Rev. Msgr. Gregory Schlesselmann S.T.L. - The Seminary Rector: Forming Priests in Nazareth

DEDICATION

To my loving parents, Herman and Anne Marie,
who generously transmitted life and faith to me

and

To Blessed John Paul II,
who has deeply inspired me along my
vocational journey

THE INSTITUTE FOR PRIESTLY FORMATION
IPF PUBLICATIONS
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www.priestlyformation.org

Copyright April 10, 2012
The Institute for Priestly Formation, Inc.

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Printed in the United States of America
ISBN-13: 978-0-9843792-6-2
ISBN-10: 0-9843792-6-6

Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C., and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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The Sacred Heart image and the Good Shepherd image are used with the permission of Brother Claude Lane.

THE INSTITUTE FOR PRIESTLY FORMATION

Mission Statement

The Institute for Priestly Formation was founded to assist bishops in the spiritual formation of diocesan seminarians and priests in the Roman Catholic Church. The Institute responds to the need to foster spiritual formation as the integrating and governing principle of all aspects for priestly formation. Inspired by the biblical-evangelical spirituality of Ignatius Loyola, this spiritual formation has as its goal the cultivation of a deep interior communion with Christ; from such communion, the priest shares in Christ's own pastoral charity. In carrying out its mission, the Institute directly serves diocesan seminarians and priests, as well as those who are responsible for diocesan priestly formation.

THE INSTITUTE FOR PRIESTLY FORMATION
Creighton University
2500 California Plaza
Omaha, NE, 68178
www.priestlyformation.org

"I will appoint for you shepherds after my own heart, who will shepherd you wisely and prudently."(Jeremiah 3:15)

"How I would like to return to my childhood and attend the simple yet profound school that is Nazareth!"(Pope Paul VI, "Address at Nazareth," Jan. 5, 1964)

The importance of priestly formation flows from the very dynamic of Christ's mandate to go forth and teach all nations (cf. Mt 28:18-20). Given the centrality and importance of that mandate, the formation of those who will be at the heart of carrying it out takes on a parallel importance. Indeed, Blessed John Paul II identified the formation of future priests as "one of the most demanding and important tasks for the future of the evangelization of humanity."

Such importance for the mission of the Church is an implicit invitation to return ever anew to the source and fountainhead of priestly formation in the very life of the Trinity of Divine Persons in the communion of the Church. Here, we may receive and rediscover the Lord's intent for the content and method of priestly formation and share in the divine efficacy of grace more deeply. As the prophet invites us, 'All you who are thirsty, come to the water!" (Is 55:1) Those of us entrusted with this sacred duty of priestly formation need to drink deeply from these waters, confident that our heavenly Father will support us.

Among the plethora of publications concerning priestly formation, there is little published specifically for rectors and for their particular mission of being the pastor of their seminary flock. While the mission of the rector is certainly mentioned in numerous documents, a fuller treatment of that mission is lacking. Further, what does exist in print about the rector's role neglects to address the core of his mission, namely, his spiritual life. Since the Church has called for the integration of all priestly formation around the centrality of the spiritual life, it would seem vital for the Church to assist rectors in living at the depths of Trinitarian communion so essential to the mission, thus, to provide a retreat for rectors. The purpose is not so much to instruct as to encourage and accompany rectors on a spiritual pilgrimage that, hopefully, will occasion for them an interior rejuvenation of their generous commitment to priestly formation. Indeed, it is a special privilege to be able to be with others as they journey ever deeper into the mystery of Christ and His Church. Thus, it is with deep gratitude that we address those who have generously heeded the call of the Church and dedicated themselves to this sacred charge. The oft-hidden, yet decisive, gift of self that characterizes so many seminary rectors, formators, and their collaborators is a precious gift to the life of the Church. It is in this spirit of gratitude that we offer this retreat to rectors in the hope that it will be of some service in their important ministry.

Two fundamental truths can assist us in focusing on what will help us to meditate upon the vocation before us. The first is that the priesthood in which all rectors share and for which they are preparing their seminarians to share in is the same unique priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ. He possesses the fullness of that holy priesthood of the new and eternal covenant, and all others share in that gift by ordination. The second truth is that this unique priesthood resides in the sacred humanity of Christ, unique mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5). Since it is the priestly humanity of Christ which is at the heart of the priesthood, we would do well to search where that humanity was first formed, where his heart was first formed into a priestly heart. That place is Nazareth.

As Pope Paul VI rightly intuited, Nazareth was a holy school that formed Jesus, the High Priest. Nazareth is where the Holy Spirit, with Mary and Joseph cooperating, formed the human heart of Jesus as He grew in wisdom, age, and favor (cf. Lk 2:40, 52). Was it not the first seminary of the priesthood of the new covenant? In the mystery of the Father's providence, Nazareth was the historical place where the Holy Spirit accomplished the hidden and mysterious work of sculpting the humanity of Jesus. For even though the incarnate Son of God was perfect and complete in His divinity at every moment, His grace-filled humanity would develop according to its own proper law of gradual growth. Thus, the Holy Spirit who accomplished His virginal conception in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary would continue His work of sanctification in the context of the hidden life of Jesus, permeating Jesus' manhood at every stage of His maturation. The Virgin Mary welcomed the fruitful gift of the Holy Spirit, her Spouse, thus becoming the Mother of the Redeemer. Her cooperation with the unique Gift of the Father, His beloved Son, drew her into the great mystery of salvation for all and placed her in an essential and pivotal role for forming the children of God in Christ. Joseph, for his part, welcomed Mary into his home into his heart being guided by the prompting of the Holy Spirit, becoming himself the Guardian of the Redeemer. Together, with and under the loving inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Mary and Joseph were the first and most formative influences upon the young Jesus as He began His life at Nazareth. That is why it is necessary for us to "go to Nazareth" and spiritually enroll in that holy school if we are to drink at the ever-fresh source of priestly formation. Indeed, if we were attentive, we would hear Mary and Joseph whispering to our hearts, "We would like to continue forming Jesus in you, in your faculty and staff, in your seminarians." Who could resist such a loving invitation?