There is something about priestly formation study that puzzles me. Some diocese’s and communities require that their seminarians go off to Rome to finish their studies entirely in the Italian language. The thought of this seems at the very least, daunting, if not outright impossible for some who may not be able to complete college level studies in what for them is a foreign language. I’d like to know if anyone knows why this would be required (in some places) considering that there are seminaries here in the states.
I am examining prayerfully the possibility of a priestly vocation, but for me the prospect of a diocese or community (that I have visited) sending me off to university level study in a foreign language presents for me a possible stumbling block. I realize God grants graces to get us through things like this, but for practical considerations, I would like to ask for anyone’s insights on this. Thanks.
Only those are sent to Rome for further study who, in the estimation of their bishop, can best learn their whatever they need to advance in the duties he has in mind for them. That would include someone he envisions having a career in the Church that will someday take him higher in Church governance and affairs, and to do that, you have to spend time in Rome, and to do that, you need Italian. You will also need ecclesial Latin, which are also required, and until a generation ago was required of all priests in formation, as was Greek for higher study.
In this country (US) many seminaries as recently as 100 years ago taught entirely in German, since German priests and bishops and nuns were the majority in the 19th C. American Church. In some states in fact, Ohio for one, legistlatures avoided narrowly adopting German as the official state language. This provided a road block for many holy priests, Fr. Solanus Casey among them. Many Mexican priests, and priests from Latin America whose first language is Spanish, are sent to American seminaries to complete their formation and find English a huge stumbling block. That is not to mention Americans, and those in formation in American seminaries, from other countries who have a sizeable Catholic population in the US–from Viet Nam, Filipino, from India etc.
It is a difficulty and a challenge but not necessarily a barrier. There are intensive language preparation programs available you can use on your own, or usually sponsored by dioceses. Why not cross that bridge when you come to it, concentrate now on completing your general liberal arts education, which should never neglect a second language, and your spiritual formation including working with a vocations director.
We will be praying for you we need you.
I can tell you that in many seminaries, ours included, a seminarian from Mexico who plans to be ordained in a US Diocese will not advance to further study and ordination unless he can make satisfactory progress in learning English because he will have to know it to serve the Church in the US. They are often sent to study in seminaries where they will be challenged to work on their language skills, and do so with heroic effort. Most American dioceses now insist that all their seminarians learn Spanish as well, since there are very few American dioceses any more where this knowledge will not be essential to best serve their congregations.
