Go out to whole world, proclaim the Good News to all creation (Mark 16:15)
Basic texts:
Dogmatic Constitution of Divine Revelation of Vat. II
Fides et Ratio of John Paul II
I. Man, through his reason alone, is capable of coming to the knowledge of the existence of God from the creatures.
But God has entered into human history, revealing himself and giving himself to man.
Revelation is God’s self-communication to humanity.
God’s self-communication reached its fullness in Jesus Christ. The Good News – Jesus Christ – Word made Flesh. In Him the Word of God made visible and audible.
The Word of God must be made available to all Christians:
- through preaching,
- through catechesis and
- all forms of Christian instruction.
Word of God in the devotional life of the faithful.
Priests are called to read, study and pray the Word of God.
II. Faith, man’s response to God’s revelation:
Faith and reason,
Freedom of faith,
Faith and science.
If man is a religious being by nature, why is there still atheism and religious indifferentism among Christians? How can we remedy this situation?
Second Year: Priest, Minister of Sacraments
Christ’s servants, stewards entrusted with the mysteries of God (1 Cor 4:1)
Basic texts:
Constitution on Divine Liturgy of Vat. II
Decree on Priestly Ministry and Life of Vat. II
Faith becomes celebration and celebration becomes life in the liturgy. Here, the Revealing God touches the life of the believers through the Paschal Mystery of Christ.
"The liturgy is the summit towards which the activity of the Church is directed: it is also the fount from which all her power flows" (SC 10).
"The Christian people should be able to understand them with ease and take part in them fully, actively and as a community" (SC 14).
The seven Sacraments are the basic liturgical expressions. Christ now lives and acts with his Church through the sacraments, where he manifests, makes present and communicates his work of salvation. The Sacramental Economy involves:
Eucharist "the source and summit of Christian life" (LG 11) the "sum and summary of our faith" (CCC 1327);
Minister of Eucharist – (The core of priestly ministry is the Eucharist);
"A priest is as good as his eucharistic life" (John Paul II);
Priest, minister of reconciliation with God and the Church;
"Priest is the sign and instrument of God’s merciful love for sinners" (CCC 1465);
"Priest must encourage the faithful to come to the sacrament of penance and must make themselves available to celebrate the sacrament each time Christians reasonable ask for it" (Canon 986);
Although ministers of Christ, as a sinful members of the People of God, priests ought to go to confession regularly.
Third Year: Priest, Loving Pastor of the Flock
The Good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:11)
Basic texts:
Decree on priestly ministry of Vat. II
The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of Vat. II
The primary ministerial duty of the priest is "the proclamation of the Gospel to all."
His secondary ministerial duty is the sanctification of the people through the celebration of the liturgy and the administration of the Sacraments.
the third place, the priests lead the Church by convening and promoting community as well as serving individual members of that community.
They do not do it alone, but in fellowship:
with the Bishop, involving mutual rights and responsibility,
with their fellow-brothers in priesthood in fraternal spirit,
with the laity. "Priests should confidently entrust to the laity duties in the service of the Church, allowing them freedom and room for action. In fact, on suitable occasions, they should invite them to undertake works on their own initiative" (Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests, 9);
Issues pertaining the personal holiness of the priest;
Relationship between priestly ministry and personal holiness;
On-going intellectual formation of the priests.
How can we build up a prophetic, liturgical and charitable community?