One of the things I have been contemplating recently is the question of intellectual formation in a program for priestly formation. To set the stage, however, it is important to look at how seminary formation came about and the reasons for it.
Prior to 1563, there simply was no seminary formation. Men aspiring to the holy vocation of the priesthood were simply taught and formed by way of apprenticeship. However, on July 15, 153 by Canon XVIII of the 23rd session of the Council of Trent, Holy Mother Church decreed that, where possible, every archdiocese and diocese should establish a seminary for the sake of forming men into priests.
Yet what exactly was it that motivated this decree; Holy Mother Church felt the need that clergy need to be better educated. Especially in light of the Reformation striking through Rome, the Church needed priests who could not only keep up with society but defend and teach the truths of the deposit of faith coherently and cogently. Thus, the catalyst for seminary formation was essentially an intellectual one; that was the concern. Of course, this is not intended to overlook the spiritual formation which was what was acquired through the apprenticeship model (at least that was the hope).
Finally, after the Second Vatican Council, we receive, in an explicit way, the other two "pillars": human and pastoral. I posit that the human was always present in the background, at least in a germinal way, as an intellectual and spiritual formation is very much a human formation. The pastoral, however, which became the main emphasis along with John Paul II's Pastores dabo vobis slowly converted seminaries into a trade school; per the decrees of the Second Vatican Council, the need for proper training in professional practice became a priority. The problem I posit, then is two-fold.
As is typical with man, what has been missing is what suddenly receives a hyper focus to the downfall of what is had. Liturgy becoming solely a communal meal, dismissing the aspects of sacrifice for the sake of meal, is a perfect example. Thus, the integration of these 4 pillars was not had. The fifth edition of the Program for Priestly formation addresses this, noting that while they are stressed individually (the mind must constantly break things down, at least metaphysically, to manageable chunks) must be viewed in such a way so that they accentuate the integration of the four. Hence the following chart aims at explaining this complex integration:
Human Formation -- foundation of -- the other three
Spiritual Formation -- informs -- the other three
Intellectual Formation -- appropriates/understands -- the other three
Pastoral Formation -- expresses -- the other three
The ideal is a seminarian whose formation is integral and wholesome. It is here then that I fear seminaries have taken the biggest fall...in the intellectual formation. As I noted, seminaries took a hyper emphasis on the pastoral but to the downfall of the rest...especially the intellectual. One of the biggest issues in American Catholicism, as I have experienced, is an inability of regular, diocesan clergy to give an eloquent account for the faith they profess. In light of a society in which all are literate (or nearly all) and people are bombarded with radical secularist argumentation that moves away from the truth. Yet, I think a number of people work off of an arbitrary distinction that pastors are not intellectual and do not need to be intellectual...that that is for the monks and the mendicants; but oh the contrary!
Thus, I do not mean to dismiss the good work that has been done in the other aspects of formation; after all, the end is for a man to discern whether God is calling him to follow Christ as a priest, acting in his persona with this discernment taking place primarily in prayer and with the aid of a spiritual director. But the penetrating contemplation of the mystery of God is so vitally important; alongside an understanding of the numerous teachings of the Church and ethical positions As we live in a culture where the basic good of life is so violently attacked by contemporary secularism, how important is it that priest be able to teach the People of God why life is an utmost precious gift from God of immeasurable worth!
With this in mind, then, I offer a number of brief reasons that the seminarian's intellectual formation be heightened to a much greater level; there is no reason that other institutions of higher learning aim at higher intellectual ends than a seminary...of course I am working off the idea that a seminarian is not simply a trade school forming "pastors" but a school forming priests...just as a med school forms integral doctors. We must strive for integrity in our formation and we must be formed into priests of God Most High...not simply functioning pastors.
First, let us not presuppose that the people are 1) not interested in understanding their faith or 2) capable. To truly be a pastor and shephered, the priest must be a preacher; that is, a teacher of the faith. When the people are dismissed to go and proclaim the Good News, lets us as priests (and future priests) teach them the faith in deep ways so that may be able to defend themselves against the culture and intellectual demons that exist in our society. Furthermore, this will lead to a deeper contemplation of their own faith and a greater understanding and a resulting love for God and His Church.
Second, an intellectual formation provides a objective standard against which subjective piety can be measured. One cannot deceive himself by substituting piety for effective action. They must know this stuff through and through for believers and non-believers alike have intellectual questions that priests need to be able to answer...they come to the priest seeking them after all.
Third, this will lead to a priest nourishing the People of God, not with the Sacraments but the Word of God as understood in the Church's rich tradition.
Fourth, it is a necessary backbone for the administration of sacraments in accord with the divine and ecclesial law. Otherwise, a moral and intellectual chaos arises that so sadly weakens the faith of Catholics.
Lastly, it is most necessary due to the relativistic and liberal culture we live in. Though some rightly react to liberalism with a staunch orthodoxy; the danger that arises therein is that, in the absence of a true intellectual formation, they become authoritarian. To respond to the People of God who have been subjected to some 40 years of liberalism with an authoritarianism will only further alienate Catholics. One cannot merely assert their faith in the contemporary culture...it will not be accepted. Rather, we must bear witness to the faith and give an account of that faith. As St. Peter tells us,
"But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asks you a reason of that hope which is in you." (1 Peter 3:15)
Thus, the seminarian REQUIRES a strong intellectual formation for his own faith else their orthodox reaction will never survive the constant barrage of attacks of the world, the flesh, and the Evil One himself...unless those commitments are undergirded by a realistic and wholesome philosophy...and a theology capable of making a dogma coherent and intelligible. Thus, we need a strong dogmatic basis rooted in a strong intellectual formation to combat the rationalist culture we live in...and though the integration we seek occurs overtime and is by no means completed in seminary but initiated in seminary and continued in a priestly life, what a better time to start the intellectual than a time set apart for academic studies and intellectual deepening...a deepening that will serve him later in his priesthood. Let us give the People of God the shepherds and priests they so desperately need!!!
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