Title III. Sacred Ministers or Clerics (Cann. 232 - 293)

CHAPTER I. The Formation of Clerics

Can.232 The Church has the duty and the proper and exclusive right to form those who are designated for the

sacred ministries.

Can.233 §1. The duty of fostering vocations rests with the entire Christian community so that the needs of the

sacred ministry in the universal Church are provided for sufficiently. This duty especially binds Christian families,

educators, and, in a special way, priests, particularly pastors. Diocesan bishops, who most especially are to be

concerned for promoting vocations, are to teach the people entrusted to them of the importance of the sacred

ministry and of the need for ministers in the Church and are to encourage and support endeavors to foster vocations,

especially by means of projects established for that purpose.

§2. Moreover, priests, and especially diocesan bishops, are to have concern that men of a more mature age who

consider themselves called to the sacred ministries are prudently assisted in word and deed and duly prepared.

Can.234 §1. Minor seminaries and other similar institutions are to be preserved, where they exist, and fostered; for

the sake of fostering vocations, these institutions provide special religious formation together with instruction in the

humanities and science. Where the diocesan bishop judges it expedient, he is to erect a minor seminary or similar

institution.

§2. Unless in certain cases circumstances indicate otherwise, young men disposed to the priesthood are to be

provided with that formation in the humanities and science by which the youth in their own region are prepared

to pursue higher studies.

Can.235 §1. Young men who intend to enter the priesthood are to be provided with a suitable spiritual formation

and prepared for their proper duties in a major seminary throughout the entire time of formation or, if in the

judgment of the diocesan bishop circumstances demand it, for at least four years.

§2. The diocesan bishop is to entrust those who legitimately reside outside a seminary to a devout and suitable

priest who is to be watchful that they are carefully formed in the spiritual life and in discipline.

Can.236 According to the prescripts of the conference of bishops, those aspiring to the permanent diaconate are to

be formed to nourish a spiritual life and instructed to fulfill correctly the duties proper to that order:

1/ young men are to live at least three years in some special house unless the diocesan bishop has established

otherwise for grave reasons;

2/ men of a more mature age, whether celibate or married, are to spend three years in a program defined by

the conference of bishops.

Can.237 §1. Where it is possible and expedient, there is to be a major seminary in every diocese; otherwise, the

students who are preparing for the sacred ministries are to be entrusted to another seminary, or an interdiocesan

seminary is to be erected.

§2. An interdiocesan seminary is not to be erected unless the conference of bishops, if the seminary is for its

entire territory, or the bishops involved have obtained the prior approval of the Apostolic See for both the erection

of the seminary and its statutes.

Can.238 §1. Seminaries legitimately erected possess juridic personality in the Church by the law itself.

§2. In the handling of all affairs, the rector of the seminary represents it unless competent authority has

established otherwise for certain affairs.

Can.239 §1. Every seminary is to have a rector who presides over it, a vice-rector if one is needed, a finance officer,

and, if the students pursue their studies in the seminary itself, teachers who give instruction in various disciplines

coordinated in an appropriate manner.

§2. Every seminary is to have at least one spiritual director, though the students remain free to approach other

priests who have been designated for this function by the bishop.

§3. The statutes of a seminary are to provide ways through which the other moderators, the teachers, and even

the students themselves participate in the responsibility of the rector, especially in maintaining discipline.

Can.240 §1. In addition to ordinary confessors, other confessors are to come regularly to the seminary. Without

prejudice to the discipline of the seminary, students are always free to approach any confessor, whether in the

seminary or outside it.

§2. When decisions are made about admitting students to orders or dismissing them from the seminary, the

opinion of the spiritual director and confessors can never be sought.

Can.241 §1. A diocesan bishop is to admit to a major seminary only those who are judged qualified to dedicate

themselves permanently to the sacred ministries; he is to consider their human, moral, spiritual, and intellectual

qualities, their physical and psychic health, and their correct intention.

§2. Before they are accepted, they must submit documents of the reception of baptism and confirmation and

any other things required by the prescripts of the program of priestly formation.

§3. If it concerns admitting those who were dismissed from another seminary or religious institute, testimony

of the respective superior is also required, especially concerning the cause for their dismissal or departure.

Can.242 §1. Each nation is to have a program of priestly formation which is to be established by the conference of

bishops, attentive to the norms issued by the supreme authority of the Church, and which is to be approved by the

Holy See. This program is to be adapted to new circumstances, also with the approval of the Holy See, and is to

define the main principles of the instruction to be given in the seminary and general norms adapted to the pastoral

needs of each region or province.

§2. All seminaries, both diocesan and interdiocesan, are to observe the norms of the program mentioned in

§1.

Can.243 In addition, each seminary is to have its own rule, approved by the diocesan bishop, or, if it is an

interdiocesan seminary, by the bishops involved, which is to adapt the norms of the program of priestly formation

to particular circumstances and especially to determine more precisely the points of discipline which pertain to the

daily life of the students and the order of the entire seminary.

Can.244 The spiritual formation and doctrinal instruction of the students in a seminary are to be arranged

harmoniously and so organized that each student, according to his character, acquires the spirit of the gospel and

a close relationship with Christ along with appropriate human maturity.

Can.245 §1. Through their spiritual formation, students are to become equipped to exercise the pastoral ministry

fruitfully and are to be formed in a missionary spirit; they are to learn that ministry always carried out in living faith

and charity fosters their own sanctification. They also are to learn to cultivate those virtues which are valued highly

in human relations so that they are able to achieve an appropriate integration between human and supernatural

goods.

§2. Students are so to be formed that, imbued with love of the Church of Christ, they are bound by humble

and filial charity to the Roman Pontiff, the successor of Peter, are attached to their own bishop as faithful coworkers,

and work together with their brothers. Through common life in the seminary and through relationships

of friendship and of association cultivated with others, they are to be prepared for fraternal union with the diocesan

presbyterium whose partners they will be in the service of the Church.

Can.246 §1. The eucharistic celebration is to be the center of the entire life of a seminary in such a way that, sharing

in the very love of Christ, the students daily draw strength of spirit for apostolic work and for their spiritual life

especially from this richest of sources.

§2. They are to be formed in the celebration of the liturgy of the hours by which the ministers of God pray to

God in the name of the Church for all the people entrusted to them, and indeed, for the whole world.

§3. The veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, including the marian rosary, mental prayer, and other exercises

of piety are to be fostered; through these, students are to acquire a spirit of prayer and gain strength in their

vocation.

§4. Students are to become accustomed to approach the sacrament of penance frequently; it is also

recommended that each have a director of his spiritual life whom he has freely chosen and to whom he can

confidently open his conscience.

§5. Each year students are to make a spiritual retreat.

Can.247 §1. Students are to be prepared through suitable education to observe the state of celibacy and are to learn

to honor it as a special gift of God.

§2. They are duly to be informed of the duties and burdens which are proper to sacred ministers of the

Church; no difficulty of the priestly life is to be omitted.

Can.248 The doctrinal instruction given is to be directed so that students acquire an extensive and solid learning

in the sacred disciplines along with a general culture appropriate to the necessities of place and time, in such way

that, grounded in their own faith and nourished thereby, they are able to announce in a suitable way the teaching

of the gospel to the people of their own time in a manner adapted to their understanding.

Can.249 The program of priestly formation is to provide that students not only are carefully taught their native

language but also understand Latin well and have a suitable understanding of those foreign languages which seem

necessary or useful for their formation or for the exercise of pastoral ministry.

Can.250 The philosophical and theological studies which are organized in the seminary itself can be pursued either

successively or conjointly, in accord with the program of priestly formation. These studies are to encompass at least

six full years in such a way that the time dedicated to philosophical disciplines equals two full years and to

theological studies four full years.

Can.251 Philosophical instruction must be grounded in the perennially valid philosophical heritage and also take

into account philosophical investigation over the course of time. It is to be taught in such a way that it perfects the

human development of the students, sharpens their minds, and makes them better able to pursue theological studies.

Can.252 §1. Theological instruction is to be imparted in the light of faith and under the leadership of the

magisterium in such a way that the students understand the entire Catholic doctrine grounded in divine revelation,

gain nourishment for their own spiritual life, and are able properly to announce and safeguard it in the exercise of

the ministry.

§2. Students are to be instructed in sacred scripture with special diligence in such a way that they acquire a

comprehensive view of the whole of sacred scripture.

§3. There are to be classes in dogmatic theology, always grounded in the written word of God together with

sacred tradition; through these, students are to learn to penetrate more intimately the mysteries of salvation,

especially with St. Thomas as a teacher. There are also to be classes in moral and pastoral theology, canon law,

liturgy, ecclesiastical history, and other auxiliary and special disciplines, according to the norm of the prescripts of

the program of priestly formation.

Can.253 §1. The bishop or bishops concerned are to appoint to the function of teacher in philosophical, theological,

and juridic disciplines only those who are outstanding in virtue and have obtained a doctorate or licentiate from

a university or faculty recognized by the Holy See.

§2. Care is to be taken that diVerent teachers are appointed to teach sacred scripture, dogmatic theology,

moral theology, liturgy, philosophy, canon law, ecclesiastical history, and other disciplines which must be taught

according to their proper methodology.

§3. The authority mentioned in §1 is to remove a teacher who is gravely deficient in his or her function.

Can.254 §1. In giving instruction in their disciplines, teachers are to have a constant concern for the intimate unity

and harmony of the entire doctrine of the faith so that students find that they learn one science. For this to be

realized more suitably, there is to be someone in the seminary who directs the entire curriculum of studies.

§2. Students are to be instructed in such a way that they also become qualified to examine questions by their

own appropriate research and with scientific methodology; therefore, there are to be assignments in which the

students learn to pursue certain studies through their own efforts under the direction of the teachers.

Can.255 Although the entire formation of students in the seminary has a pastoral purpose, strictly pastoral instruction

is to be organized through which students learn the principles and skills which, attentive also to the needs of place

and time, pertain to the exercise of the ministry of teaching, sanctifying, and governing the people of God.

Can.256 §1. Students are to be instructed diligently in those things which in a particular manner pertain to the

sacred ministry, especially in catechetical and homiletic skills, in divine worship and particularly the celebration of

the sacraments, in relationships with people, even non-Catholics or non-believers, in the administration of a parish,

and in the fulfillment of other functions.

§2. Students are to be instructed about the needs of the universal Church in such a way that they have

solicitude for the promotion of vocations and for missionary, ecumenical, and other more urgent questions, including

social ones.

Can.257 §1. The instruction of students is to provide that they have solicitude not only for the particular church

in whose service they are to be incardinated but also for the universal Church, and that they show themselves

prepared to devote themselves to particular churches which are in grave need.

§2. The diocesan bishop is to take care that clerics intending to move from their own particular church to a

particular church of another region are suitably prepared to exercise the sacred ministry there, that is, that they learn

the language of the region and understand its institutions, social conditions, usages, and customs.

Can.258 In order that students also learn the art of exercising the apostolate in practice, during the course of studies

and especially during times of vacation they are to be initiated into pastoral practice by means of appropriate

activities, determined by judgment of the ordinary, adapted to the age of the students and the conditions of the

places, and always under the direction of a skilled priest.

Can.259 §1. The diocesan bishop or, for an interdiocesan seminary, the bishops involved are competent to decide

those things which pertain to the above-mentioned governance and administration of the seminary.

§2. The diocesan bishop or, for an interdiocesan seminary, the bishops involved are to visit the seminary

frequently, to watch offer the formation of their own students as well as the philosophical and theological instruction

taught in the seminary, and to keep themselves informed about the vocation, character, piety, and progress of the

students, especially with a view to the conferral of sacred ordination.

Can.260 In carrying out their proper functions, all must obey the rector, to whom it belongs to care for the daily

supervision of the seminary according to the norm of the program of priestly formation and of the rule of the

seminary.

Can.261 §1. The rector of a seminary and, under his authority, the moderators and teachers for their part are to take

care that the students observe exactly the norms prescribed by the program of priestly formation and by the rule of

the seminary.

§2. The rector of a seminary and the director of studies are carefully to provide that the teachers properly

perform their function according to the prescripts of the program of priestly formation and of the rule of the

seminary.

Can.262 A seminary is to be exempt from parochial governance. The rector of the seminary or his delegate fulfills

the office of pastor for all those who are in the seminary, except for matrimonial matters and without prejudice to

the prescript of can. 985.

Can.263 The diocesan bishop or, for an interdiocesan seminary, the bishops involved in a way determined by them

through common counsel must take care that provision is made for the establishment and maintenance of the

seminary, the support of the students, the remuneration of the teachers, and the other needs of the seminary.

Can.264 §1. In addition to the offering mentioned in can. 1266, a bishop can impose a tax in the diocese to provide

for the needs of the seminary.

§2. All ecclesiastical juridic persons, even private ones, which have a seat in the diocese are subject to the tax

for the seminary unless they are sustained by alms alone or in fact have a college of students or teachers to promote

the common good of the Church. A tax of this type must be general, in proportion to the revenues of those who are

subject to it, and determined according to the needs of the seminary.