Part 8 – The Role of a Shepherd: Teach, Govern, and Sanctify

"I will appoint for you shepherds after my own heart, who will shepherd you wisely and prudently" (Jer 3:15)

Human formation lays the building's foundation, spiritual formation builds the walls, intellectual formation supports the building, and pastoral formation is the roof of the structure that brings everything together and completes this analogy. If seminaries only focused on intellectual formation, they would be only forming theologians. If the focus was only spiritual, they would be forming contemplative monks. If the focus was only human, they would be forming counselors. The first three pillars are focused interiorly on the individual growth of the seminarian. The pastoral pillar enters each of these and transforms them to no longer be focused interiorly but exteriorly toward others. Clerics have a three-fold office to fulfill for their people -to teach, to govern, and to sanctify - and these offices are the exterior forms of the intellectual, human, and spiritual pillars.

The Word of God is the one Person of the Trinity who became Incarnate, and the very nature of a word is to communicate to another. The majority of Christ's ministry was spent teaching the people. Similarly, the focus of a priest's time in his ministry is toward teaching the people. The priest is responsible for the preparation of his flock so that they can go out and preach the Gospel well to others. Notice this relationship: the priest teaches his people, and these people are the ones to evangelize. It is the job proper to the laity to go and bring the Gospel to the rest of the world. The seminarian, especially during the configuration stage, is tasked with teaching OCIA, sacramental classes, and other groups in preparation for the teaching office of the priesthood.

When He disembarked and saw the vast crowd, His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd. (Mk 6:34) Christ is the Good Shepherd that guides the flock and recovers those who go astray. A priest is called to follow this example and guide his people. The office of governance is not about parish administration. A priest is not the CEO of the business called a "parish". He is a shepherd called to guide people in need of direction. The priest, as shepherd, must spend himself in service to his people. Whether this is in preparation for joyous occasions, such as marriage and children being born, or for times of grief, the priest is to be available to guide the individuals and families through such times to bring them closer to God. The seminarian prepares to be a shepherd through corporal works of mercy. Whether through prison ministry, hospital ministry, or serving the poor, he experiences the struggles of others and enters into them so that he may better help his future flock.

Christ as the High Priest has reconciled us back to God and is the one who sanctifies us through the sacraments. A priest, as alter Christus, administers the sacraments to his people and prays for them throughout the day with the Liturgy of the Hours. The primary focus of a priest is toward the salvation of the souls under his care. Indeed, as the pastor of a parish, he will be held directly accountable before God for the souls under his care. Therefore, he must always strive to be available for administering confession, anointing of the sick, and last rites above all. Through his personal life of prayer, the seminarian strives to have his heart conformed to that of Christ so he may better bring Christ to others. The ultimate goal is to say the words of St. Paul: yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as now live in the flesh, {live by faith in the Son of  God who has loved me and given himself up for me. (Gal 2:20)

Next week -Let us review... What does this mean for me?