OPTATAM TOTIUS

DECREE ON THE TRAINING OF PRIEST OPTATAM TOTIUS

INTRODUCTION

This is the eighth document of the second Vatican and was proclaimed by His Holiness Pope Paul VI on October 28, 1965. It simply set lay down fundamental principles to guide the establishment of more specific programs for priestly formation. Due to unity of the catholic priesthood, the priestly formation is required for all priest, secular, religious and every rite. Although these directives are immediately concern with the diocesan clergy, they should with due qualification be adapted to all.

CHAPTER 1: PRIESTLY TRAINING IN DIFERRENT COUNTRIES

Since only regulation s of the general nature can be made, each nation or rite should have its own priestly training program. It should be drawn by the Episcopal conference and be revised at contemporaneous intervals and approved by the Holy See. The regulation should be adapted by the circumstance of the time and place, so that it can enhance the priestly training to answer the pastoral requirement of the particular area, where the ministry is to be exercised. In summary of this section, the desired renewal of the whole church depends to a great extent on the ministry of its priest.

CHAPTER 2: MORE INTENSIVE FOSTERING OF PRIESTLY VOCATION

The onus of fostering vocation immanently falls on the Christian community and they should show case that by living a good Christian lives. In this section, it shows the need for everyone in the church to show forth the need, the nature and the importance of the priestly vocation. In this exposition of the priestly training, however, the Fathers treated the minor seminary as incidental. Where they exist, their programs are to age-appropriate; open to family, social and cultural contacts; and focused on studies which can be easily continued should the students choose a different vocation.

CHAPTER 3: MAJOR SEMINARIES

At the major seminary, students are to be prepared for the ministry of the word, ministry of worship, and sanctification, and the ministry of the parish, seminary administrators and teachers must be carefully prepared in sound doctrine, suitable pastoral experience and special spiritual and pedagogical training. They are to form a very closely knit community both in spirit and in activity, forming a kind of family with students. In discernment, they must consider each student’s progress, intention and freedom, his spiritual, moral and intellectual qualifications and his physical and psychological health. In a nutshell, major seminaries are mandatory for priestly formation.

CHAPTER 4: GREAT ATTENTION TO SPIRITUAL TRAINING

All seminarians must receive spiritual formation in order to learn to live in intimate and unceasing union with God the father through His son Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit. They must cultivate a friendship with God in every detail of their lives. The grow in spirituality meditating on the scripture; actively participating in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, praying frequently and deeply; and learning to see Christ in those around them, in those they must  obey in those they  serve. As part of their spiritual formation, they train in moral life, virtue, prayer, self-denial, participation in the life of the church and so on. Seminarians should learn to embrace and appreciate the gift of celibacy with gratitude. They are to practice undivided love, surrender to God completely and acquire self- mastering.

CHAPTER 5: THE REVISION OF ECCLESSIASTICAL STUDIES

Students study a variety of academic subjects to enhance them intellectually for their vocation. Languages are key to seminary studies. They study Latin and other languages of Holy Scripture and tradition as well as liturgical languages. Philosophy and theology are done that they might work together to reveal the minds of the seminarians with ever increasing clarity the mystery of Christ. Philosophy develops in them a concrete knowledge of man, the world and God and articulates them to learn how to dialogue with the modern world. Theology help to draw pure catholic teaching from divine revelation clutch the deep meaning of their faith and express and defend the faith. It helps to do exegesis and learn main themes of the scripture and find inspiration and nourishment in daily reading upon the sacred books. They must learn about liturgy and sacrament, moral law, canon law, church history and so on, all with chtistocentric emphasis.

CHAPTER 6: ATTENTION TO STRICTLY PASTORAL TRAINING

The students are also enjoined that they should be instructed on matters which are meticulously relevant in sacred ministry. These are principally, catechetic, preaching, liturgical worship and administration of the sacraments, works of charity and other pastoral duties, and should receive precise instruction in the art of directing souls. Students should have the willingness to listen to others and the capacity to open their hearts in a spirit of charity to the various needs of their fellowmen. Students should be taught to use correctly the aids provided by pedagogy, psychology and sociology in keeping with the regulations of ecclesiastical authority. Students should also know how to inspire and encourage apostolic action among the laity and to promote various and efficacious form of apostolate and should inculcate  or fill with that truly catholic spirit which habitually  looks beyond diocese, country, or rite, so that they can meet with the needs of the church being prepared in spirit to preach the Gospel everywhere. Students should be practical and not only theoretical, they should be initiative and that should be in co-operation with others. Due to this initiative expression of students, pastoral work is included as part their studies and formation programs.

CHAPTER 7: LATER STUDIES

Students should receive incessant education through pastoral institute, meetings, projects and other opportunities that they might grow in their acquaintance and spirituality.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the fathers of the council entrusted to the superiors and professors in seminaries the obligation of training Christ future priests in the spirit of the renewal promoted y the council itself. Students (Seminarians) are to be aware that the hopes of the church and salvation of souls are being committed to them and the formation teams should urge them by their joyful acceptance of regulation in this Decree to bring forth abundant and lasting fruit.

                                        

DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH. Lumen Gentium.

INTRODUCTION:

This document was solemnly promulgated by His Holiness Pope Paul VI on November 21, 1964.

CHAPTER ONE: MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH

This synod gather together in the Holy Spirit and eagerly desire to bring the light of Christ to all, since the church as Christ  like sacrament, or as a sign and instrument, desires now to unfold more fully to the faithful of the church and to the whole world  it inner nature and universal mission with exigency. God created the world so that He may raise man to a participation of the divine life. By His obedience, Jesus brought about redemption. And so as often as the sacrifice of the cross which Christ was our Passover was scarified is celebrated on the altar, the work of our redemption is carried on. All men are called to this union in Christ. The Spirit dwells in the church and in the hearts of the faithful as a temple and in them He prays n their behalf and bear witness to the fact that they are adopted sons. The mystery of the church is manifested in its very foundation when Christ had risen, He appeared as the one, and Christ receives the mission to proclaim to spread among all people the kingdom of Christ and God. In the Old Testament, the revelation of the kingdom is conveyed by means of metaphors. The church is the sheepfold a piece of land to be cultivated and is also called our mother. Through His body He poured into the believers and through baptism is formed into the likeness of Christ. By partaking in the Eucharist we are taken up into communion with Him and with one another. Christ is one mediator established a visible church on earth. This one church of Christ in the creed which we profess as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic, on which the pillar of truth is erected. The church carries the work until the end of time.

CHAPTER 2: THE PEOPLE OF GOD

At all times God has chosen to raise His people up as one body in order to prepare away for the Messiah which is Christ. In Christ all the people of the world are called to live in this family by baptism. This family is brought together to live a communal life of charity and truth to be an instrument for God. Through the strength of Christ, His bride will be perpetually renewed. All those who are baptized in water and Spirit join Christ in a royal priesthood, who present themselves in service to God it as a daily sacrifices. Participating in this priesthood of Christ are both the ministerial and hierarchical priests as well as the common priesthood of all believers. By partaking in the Eucharist and sacrament of penance, are enable to carry out the commands of Christ. Other sacraments such as the anointing of sick, holy matrimony and holy order each help us to attain holiness in Christ. The body of Christ is as a whole and entire faithful cannot err in matters of belief. This protection is provided by the Spirit of truth which is exercised in the church via the magisterium.

CHAPTER 3: ON THE CHURCH HIERACHICAL

In order that the church many grow, Jesus instituted many ministries and hierarchical position in order to form a visible church, consisting of priests deacons and bishops. He gather to Himself his chosen leaders and sent them with the mission of evangelizing the whole world. It is this bishop that Christ placed His trust for the care of his flock by administering sacraments, carrying traditions, and sustaining the church.  The apostolic college is made of successor Peter in communion with the successor of the apostles. The Roman Pontiff. Vicar of Christ and successor of Peter is the head of the church, that Jesus is the supreme cornerstone. The lower hierarchy is the deacons. Those who were assigned the diaconate are to administer baptism, be custodians of the Eucharist, to bless marriages, to read the scriptures, and to administer to the dying and dead.

CHAPTER 6: RELIGIOUS

This religious are referred to here as counsels, that promote poverty and obedience in the example of the Lord, and also commanded by the Apostles and fathers of the church. The church considers this these religious states between the clerical and lay. These religious are joined by vows or sacred bonds. These bonds are to be undertaken to the extent of the individual’s capacity in keeping aligned with the proper type of vocation. It the duty of the church hierarchy to regulate the practice of these religious order. With the help of the Holy Spirit, the church accepts the rules provided by these religious followed by further adjustments. The member of these religious ought to obey and accept the authority of their local Bishop due to the pastoral authority of their church and the harmony of the apostolate.

  

CHAPTER7: THE PILGRIM CHURCH

This is the communion of saints and union in the communion of saints. The church has always venerated the apostles and martyrs with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the holy angels, with special love, and has asked piously for the help of their intersession. It is the celebration of the liturgy, in the fellowship of communion, that the saints are remembered and honoured. It teaches, let the faithful be taught that our communion with these in heaven, provided that it is understood in the full light of faith, in no way diminishes the worship of adoration given to God the father through Christ, in the Spirit, on the contrary, it greatly enriches it.

CHAPTER8: OUR LADY

Mary is introduced as the woman of our creed from who Christ became incarnate by Holy Spirit. Honour is due her, because she received the word of God in her heart and in her body and gave Christ to the world. She is honoured in our liturgy and is the pre-eminent and wholly unique member of the church. The church teaches about both her role and our duties towards her. She is a sign of comfort and of hope. This chapter incorporates the spiritual passages on Mary as the basis for Marian devotion.