Seminaries and Spiritual Theology

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I would be very grateful to priests, bishops, seminarians, formators, anyone knowledgeable about this, to answer:

In priestly formation, do priests learn about the basic three stages, or ages, of the spiritual life - the life of grace:
the stage of the beginner, or the purgative stage,
the stage of the proficient, or the illuminative stage, and
the stage of the perfect, or the unitive stage.

Do they learn about the differences present in souls in these stages, their formative needs and potencies, their limitations and their trials in the dark nights ahead? Do they come to understand their distinct needs in catechesis? And so on and on.

I ask of those who have been formed for the priesthood, or are in formation now: is this in the curriculum of your seminary? Please respond, if you can add some knowledge to help illuminate my experience as a lay catechist.
 
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Dear Fide,

So sorry there have been no priests, bishops or seminarians answering your VERY important questions regarding Seminaries and Spiritual Theology. It is so very important that the men who are or are called to be Shepherds with the Heart of Christ have the basic knowledge of what the “spiritual life” really is, and as it is taught by Christ and His Church.

It is especially important for the men who have been ordained or are in the seminary studying to be priests to learn the Truth handed down by the Apostolic teaching of the Church for centuries. You are asking as a catechist. I’ve taught in Catholic Schools and taught Catechism to children and high schoolers in public schools. Most recently I’ve helped in adult formation, and I’m asking the same questions as you are in this thread.

If the clergy are not knowledgable on the basics – How can they really prepare children and adults well for receiving the sacraments of Baptism, Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders or Anointing of the Sick. Every Sacrament to be well-received needs to have proper dispositions! I wonder how many lay people (and some of the clergy) realize how important the proer dispositions are today. Our present culture of speed and mechanization finds us rushing through almost everything! When it comes to prayer and sacrament that speed becomes lethal, it seems to me.

I could go on and on, but I continue to pray for a true renewal of both Clergy and Laity. I was grateful Pope Emeritus had begun an investigation of seminaries. I’ve heard little since he has been succeeded by Pope Francis. The Church needs men of God to be ordained who are grounded in God’s Truth, to both live and preach the Truth to the People of God. We need catechists also to be trained by men and women imbued with the Gospel, likewise grounded in the Truth to teach young people how to grow in the holiness to which we have ALL been Called.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your Faithful. Kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Mary, Mother and Model of the Church, pray for us. Queen of the Clergy, pray for all those called to shepherd the flock of your Son. Jesus, we trust in You!
 
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Thank you, MariaChristi, for your response. I appreciate your reminding us all of that beautiful call to holiness - the call to us all - proclaimed in the Vatican II Council. One would think that every program of catechesis, every process - indeed, every parish initiative - would be ordered to that call to holiness! I am reminded of Pope St. John Paul II’s exhortations in his Apostolic Letter, Novo millennia ineunte, including this one:
“First of all, I have no hesitation in saying that all pastoral initiatives must be set in relation to holiness .”

ALL parish initiatives?! What a parish on fire that one would be! Oh that true zeal would be normal - and normative - and expected - and modeled by clergy, and staff, and laity! We possess much light concerning the interior life of sanctifying grace in the soul - the work of the Holy Spirit - the process of growing in holiness toward our vocation in Him. I am wondering if any pastors and parishes are walking in that light.

I hope I’ll hear from some clergy and/or catechists, some reports of the state of our Church concerning our work of forming Catholics in sanctity, in the light of Catholic spirituality of the saints being practiced today.
 
I am a seminarian, but only in my first year, so I can’t provide a complete insight.

Regarding the three stages, we do have some formation. In my basic prayer class, these were talked about to some extent, and I can only assume that they will be talked about in greater detail later on.

In the beginning stages of seminary, the emphasis is on laying a philosophical foundation on which theological formation is built. Without being able to provide too much insight, I can say that seminarians in later stages do learn more practical spiritual applications, such as spiritual direction and pastoral counciling, which help priests to recognize the spiritual problems that someone may be having and council them appropriately. Seminarians often are involved in catechisis as well, giving them more practical experience with understanding people’s pastoral and catechetical needs.

Hope this helps!
 
Thank you very much for this information - could I press on a bit further and ask if you could give more detail? Even time spent could be helpful -
  • How many class sessions were devoted to this?
  • How much reading were you assigned, and of what author(s)/book titles?
  • Could you get a sense from the formator/teacher how seriously he/she takes and approaches this subject? Is this subject matter approached “merely academically” - or is this a matter of profound importance, concerning our personal, human destiny and calling into the holiness and eternal Life of God the Holy Trinity!
Forgive me if I’m asking too much, but I would like to know, to get some insight into the depth given and possibly the depth to come. Thank you for whatever more you can provide.
And may the Lord bless you abundantly in your formation! The Church needs holy priests!
 
@fide. Have you checked the “Program of Priestly Formation”?

If you Google that, a pdf from the USCCB will be in the list.
 
I was in Diaconal formation for the Archdiocese of Detroit for several years. I had to step back when my work changed to involve large amounts of travel…and then we welcomed child #5, then child #6.

That said, I did complete almost all of the academic work required for Ordination ( missing Homeltics and the Liturgical Practica)

Yes, we did have to take both course work on Spiritual Theology, starting in year two, and have a priestly Spiritual Advisor to assist us with our spiritual growth.

Classes included “Intro to Spirituality” focusing on exactly what you describe, with texts from St John of the Cross and St Teresa of Avila. “Human Person and Grace” which focused on the human response to Grace, including the nature and effects of prayer

An optional, which I did not take was “Human and Spiritual Adult Development” which focused on those who might become Spiritual Directors. I chose to do my optional more towards Sacramental Theology.
 
CilladeRoma said:
“Program of Priestly Formation”
Click to expand...
Thank you; I read the part on “spiritual formation.” That document does not address the matter as I believe is necessary. That paper discussed what might be called “the priest’s spiritual life-style” - a focus on the externals of a priestly life, with no attention to the interior essentials: the actual effects in the soul of sanctifying grace, and how to cooperate with it and how not to obstruct it as it would grow and develop, and mature - with specific consideration of the three theological virtues in this supernatural life-development, and of the infused gifts of the Spirit, and an operational understanding of the charisms, or graces gratis datae. All of these considerations present differently in the three main stages or ages of the interior life, so this must be present in the formation. And so on.

Without this kind of formation - very briefly and coarsely described so far - how can a priest lead the people in their own personal spiritual development? How can he discern baby food from solid meat, in adult faith formation programs in a parish? How can he help the people grow and mature, spiritually, toward the sanctification and holiness that is our vocation - and which the laity have the right to expect from their appointed spiritual fathers?

I am hoping to hear of such a program in a seminary, if not in all of them.
 
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https://forums.catholic-questions.org/u/Brendan - Thank you for your response. Did you find those classes personally relevant and helpful? Did they change the way you prayed, and worshipped, and embraced Holy Scripture? Did they point you toward eternity, and communion with Christ, and a new sense of the Holy? Did they turn your life upside-down? What did they do “for you” as a disciple of Christ?

I know I ask a lot! But whatever you feel free to say, would be greatly appreciated.
 
Good questions!

They increased my knowledge of the different types of prayer and access to Spiritual gifts.

What I most gathered from the first class ( Intro to Spirituality) was St Teresa of Avilia’s stages of spiritual growth and how to identity where I am at.

Changes in the way I pray, not so much. I already knew that I gained great benefit from time spent in Adoration. What I learned most was that it was not necessary to ‘do something’, like conscience prayer or devotions, but simply ‘be’.

The changes in the way that I encounter Scripture came more from the “Pauline Scripture in the Lectionary”, a class designed to teach clerics to be how to read Scripture in ways that are suitable for Homiletics. What I learned in that class was Benedictine Lectio Divina, which I had not encountered before. THAT opened the Word to me in new ways, and it still the light by which I read Scripture today.

All of that points me towards the Eternal, to seek Him, and to recognize the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in me, so that I can best do His Will on Earth.

Does that Help?
 
https://forums.catholic-questions.org/u/Brendan - Thank you. Your post leads me to more questions, however! I won’t pursue them now, however. Except one: By Teresa’s “stages of spiritual growth” are you referring to the seven interior “mansions” of prayer-relationship with His Majesty, in the Interior Castle within the soul?

If that is what you mean, and if you became familiar with that journey of prayer in the soul, you might find a contemporary book interesting and helpful:
The Interior Liturgy of the Our Father.

That link is to the author’s discussion of the book, and there is a link to Amazon for those interested. But in his discussion, he tells how St. Teresa is brought into the book and the theme of the book.

Thank you again for responding…
 
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