John Paul II on the mission and the formation of the priests of the future

As with very many of Augustine’s works, Instructing Beginners in Faith is a response to a request, an answer to questions put to him by others. In this case we know from the first words of the work itself that the one making the request is named Deogratias (Augustine calls him “brother”), and a couple of lines later we learn that he is a deacon in Carthage, the principal city of Proconsular Africa, where he enjoys popularity as a teacher of the faith. In the most general terms, he wanted Augustine to send him “something in writing which might be of use to him on the question of instructing beginners in faith (de catechizandis rudibus)”. The term rudes in this expression referred specifically to people who were approaching the Church for the first time with the wish to become Christians. Instructing Beginners in Faith has been frequently and creatively adapted to serve the needs of education in faith in many different contexts, including the education of clergy and religious education more generally. The two model catecheses that Augustine sketches not only continue to have relevance today but also provide an important insight into his understanding of the use of scripture and tradition. Augustine's awareness of the problems that religious educators face demonstrates his profound grasp of the human condition. Written as a reflection on the most suitable way of communicating the heart of Christian faith to those applying for membership of the Church.

"The past three decades have witnessed a decline in the number of Roman Catholic priests in Europe and North America, the result of resignations from the priesthood and of fewer people entering seminaries. A major cause contributing to this situation has been the ambiguity surrounding the role and identity of the priest in light of new theological paradigms. This book attempts to restore clarity to that matter by drawing primarily, although not exclusively, on the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, postconciliar theology and the pronouncements of Pope John Paul II." "The first chapter probes the relationship of the priest to Christ and the church. This is the basic theme of the book, since the manner in which the relationship is perceived colors all aspects of priestly life. The following three chapters examine the three forms of ministry the priest renders to the community: the ministry of the word, of worship and of pastoral care. The book ends with a consideration of the most fundamental role of the priest: a disciple of Jesus. So the book comes full circle, returning to the primary relationship of the priest to Christ and to the church as a community of disciples."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

The formation of priests means following a singular 'journey of discipleship', which begins at Baptism, is perfected through the other sacraments of Christian Initiation, comes to be appreciated as the centre of one's life at the beginning of seminary formation, and continues through the whole of life.This Ratio Fundamentalis emphasises that formation - both initial and ongoing - must be seen through a unifying lens, which takes account of the four dimensions of formation proposed by Pastores Dabo Vobis. Together, these dimensions give shape and structure to the identity of the seminarian and the priest, and make him capable of that 'gift of self to the Church', which is the essence of pastoral charity.

See Pamphlet 5-383 for duplicate copy.

From the Congregation for Catholic Education and the Congregation for the Clergy.