The formator must be present to the seminarians,
know each one personally, and be
genuinely interested in their spiritual progress.

Forming priests for
the third millennium

by Peter R. Pilsner

n "Let us consider the following case. A group of seminarians approaches the rector one day, and share their concern about a professor of moral theology who defends the use of contraception and would even admit abortion in certain cases. What should the rector do?"

Fr. Francisco Mateos, after reading the case looked out at the group of seminary rectors, professors, and spiritual directors. He had already gotten to know most of them during the past week, when he led them through five days of Spiritual Exercises (taken from Ignatius, but approached from the spirituality of the Legionaries of Christ.) So he had some idea of how the discussion would develop, but was curious what conclusions the group would reach all the same.

A tall, neatly dressed priest offered to lead the discussion. It was Fr. José Miguel Padilla, the rector of San Miguel Arcángel major seminary for the diocese of San Luís in Argentina. "I would ask the professor to come to meet with me, and tell him what the seminarians have been saying. If it turns out to be true, and he has no intention of changing his position, then I would dismiss him. One cannot compromise on such an important matter as this. It should be done with great charity so as not to humiliate him. I would not tell the students why he was going, but I would speak to them to make sure that they had a correct understanding of the teaching of the Church."

Another priest observed, "It is also possible that the students are making this accusation out of spite. Perhaps they have something against this professor and are trying to hurt him or damage his good name."

"If that is the case," said Fr. Padilla, "the seminarians themselves should be dismissed. One cannot allow such a serious act of calumny."

"Yes," said Fr. Mateos. "Unfortunately, we have in our day become so used to speaking evil of others, that we have lost our sense of how serious calumny is." The discussion continued; other points were made, but in the end, the consensus of the group was clear: a seminary rector must dismiss a professor if he teaches dissent from the magisterium, and if such must be the case, the rector must nonetheless take care to act toward him with great charity.

The next day-another case, even more difficult. Once again, Fr. Mateos read it aloud. "A seminary has the following policy: Students who have a homosexual orientation, but do not engage in homosexual acts are allowed to study for the priesthood. The justification for this policy is that all priests are called to celibacy, whatever their sexual orientation. What do you think of this policy?"

This time the discussion was led by Fr. Gonzalo Miranda, a professor of moral theology and medical ethics at the Legionaries' Pontifical Athenaeum "Regina Apostolorum" in Rome (as well as secretary and professor at the Center for Bioethics at Rome's "Università del Sacro Cuore"). First, he made the distinction between homosexual orientation and activity. True, one could have a homosexual orientation and be celibate. However, there were still problems as far as a vocation to the priesthood was concerned. Relying on a study from the United States (Biber et al., Homosexuality: A Psychoanalytic Study, New York: Basic Books, 1962) and on his own personal experience in ministering to homosexual persons, he pointed out that homosexuality is a psychological disorder which may or may not have a genetic basis, but in the great majority of cases certainly does involve a serious conflict between the homosexual and his father. The psychological wounds resulting from this conflict are so deep, and the needs of the homosexual young man for parental affection so strong, that he does not have the emotional maturity needed to bear the serious responsibilities involved in the care of souls.

A deacon from a diocese in Australia raised his hand. "Isn't it true though, that sometimes homosexuality can be something temporary, lasting only for a brief period of time during adolescence?"

"Yes," replied Fr. Miranda. "It can be that a young person is confused for a brief period of time about his sexual identity during adolescence. This is what is called 'pseudo- homosexuality.' If the young man emerges from it having integrated a masculine sexuality, he should be considered as normal." Other points arose in the discussion that ensued. In particular, several of the priests stressed the importance of acting decisively when homosexual activity is discovered in the seminary. Fr. Manuel Guillermo Laverde Aria, who works as a psychologist for the major seminary of Jérico, Columbia took the floor. "In such cases one must act very quickly. Persons engaging in homosexual activity in the seminary can do great harm. To keep them in or to send them to another seminary would display a false sense of charity." Again, discussion continued, but there was in the end general agreement: a person who engages in homosexual acts while in the seminary must be dismissed right away. A person with a definite homosexual orientation should not enter the seminary. When taking such difficult measures, a rector must strive to act toward the young man involved with the utmost charity.

Other cases emerged in the days ahead. Some were quite simple, such as the question of whether a seminarian should have a TV in his room, or what a rector should do if seminarians notice that the spiritual director gives more attention to certain seminarians who seem to be his favorites. Other cases were more serious. The group grappled with the question of whether a spiritual director could tell the bishop that a seminarian under his supervision should not be ordained, or whether such action was forbidden him by canon 240, n. 2. (Here careful distinctions had to be made, regarding professional secrecy, the seal of confession, and the intent of canon law.) Questions were also raised on how to judge the intellectual suitability of a candidate for priesthood, whether it is necessary that a spiritual director live in the seminary, and how to monitor funds that benefactors give directly to seminarians. Each discussion was characterized by serious thought, pastoral experience, modern research, and an earnestness to find solutions for real-life problems and difficult situations that confront those involved in seminary formation.

These discussions described above took place last summer during the five-week "Fifth International Course for the Preparation and Ongoing Formation of Seminary Educators." The course is conducted by the Legionaries of Christ, and offered every year to seminary formators throughout the world. (The word "formator" refers to anyone on the staff of a high school, college, or major seminary, who is involved in the education and spiritual development of those preparing for priesthood. It includes rectors, spiritual directors, teachers, directors of pastoral training-anyone who helps to "form" a candidate for the priesthood spiritually, pastorally, emotionally, or intellectually.) The course offers to participants a diploma in seminary pedagogical techniques, accredited through the Legionaries' Pontifical Athenaeum "Regina Apostolorum" in Rome.

Sharing the secrets of success

That there should be a demand for a course in diocesan seminary formation by the Legionaries should come as no surprise. The Legionaries of Christ, founded in 1941 by Fr. Marciel Maciel has at present over 350 priests and nearly 3,000 seminarians worldwide. The order is presently growing, as is witnessed by the fact that in 1991 they completed construction on the first new seminary to be built in Rome since the close of the Vatican Council. There are many bishops and seminary personnel who are eager to know the secret of their success.

Fortunately for them, the Legionaries want to make no "secret" of it at all! Fr. Maciel himself presented his insights on the formation of priests to the Fathers of the Synod on priestly formation in 1990, and has made the fruits of his experience available in a book, The Integral Formation of Priests (Alba House Press.) Now, in the International Course for the Preparation and Ongoing Formation of Seminary Educators, rectors, spiritual directors, and other seminary personnel from around the world can learn from experienced Legionary formators how they have used Fr. Maciel's insights to form holy and committed priests who are effectively renewing the Church.

The course has now completed its fifth year, and 246 seminary formators from 40 countries have passed through it. It has already gained so prominent a reputation that last year the Episcopal Conferences of Tanzania and Brazil asked for shortened versions to be given in their countries. Directors of the course have also been invited to participate in conferences on seminary formation held by the Episcopal Conferences of the Philippines and the Republic of Slovakia. Later on this year, the course will be given again in Columbia for the seminary formators of that country, as well as in Nairobi, Kenya.

This past summer, from July 3rd to August 5th, the course was given at the Gethsemani Retreat Center near the city of Casale Corte Cerro in the north of Italy, in the scenic region of the Piedmont. Forty-six participants represented the countries of Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Croatia, the Philippines, Italy, Australia, Lithuania, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Poland, Romania, St. Lucia, Hungary, the United States, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Examining and discussing actual cases that have occurred in seminaries is one of the important parts of the course. Fr. Mateos, the director of the course (and professor of Ecclesiology at the Legionaries' Athenaeum in Rome), sees this as a valuable way of helping the formators benefit from their collective experience. "The examination of cases," he says, "is important, first, for cultivating pedagogical discernment of problematic situations that occur in seminaries, and second, to give the formators the opportunity to exchange experiences from different parts of the world."

However, the course offered more than discussion. Three lectures daily by Legionary priests and other guest lecturers gave a comprehensive view of priestly formation. (The lectures were given in Spanish, but translated simultaneously into English and Italian. Participants heard the translations over radio headsets.) Some topics covered by nine different Legionary formators were: basic principles of seminary formation, the stages of formation, growth in human maturity, the spiritual life of the seminarian, discipline and the seminary environment, the importance of formators working as a team, practical advice on giving spiritual direction, the proper use of psychological testing for discerning a vocation, liturgical formation, intellectual formation, pastoral formation, and the importance of instilling in the seminarians a sense of communion with each other, their brother priests, their bishop, and the Holy Father.

Space does not permit a summary of the matter of the course, but a few quotes may help give a flavor of what was said. Fr. William Brock, who has been a spiritual director in the Legionaries college of humanities in Salamanca, Spain for the past 15 years, offered the following advice on discipline: "Don't be afraid to be demanding in seminary discipline. Show the seminarian the ideal of priesthood, and challenge him to strive for it. Explain to him how the discipline of the seminary will help him reach his goal, and he will rise to the occasion." "The seminary formator who yells or threatens has lost control. Don't ever threaten. Motivate. Always motivate."

Fr. Hector Guerra, territorial director of the Legionaries in Europe, had this to say on spiritual formation: "As formators, we can at times find our task overwhelming. We are dealing with the mystery of the freedom of the human being. There are so many virtues to be gained, and so little time. However, we can remember that the seminarian, united to Christ, has everything he needs. True, as a priest he will still have limitations, but if he knows Christ, then the rest will fall into place. Christ will continue to lead him. However, if a seminarian has assimilated everything intellectually but does not know Christ, there is a serious question mark about whether he should be ordained. For without knowing Christ, he has no spiritual foundation."

The Legionaries, in giving the course participants the benefits of their experience and their founder's vision, touched on many common themes. The seminarian, they stressed, must have a relationship of trust, openness, and sincerity with his formator. He must develop a personal love for Christ, that will motivate him to apostolic action. The formator, on his part, must be present to the seminarians, befriend them, eat meals with them, share recreation with them, know each one personally, and be genuinely interested in their spiritual and human progress. He should remember that while he provides guidance and motivation, it is the seminarian himself who is the main one responsible for his formation, assisted by the Holy Spirit.

Distinguished guest speakers

Guest speakers to the course included Bishop Renato Corti, the ordinary of the diocese of Novarra. He had been a spiritual director and rector of the major seminary in the diocese of Milan, and was later placed in charge of the spiritual renewal of the clergy there as an auxiliary bishop. He is now President of the Commission of the Clergy for the Italian Episcopal Conference. He told the formators, "A priest must have an apostolic attitude. He should have, as it were, a wound in his heart that burns whenever he thinks about the people in the world who do not know Christ." "An apostolic attitude must be formed in the seminary. In fact, when I was a rector in Milan, I would ask the seminarians, 'Why are you here?' I would examine them to see if they had an apostolic motivation."

Other guests included Fr. Néstor Navarro, rector of the major seminary for the diocese of Bucaramanga, Columbia, who is also president of the Organization of Seminaries of Columbia and vice-president of the Organization of Latin American Seminaries. During the final days of the course, Bishop Augustíne García-Gasco of the diocese of Valencia, Spain was present as a lecturer and homilist.

However, the most distinguished guest speaker was Cardinal Pio Laghi, Prefect of the Congregation for Education, who has interrupted his summer vacation for the past several years to address the participants of the course. This year, he summarized for them the results to date of the Vatican's visitation of diocesan seminaries, pointing out weaknesses and strengths of seminaries around the globe.

The study has so far turned up several general weaknesses, the main one being a worldwide lack of good seminary formators. Many bishops throughout the world have started their own seminaries, but with no priests trained in formation work. In other places, formators are in demand simply because of an increase in the number of seminarians. At one time religious orders that specialized in formation work (such as the Sulpicians and Eudists) were able to fill such needs. But in recent years their numbers have declined, and now there are too few of them to carry out this task. The result has been much improvisation by seminaries. Seminary professors, local pastors, and even newly ordained clergy have been asked to do the work of priestly formation, but without the training or preparation they need. Even if they are dedicated priests and men of holiness, they have great difficulty giving the seminarians the knowledge and virtues they will need to be effective priests.

Also, there are problems with the seminarians themselves. Many do not have an appreciation of spiritual direction and regular confession, and so make little use of these means of spiritual growth. They often do not have a supernatural view of obedience, which leads to a lack of trust between them and their formators. Celibacy is not something personally valued by them, and they have yet to learn how to channel their affections in a positive way. With respect to poverty, many seminarians waste time, seek comfort, and fill their lives with unnecessary things, often purchased with funds from scholarships and benefactors.

In some cases, it is the seminaries that create difficulties for formation. Some make learning chastity more difficult by allowing a great degree of liberty in relating to women-by allowing dating, for example-or by placing no restrictions on the availability of the mass media. Theology and philosophy programs in seminaries are basically sound, but more safeguards are needed for the students' intellectual formation. Some use textbooks or invite speakers that espouse problematic currents of thought, doctrinally speaking. This occurs especially in the United States. (With respect to the United States, Pio Laghi also mentioned that "the bishops had difficulty accepting that their seminaries were not perfect.")

On the positive side, there is a greater awareness worldwide of the need for specialized training in seminary formation work. There has also been an evolution in seminary pedagogy. Formators are placing a greater importance on giving personalized attention to seminarians, understanding their situations, building the community life of the seminary, and collaborating with each other. There have also been some positive initiatives in institutions of seminary formation, notably a "year of spiritual foundation" instituted by Cardinal Lustiger of Paris, and a "discernment year" which interrupts the studies of seminarians in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Finally, there are presently available a number of seminars, courses, and institutes that train formators, thus helping to supply for the lack mentioned above.

The participants of the course, in addition to listening to these lectures, had their own work to do. Meeting in language groups, they examined the documents of the Church on priestly formation (in particular, Pastores Dabo Vobis), drew out the basic principles of spiritual and pastoral formation, and discussed how well or how poorly these principles were applied in their own seminaries. Meeting in several plenary sessions, they were able to compare the policies and programs of their seminaries to others around the world, gaining new insights and ideas to bring back home.

A valuable experience

Italy is a beautiful country, and it would be a shame to spend five weeks there without enjoying it. So the Legionaries, besides organizing lectures and seminars, also planned a number of excursions for those who wanted to relax and do some sightseeing. This year, sites included Turin (where one can find the reliquary of the Shroud of Turin, the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, and the tombs of Don Bosco and Dominic Savio), and the Italian Alps. There were also several free days, when participants could do their own sightseeing.

But the excursion which was also the highlight of the summer was to Rome, to attend a papal audience. It is impossible to promise a personal encounter with the Holy Father, but every year the Legionaries do their best to get the course participants as close to him as they can. This year they were successful. The seminary formators in the course had second-row seats in the Paul VI Auditorium for the audience, and when it was over, they were invited up on the stage, where the Holy Father greeted each one personally. (The Legionaries also put in a request to celebrate Mass privately with the Holy Father at Castel Gondolfo. The request was denied this year, but has been granted a few times in the past.)

The participants of the course went home well satisfied with what they learned from the lectures and one another. Fr. José Padilla, who has been in seminary work for nine years (the last four as a rector), was particularly impressed.

"I think that a course such as this is very important because of the responsibility of formators," he said. "We need to reflect on and study what the Church, as mother and teacher, directs us to do in the formation of priests. It was very useful for me to have an exchange of experiences with rectors from different parts of the world. The course has helped me very much. I have taken notes on various topics that will help my interior life, as well as the life of my seminary community. For example, I hope to implement new methods of following up on pastoral activity, and also to make a plan of systematic readings throughout the year for the continuing education of my formators."

Fr. Joselin Gonda has been working for the past ten years as spiritual director of St. Francis de Sales minor seminary in the Archdiocese of Lipa, in the Philippines, and more recently as director of permanent formation for young clergy. He was also favorably impressed by the course. "The course gives an authentically integral program of formation. It covers all the areas of formation equally, giving them the same level of importance. But the distinction and the value of each area is clearly defined. It also gives opportunities to share experiences, and thus it broadens your horizons."

The International Course for the Preparation and Ongoing Formation of Seminary Educators deserves serious consideration by those in and preparing for work in seminary formation. It makes for an active summer, but one enjoyable and well spent. The cost this past summer was $1,000.00, which included room and board for five weeks, tuition, and transportation to Rome and other planned outings. It would be very helpful for anyone who wishes to attend in future years to have a basic knowledge of Spanish, the working language of the course. For further information, contact Fr. Peter Hopkins, at the Alpha Omega Family Center, 815 Boston Post Road, Rye, N.Y. 10580, or call him at 914-967-7403. n