By admission into Cardinal Glennon College Seminary, the seminarian will be responsible for participating in the basic components—the four dimensions—of priestly formation as developed in Pastores Dabo Vobis: human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation. Human formation is the foundation upon which the other dimensions build (PDV, no. 43). Thus, it receives special emphasis in the earliest stages of formation.
“The basic principle of human formation is found in Pastores Dabo Vobis: the human personality of the priest is to be a bridge and not an obstacle for others in their meeting with Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the human race. As the humanity of the Word made flesh was the instrumentum salutis, so the humanity of the priest is instrumental in mediating the redemptive gifts of Christ to people today The disciple of Jesus Christ is a person who is free to be who he is in God’s design: someone who does not—in contrast to the popular culture—conceive or pursue freedom as the expansion of options or as individual autonomy detached from others, but who rather overcomes every form of self-promotion or emotional dependency. So that the seminarian might act with interior freedom rather than simply demonstrating a ‘veneer of virtuous habits,’ human formation seeks to help the seminarian grow in interior maturity (cf. PDV, no. 43)” (PPF6, no. 182).
In accord with the Program of Priestly Formation, no. 183, Cardinal Glennon College seeks to form each seminarian with the following foundational human qualities: a person of solid moral character with a finely developed moral conscience; a prudent and discerning man; a man of communion; a good communicator; a person of affective maturity; a man who demonstrates growth in respect for, care of, and vigilance over his body; a man who relates well to others; a good steward of material possessions; a man who can take on the role of a public person.
During his time at Cardinal Glennon College, the seminarian’s human formation is cultivated by one-on-one meetings with the Vice Rector, his formation advisor, and the in-house counselor. Additionally, seminarians participate in weekly Formation Conferences and small-group discussions. For seminarians in the Propaedeutic Stage, additional seminars and skills-based workshops assist their ongoing human maturation.
