MESSAGE OF HIS GRACE FRANCISCO MONTECILLO PADILLA,
APOSTOLIC NUNCIO TO TANZANIA
(Homily at Mass in St. Charles Lwanga Major Seminary Segerea, Dar es Salaam)
6th May, 2012.
Purpose of the Nuncio’s visit to the Seminary: He had once been a formator at the Regional Seminary in Philippines as vice rector before he moved to Rome and, according to the plan of God, had to go for Diplomatic studies. He has since, always felt comfortable to visit seminaries because of the beautiful experience he had in the Seminary. So, he comes here to see us, share something with our formators and give us some points of reflection about formation in the priestly vocation.
Important questions to ask oneself: First, Who am I? Second, Why am I here? Both, seminarians and formators have to ask themselves those questions, and it is important because it helps one to discover God’s love. God’s love is the answer to why He has chosen you and not any other person to be here. We are not better than others, but God loves us.
Vocation as a Seed: A persons vocation is like a seed which after it has been sown, germinates and needs to be cared for. It must be protected and nourished to grow and develop, and to mature. Such is the reason why we students are in the seminary, where we have to fulfill this responsibility with close assistance and guidance from our formators.
Exterior and Interior call: “St. Thomas Aquinas distinguished the ‘exterior’ from the ‘interior’ call. Situations, events, or persons such parents, friends, other seminarians, etc. constitute the exterior call through their experience and suggestions. On the other side, the interior calling is that which God imparts to man and with which He enlightens the mind of man and moves his heart, “interior instinctus Dei invitantis”, as St. Thomas Aquinas defines it. In other words, His Grace has called this interior call or vocation the interior instinct to answer the call of God, and it superior to exterior call or vocation.
Proper Formation requires Renunciation: His Grace used the example of competent athletes who in fact make a lot of exercises and undergo much of renunciation from many other things in order to emerge as competent as we can see them. It is then a seminarian’s duty to renounce those other things which do match the priesthood so that at the end he makes a good, holy priest. This does not come over night, but needs lengthy and committed spiritual and human exercises.
The Seminary as a special school: The seminary is not a school like any other schools. It is rather a place where priestly formation is given. His Grace stated categorically that whoever among the seminarians has a goal different from priesthood is certainly in a wrong place.
The Formators’ Responsibility: Formators have a sole responsibility before God of helping seminarians to discern and attain their goal, that is, priesthood. They will do this with their directives and good example. Accordingly, if any formator gives a bad example, he is like the blind who leads another blind and both will finally fall into a pit.
Relationship between formators and seminarians: His Grace clarified what kind of relationship there must be between formators and seminarians. He said the formator priests are to be like big brothers to seminarians, rather than police men. Therefore, the atmosphere of brotherly love, readiness to listen, readiness to help, good intention on the side of formators, and proper disposition to listen and obey on the side of seminarians must prevail.
APOSTOLIC NUNCIO TO TANZANIA
(Homily at Mass in St. Charles Lwanga Major Seminary Segerea, Dar es Salaam)
6th May, 2012.
Purpose of the Nuncio’s visit to the Seminary: He had once been a formator at the Regional Seminary in Philippines as vice rector before he moved to Rome and, according to the plan of God, had to go for Diplomatic studies. He has since, always felt comfortable to visit seminaries because of the beautiful experience he had in the Seminary. So, he comes here to see us, share something with our formators and give us some points of reflection about formation in the priestly vocation.
Important questions to ask oneself: First, Who am I? Second, Why am I here? Both, seminarians and formators have to ask themselves those questions, and it is important because it helps one to discover God’s love. God’s love is the answer to why He has chosen you and not any other person to be here. We are not better than others, but God loves us.
Vocation as a Seed: A persons vocation is like a seed which after it has been sown, germinates and needs to be cared for. It must be protected and nourished to grow and develop, and to mature. Such is the reason why we students are in the seminary, where we have to fulfill this responsibility with close assistance and guidance from our formators.
Exterior and Interior call: “St. Thomas Aquinas distinguished the ‘exterior’ from the ‘interior’ call. Situations, events, or persons such parents, friends, other seminarians, etc. constitute the exterior call through their experience and suggestions. On the other side, the interior calling is that which God imparts to man and with which He enlightens the mind of man and moves his heart, “interior instinctus Dei invitantis”, as St. Thomas Aquinas defines it. In other words, His Grace has called this interior call or vocation the interior instinct to answer the call of God, and it superior to exterior call or vocation.
Proper Formation requires Renunciation: His Grace used the example of competent athletes who in fact make a lot of exercises and undergo much of renunciation from many other things in order to emerge as competent as we can see them. It is then a seminarian’s duty to renounce those other things which do match the priesthood so that at the end he makes a good, holy priest. This does not come over night, but needs lengthy and committed spiritual and human exercises.
The Seminary as a special school: The seminary is not a school like any other schools. It is rather a place where priestly formation is given. His Grace stated categorically that whoever among the seminarians has a goal different from priesthood is certainly in a wrong place.
The Formators’ Responsibility: Formators have a sole responsibility before God of helping seminarians to discern and attain their goal, that is, priesthood. They will do this with their directives and good example. Accordingly, if any formator gives a bad example, he is like the blind who leads another blind and both will finally fall into a pit.
Relationship between formators and seminarians: His Grace clarified what kind of relationship there must be between formators and seminarians. He said the formator priests are to be like big brothers to seminarians, rather than police men. Therefore, the atmosphere of brotherly love, readiness to listen, readiness to help, good intention on the side of formators, and proper disposition to listen and obey on the side of seminarians must prevail.
