Priests; where they come from.

All people have a vocation. This is no doubt. As Christians, we have a divine call to particular purpose. One whole year was dedicated to celebrate priesthood, one among the vocations. It was from June 2009 to June 2010. It was a special moment for reflections, witnesses and prayers for, of and with the priests. But the question remains, where do priests come from?

I tried to think about this a year down the line…

Priests don’t drop from heaven! Neither are they imported from outside the earth, say Jupiter. They are born from a family, from a community, from a society. They are bread and educated like any other member of the human race. They also cry, laugh, play and morn like any other person. They are formed from and within a society.

From the family, a young man with the desire for priesthood expresses this desire concretely by communicating with the parents, his parish priest and the vocations director of his choice of congregation or of his diocese. Later, he is admitted to the seminary for authentic training into the life of priesthood.

Any priest, an ordained seminarian, will second me that one of the most memorable times of their earthly life was the years spent in formation that is in the seminary.
From superstition to purification

The process of priestly formation is lengthy. It is many years of discernment and a gradual growth into definitive decision for a life-long commitment. A decision that might have had its origins superficially based on physical attractions is purified with time.

I know of a priest who was attracted to the seminary simply because he wanted to taste some fried githeri (famous Kenyan food, mixture of maize and beans). This is the principle of gradualism, that a candidate, within this period, shakes off the superstitious motives and exhibits and lives the values and qualities of priesthood in the seminary.

The Wikipedia defines seminary as, ‘an institution of higher education for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in theology, generally to prepare them for ordinations as clergy or for other ministry.’ Well, a seminary is a place, an environment where one, a seminarian, is natured for priesthood. He lives under the guidance of a formator, usually a clergy, and is nourished both spiritually and intellectually. In fact, he lives the principle of gradualism. The candidate makes a pilgrimage to the discovery of God and self.

Today the Church has faced real and shocking abuses on her novelty, priesthood. For a seminarian, like me, it’s a big blow on the face. “How can you join a bunch of sinners?” a recent question was raised. In this period, the priestly values seemed to have been watered down in some parts of the world. An era whereby the priesthood has been severely shaken almost to the rubbles, thanks for its pillars that still holds it strong. This is a moment for real discernment and introspection into the destiny of the seminarians.

One may wonder and question what goes on in the seminary. Why all those years, eight, ten or fifteen, just to prepare one to say Mass? Do the many years transform these men into angelic creatures? Just a group of men living together! Impossible! Others think it is only the Bible that is studied inside there, after all what else do priest do apart from preaching the Good News? This is partially true. People, the lion’s share is deep reflections, self analysis and prayers combined with educational training.

The four pillars of priesthood
In the seminary, four pillars of priesthood are very much emphasized. These are: personal or human element (authentic self awareness and relationship with others having celibacy as the basis), spiritual element (deeper relationship and knowledge of God), intellectual element (profound knowledge of God’s mystery, humanity and world; and the teachings of the Church) and lastly pastoral or missionary element (understanding and practically carrying out the mission of Church). These pillars are interwoven in the individual daily life in the seminary.

Therefore, with all these pillars priesthood is built on a strong foundation of philosophical and properly furnished by theological training. The candidate would then be ready for the ordination.

Some hurdles
With all this, the seminary life can be very difficult at times. No seminarian is perfect! Not everyone is good in books, singing, sporting, attentive listening, and punctuality, let’s say everything. Some men must work extra hard and all this happens in the seminary too. But, just because one couldn’t read Greek or chant the Gregorian hymn doesn’t mean he cannot be ordained! And no one is so badly of that he cannot exhibit other good values and qualities. Hence, priestly formation is on individual level. Each person has his own motive, source of strength and the degree of hope. It is up to the individual seminarian to nature his own vocation with the aid of his formators and spiritual directions.

Other difficulties could be from high societal and personal expectations to extreme anonymity even beyond, individualism. From lack of constant gradualism to poor adoptability and accommodativeness of other cultures, for the seminary is rich in different cultures. The difficulties are really challenging but completely life changing!