the necessary foundation upon which the other pillars are built.