杏MAP导航

By Vatican News staff writer

杏MAP导航 Francis opened his address to seminarians from Italy鈥檚 Marche region by asking them to imagine the Seminary 鈥渁s the family of Nazareth鈥� where Jesus was welcomed, cared for and formed in view of the mission entrusted to him by the Father.

The priest is in fact 鈥渁 disciple continually on his way in the footsteps of the Master鈥�, and his formation, continued the 杏MAP导航, begins in the seminary.

To formators

杏MAP导航 Francis then turned his address to the formators.

He prayed that the seminarians may learn more from their formators鈥� lives than from their words, as happened in the house of Nazareth, where Jesus was formed in the school of Joseph's "creative courage". 鈥淢ay they learn docility from your obedience; industriousness from your dedication; generosity towards the poor from the witness of your sobriety and availability; fatherhood from your living and chaste affection鈥�, he said.

I would like to emphasise this, said the 杏MAP导航, because we don't talk so much about docility. 鈥淏eing docile is a gift we must ask for; docility is a virtue not only to be acquired, but to be received鈥�, explained the 杏MAP导航, adding that 鈥渨ithout docility, no one can grow and mature鈥�.

To seminarians

杏MAP导航 Francis then turned his address back to the seminarians, 鈥渨hom the Church asks to follow the example of Jesus who let himself be docilely educated by Joseph鈥�. The 杏MAP导航 noted that even as a boy, Joseph had to experience the fatigue involved in every journey of growth, to ask himself the great questions of life, to begin to assume his responsibilities and to make his own decisions. 鈥�

May the Seminary be for you too like the house in Nazareth, said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渨here the Son of God learned from his parents about humanity and closeness鈥�. The 杏MAP导航 warned that social media means are not enough to communicate. 鈥淥nly transformed by the Word of God will you be able to communicate words of life鈥�, he said. In order to do this 杏MAP导航 Francis encouraged the seminarians to draw humanity out of Jesus from the Gospel, to read, to think of examples of genuine faith passed on鈥�

The seminary should bring you closer to God, continued the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渨ithin the walls of the Seminary, expand the boundaries of your heart鈥� and extend them to the whole world.

The four dimensions of formation

Bringing his speech to a close, the 杏MAP导航 suggested a few ideas regarding the four dimensions of formation: human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral.

鈥淔irst of all, do not distance yourselves from your humanity鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航, but rather 鈥渙pen yourselves up in all sincerity to your formators, fighting against every form of interior falsehood鈥�.

With regards to spirituality, the 杏MAP导航 continued, 鈥減rayer should not be ritualistic, but an opportunity for personal encounter with God, for dialogue and trust in Him鈥�.

He prayed that the seminarians' studies 鈥渉elp you to enter with awareness and competence into the complexity of contemporary culture and thought, not to be afraid of it or hostile to it鈥�.

And speaking lastly of pastoral formation, the 杏MAP导航 noted that it should 鈥渆ncourage you to go out enthusiastically to meet people鈥�. You are priests to serve the People of God, said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渢o care for the wounds of all, especially the poor鈥�. Availability for others: this is the sure proof of your yes to God.

In these four dimensions, explained the 杏MAP导航, 鈥測ou will have professors, formators, spiritual directors and you must talk to them鈥�. Look for  those who have the wisdom of good wine, he continued, 鈥渢hose who with their testimony will teach you how to solve pastoral problems, those who, as parish priests, knew the names of everyone, of each of their faithful鈥�, They are a treasure, he said.

Thank you for your ecclesial communion

Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis thanked the pastors and diocesan communities for 鈥渢he witness of ecclesial communion鈥� given by their decision to enhance the interdiocesan and regional institution of the Seminary. May St Joseph accompany you and may Our Lady protect you, concluded the 杏MAP导航.