More from the document on vocations--Pastoral Guidelines for Fostering Vocations to Priestly Ministry

Returning to the document on vocations, one sees a development of necessity in the wording. It is clear that the Vatican wants to intimate relationship of Christ and the man called to be the real formation of the seminarian. This is not merely a psychological or physical formation, but a deeply spiritual one.


Pastores Dabo Vobis says: ‘Knowledge of the nature and mission of the ministerial priesthood is an essential presupposition, and at the same time the surest guide and incentive toward the development of pastoral activities in the Church for fostering and discerning vocations to the priesthood and training those called to the ordained ministry.’¹

For this reason it is directed, in the first instance, to developing the whole person and, in the context of a profound communitarian experience, aims at preparing those ‘called’ for priesthood, helping them be conformed to Christ the Shepherd.

Whoever is called should be placed in the condition of living an intimate relationship of love with the Father who calls him, with the Son who conforms him, with the Spirit who shapes him through training in prayer, listening to the Word, participation in the Eucharist and silent adoration.

1 Pastores dabo vobis, n. 11: AAS 84 (1992), 674.

Certainly, it is important to call trustingly and persistently upon the Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, for help in welcoming with openness God’s plan for our lives. We ask her help to respond ‘yes’, with faith and love, to the Lord who always calls new labourers to spread the Kingdom of God.

The document continues with a review of Vatican, diocesan and parish involvement in the encouraging of vocations.

There is also a note on catechists and teachers. I do not think enough work is being done in this regard.

Catechists and the organizers of parish pastoral work, too, while they teach the whole of the Christian message, can identify and offer valuable links between catechetical themes and the presentation of specific vocations, especially the vocation to the priesthood. ‘Particularly catechists, teachers, educators and youth ministers, each with his or her own resources and style, have great importance in the pastoral work of promoting priestly vocations...

Another huge factor in the fostering of vocations is spiritual direction. The lack of good spiritual directors is a huge problem in the Church today. 

Spiritual direction is a privileged form of discernment and of vocational accompaniment. What is asked of priests is a sincere openness to listening and dialogue, the capacity to raise and reply to the fundamental questions of existence, a great deal of wisdom in dealing with the questions inherent in life-choices and in the vocation to priestly ministry.