bold = Main text
Chapter, Paragraph, Number grey = Comment text
1 Intro, 0,1 | 15ff.; 1 Pt. 5:2). ~Without priests the Church would not be
2 Intro, 0,1 | of the grave shortage of priests which is being felt in other
3 Intro, 0,2 | The formation of future priests, both diocesan and religious,
4 Intro, 0,2 | candidates to the priesthood and priests themselves, the Church throughout
5 Intro, 0,2 | new evangelization" have priests as its initial "new evangelizers."~
6 Intro, 0,2 | Dedicated to "the formation of priests in circumstances of the
7 Intro, 0,3 | regarding the ministry of priests and their formation,( 4)
8 Intro, 0,3 | ministry and formation of priests She has done this in a more
9 Intro, 0,3(4) | the Ministry and Life of Priests Presbyterorum Ordinis; Decree
10 Intro, 0,3 | the life and ministry of priests. It may be said that in
11 Intro, 0,3 | do with the presence of priests in the community as well
12 Intro, 0,3 | ministerial priesthood.~Moreover, priests who have been actively involved
13 Intro, 0,3 | effective means of support for priests in their spiritual life
14 Intro, 0,3 | themselves had asked that priests commit themselves to their
15 Intro, 0,3 | have well - formed holy priests. Thus the very life of the
16 Intro, 0,4 | and for the formation of priests -- aware that on this depends
17 Intro, 0,4 | synod fathers: "Brother priests, we want to express our
18 I, 0,5 | God always calls his priests from specific human and
19 I, 0,5 | contextualize" the subject of priests, viewing it in terms of
20 I, 0,5 | formulation: "The formation of priests in the circumstances of
21 I, 0,5 | continue the work of the priests who, in the preceding millennia,
22 I, 0,6 | children of the Church, and for priests especially, the increase
23 I, 0,7 | the lives and ministry of priests. For example: the lack of
24 I, 0,7 | is still the scarcity of priests which creates the most serious
25 I, 0,9 | the formation of future priests, but also in the care of
26 I, 0,9 | but also in the care of priests in their life and ministry
27 I, 0,9 | forms of "crisis" to which priests are subjected today in their
28 I, 0,9 | historical moment is offering to priests for the fulfillment of their
29 I, 0,10 | question: How can we form priests who are truly able to respond
30 I, 0,10 | threats. In the formation of priests it is not sufficient simply
31 I, 0,10 | applicable to the formation of priests: "The Church has always
32 I, 0,10(15) | Bishops, "The Formation of Priests in the Circumstances of
33 I, 0,10 | present and in the future, priests who are well trained to
34 II, 0,11(18) | the Synod, 4; cf letter to priests for Holy Thursday 1991 (
35 II, 0,12 | the bishop and with other priests(24) in order to serve the
36 II, 0,13 | Old Testament -- kings, priests and prophets -- are no more
37 II, 0,13 | the dignity and mission of priests of the new and eternal covenant.
38 II, 0,13 | shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Ex.
39 II, 0,15 | other men as bishops, as priests and as deacons in order
40 II, 0,15 | 1 Pt. 5:2).~Therefore, priests are called to prolong the
41 II, 0,15 | on behalf of the Church, priests are a sacramental representation
42 II, 0,15 | in the Spirit. In a word, priests exist and act in order to
43 II, 0,16 | the Church. In this way priests, like the apostles, act
44 II, 0,16 | and has in bishops, and in priests who are related to and are
45 II, 0,16(29) | assembly, "The Formation of Priests in the Circumstances of
46 II, 0,17 | his own bishop, with other priests and with the lay faithful.~
47 II, 0,17 | faithful.~The ministry of priests is above all communion and
48 II, 0,17 | ministry and fraternity All priests in fact, whether diocesan
49 II, 0,17 | full ecclesial realization, priests have a positive and helping
50 II, 0,17 | relationship to the laity. Priests are there to serve the faith,
51 II, 0,17 | through it Christ gives to priests, in the Spirit, a particular
52 II, 0,18 | the spiritual gift which priests have received in ordination
53 II, 0,18 | Gospel. This task demands priests who are deeply and fully
54 II, 0,18 | pope, the bishops and other priests, and a fruitful cooperation
55 III, 0,19 | applies in a special way to priests. They are called not only
56 III, 0,19 | specifically because they are priests, that is, under a new title
57 III, 0,20 | the sacrament of orders priests are configured to Christ
58 III, 0,20 | perfect' (Mt. 5:48). But priests are bound in a special way
59 III, 0,21 | desires. In this way the priests, as the ministers, the "
60 III, 0,22 | Pt. 5:1ff.), and through priests. By virtue of their consecration,
61 III, 0,22 | virtue of their consecration, priests are configured to Jesus
62 III, 0,23 | bishop and with his brother priests, lest his efforts be in
63 III, 0,23(53) | To priests taking part in an assembly
64 III, 0,23 | Council reminds us that "priests attain to the unity of their
65 III, 0,24 | Church and within her for priests: All have received the Spirit
66 III, 0,24 | bishop and their fellow priests, they are being directed
67 III, 0,25 | The Council also speaks of priests as "companions and helpers"
68 III, 0,25 | Council: "The very holiness of priests is of the greatest benefit
69 III, 0,26 | sacrament of penance, of which priests are the ministers, but ought
70 III, 0,26 | communion with his brother priests, his collaboration with
71 III, 0,27 | same demand is made anew to priests, not only because they are "
72 III, 0,28 | disposition of soul by which priests are always ready to seek
73 III, 0,28 | sense of giving brother priests the opportunity to make
74 III, 0,29 | celibacy is a charism, reminds priests that celibacy is a priceless
75 III, 0,29 | humbly and perseveringly priests should join with the Church
76 III, 0,29 | ask. At the same time let priests make use of all the supernatural
77 III, 0,30 | other things, they wrote: "Priests, following the example of
78 III, 0,30 | of goods among his fellow priests and a certain common use
79 III, 0,31 | enriching the life of individual priests as well as enlivening the
80 III, 0,31 | associations which welcome priests into their spiritual family:
81 III, 0,31 | to ecclesial movements. Priests who belong to religious
82 III, 0,32 | the spiritual gift which priests received at their ordination
83 III, 0,32 | witness of their lives, priests have the duty to form the
84 III, 0,32 | Redemptoris Missio, "all priests must have the mind and heart
85 III, 0,32 | humanity."( 89)~If the lives of priests are generously inspired
86 III, 0,32 | clear and forceful: "Let priests remember then that they
87 III, 0,32 | all the churches. Hence priests belonging to dioceses which
88 III, 0,33 | Here I would repeat to all priests what I said to so many of
89 III, 0,33(91) | Homily to 5,000 priests from throughout the world (
90 IV, 0,34 | very fact that "the lack of priests is certainly a sad thing
91 IV, 0,36 | whether of prophets, apostles, priests, religious, the lay faithful --
92 IV, 0,39 | Christian living. Educators, and priests in particular, should not
93 IV, 0,39 | that of many individual priests whose vocations blossomed
94 IV, 0,40 | educators in the faith. Priests, for their part, should
95 IV, 0,41 | his presbyterate. All its priests are united to him and share
96 IV, 0,41 | Council states, "it is the priests' part as instructors of
97 IV, 0,41 | The very life of priests, their unconditional dedication
98 IV, 0,41 | to some "official" group (priests in general and the priests
99 IV, 0,41 | priests in general and the priests working in the seminary
100 V, 0,42 | formation for religious priests -- more than a place, a
101 V, 1,43 | objective judgments.~Future priests should therefore cultivate
102 V, 1,46 | human beings. Only if future priests, through a suitable spiritual
103 V, 1,46 | the communion of future priests with Jesus in terms of friendship.
104 V, 1,47 | All clerics, particularly priests of Christ and others who,
105 V, 1,48 | is to be ours."( 144) For priests, as ministers of sacred
106 V, 1,48 | vital to educate future priests to have the virtue of penance,
107 V, 1,49 | speak of forming future priests in the spirituality of the
108 V, 1,50 | The celibacy of priests brings with it certain characteristics
109 V, 1,50 | and fraternal life among priests. In the seminary, that is,
110 V, 1,50 | celibacy so that they will help priests with their friendship, understanding
111 V, 1,50(154)| Letter to all the priests of the Church on Holy Thursday
112 V, 1,51 | candidates for the priesthood and priests have diligent care of the
113 V, 1,51 | formation, such as will enable priests to proclaim, in a context
114 V, 1,55 | that it enables future priests to proclaim the Gospel message
115 V, 1,55 | more formative for future priests.~A further problem that
116 V, 1,57 | whole formation of future priests.~Like all other branches
117 V, 1,58 | experience of ministry, future priests will be able to be inserted
118 V, 1,58 | one another and with the priests alongside whom they will
119 V, 1,58 | will be sent to work. These priests have a considerably important
120 V, 1,59 | different members of the Church: priests and bishop, diocesan and
121 V, 1,59 | diocesan and religious priests, priests and lay people.
122 V, 1,59 | diocesan and religious priests, priests and lay people. Such a cooperation
123 V, 1,59 | important to prepare future priests for cooperation with the
124 V, 2,61 | vocational accompanying of future priests, and therefore discernment
125 V, 2,61 | pastoral formation of future priests. Although this formation
126 V, 2,61 | seminary: preparation of future priests.~In this regard, the synod
127 V, 2,61 | the formation of future priests, pastors of the Church."( 194)
128 V, 3,65 | and which he wishes all priests to live in their turn?~The
129 V, 3,65 | shepherd and father to all, his priests who share with him the one
130 V, 3,66 | for the formation of the priests."( 203)~The bishops first
131 V, 3,66 | task of educating future priests. For this ministry, priests
132 V, 3,66 | priests. For this ministry, priests of exemplary life should
133 V, 3,66 | work of training future priests. They are to be selected
134 V, 3,66 | the formation of future priests, fruits for a balanced growth
135 V, 3,67 | theology introduce future priests to sacred doctrine and accompany
136 V, 3,67 | the formation of future priests and offer with scientific
137 V, 3,68 | seminarians and diocesan priests take part in particular
138 V, 3,68(211)| Address to priests connected with the Communion
139 VI | The Ongoing Formation of Priests~
140 VI, 0,70 | ongoing formation to which all priests are called by virtue of
141 VI, 0,70 | the permanent formation of priests. Here we are also helped
142 VI, 0,71 | The ongoing formation of priests, whether diocesan or religious,
143 VI, 0,71 | fraternal communion among priests, especially those in different
144 VI, 0,71 | needs to be given to future priests to look forward to it, seeing
145 VI, 0,72 | once asked in a talk to priests. And he went on to say: "
146 VI, 0,72 | applied specifically to priests, who are called to the perfection
147 VI, 0,73 | yourselves" (Jas. 1:22). Priests are called to "live the
148 VI, 0,73 | same truth in his fellow priests, for this is the basis of
149 VI, 0,73 | respect and love for other priests.~
150 VI, 0,74 | Ongoing formation helps priests, within the Church as "communion,"
151 VI, 0,74 | and together with other priests -- that pastoral involvement
152 VI, 0,74 | involvement typical of his brother priests who have gone before him.
153 VI, 0,74 | personal gifts, such as priests themselves. There should
154 VI, 0,74 | of its growth. Indeed, "priests by means of the sacrament
155 VI, 0,74 | ministerium. "Unity among the priests with the bishop and among
156 VI, 0,74 | This unity among priests, lived in a spirit of pastoral
157 VI, 0,74 | pastoral charity, makes priests witnesses of Jesus Christ,
158 VI, 0,74 | bonds which exist between priests. It is a grace that grows
159 VI, 0,74 | special care of the young priests, maintains a kind and fraternal
160 VI, 0,74 | difficulties, as for those priests who have given up this way
161 VI, 0,74 | source of enrichment for all priests. The different particular
162 VI, 0,74 | live, while challenging all priests to grow in the understanding
163 VI, 0,74 | is a loneliness which all priests experience and which is
164 VI, 0,74 | bishop and with the other priests, mutual cooperation, common
165 VI, 0,74 | fraternal dealings between priests, as also friendship and
166 VI, 0,76 | and duties one finds among priests.~Ongoing formation is a
167 VI, 0,76 | first instance, for young priests. They should have frequent
168 VI, 0,76 | will gradually lead young priests to grasp and incarnate the
169 VI, 0,76 | all their brethren. ~With priests who have just come out of
170 VI, 0,76 | totally rejected. ~Young priests who take part in meetings
171 VI, 0,76 | example and stimulus to other priests who are ahead of them in
172 VI, 0,76 | which needs well - formed priests.~In order to accompany the
173 VI, 0,76 | order to accompany the young priests in this first delicate phase
174 VI, 0,76 | guides and teachers. Here priests can find, in an organized
175 VI, 0,76 | service to their own young priests, it will be a good idea
176 VI, 0,77 | formation is a duty also for priests of middle age. They can
177 VI, 0,77 | should also involve those priests who by their advanced years
178 VI, 0,77 | Ongoing formation for these priests will not be a matter so
179 VI, 0,77 | teachers and trainers of other priests.~Also those priests who
180 VI, 0,77 | other priests.~Also those priests who because of the burden
181 VI, 0,77 | formation will help such priests to keep alive the conviction --
182 VI, 0,78 | in which the ministry of priests -- often and in many places --
183 VI, 0,78 | society today often deprive priests of the time and energies
184 VI, 0,78 | increase the responsibility of priests to overcome these difficulties
185 VI, 0,78 | the ongoing formation of priests are to be found in the Church
186 VI, 0,78 | different aspects of her priests' permanent formation. Priests
187 VI, 0,78 | priests' permanent formation. Priests are not there to serve themselves
188 VI, 0,78 | and pastoral maturity of priests, is doing good to the People
189 VI, 0,78 | ongoing formation of its priests. In this sense the people
190 VI, 0,78 | the people should see that priests are allowed time for study
191 VI, 0,78 | relations with them, helping priests to remember that they are
192 VI, 0,78 | for the formation of its priests is specific and depends
193 VI, 0,79 | the example given by other priests, are not enough to make
194 VI, 0,79 | is based on the fact that priests receive their priesthood
195 VI, 0,79 | is to ensure that all his priests are generously faithful
196 VI, 0,79 | received, that they are priests such as the People of God
197 VI, 0,79 | bring together people -- priests, religious and lay faithful --
198 VI, 0,79 | communities, led and guided by priests, looks to families inasmuch
199 VI, 0,80 | spiritual gatherings for priests, such as spiritual exercises,
200 VI, 0,81 | precious living experience for priests. Among them, let us recall
201 VI, 0,81 | forms of common life among priests, which have always existed,
202 VI, 0,81 | activities, this common life of priests offers to all, to fellow
203 VI, 0,81 | offers to all, to fellow priests and lay faithful alike,
204 VI, 0,81 | diocesan -- through which priests are more closely united
205 VI, 0,81 | of consecration in which priests by means of vows or other
206 VI, 0,81 | ongoing formation of the priests. It is a well - tried means
207 Conclu, 0,82 | and a countless host of priests, will continue to show to
208 Conclu, 0,82 | through the commitment which priests make to receive that ongoing
209 Conclu, 0,82 | sacrament of holy orders. All priests are called to become aware
210 Conclu, 0,82 | evangelizers, and these are the priests who are serious about living
211 Conclu, 0,82 | beat in other hearts -- priests' hearts: "You give them
212 Conclu, 0,82 | by himself and by his priests with him.~Now, as I bring
213 Conclu, 0,82 | priesthood, to seminarians and to priests who in all parts of the
214 Conclu, 0,82 | of our day. ~Dear brother priests, you do this because our
215 Conclu, 0,82 | in the Church.~And so we priests are called to have an ever
216 Conclu, 0,82 | Jesus Christ and Mother of priests,~accept this title which
217 Conclu, 0,82 | contrite of heart;~guard priests in your heart and in the
218 Conclu, 0,82 | Father for his glory~the priests of your Son,~O Ark of the
219 Conclu, 0,82 | accompany~your sons,~O Mother of Priests.~Amen.~Given in Rome, at
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