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Priestly Formation & Seminaries

Seminaries, initial and ongoing formation of clergy.

Also called seminaries, Ratio Fundamentalis, PPF.

50 documents

Related topics

A dagger (†) means the date or the official link is still awaiting verification.

1900s

  1. Haerent Animo4 August 1908On the Holiness of the ClergyPope

1910s

  1. Maximum Illud30 November 1919On the Propagation of the Faith Throughout the WorldPope

1920s

  1. Rerum Ecclesiae28 February 1926On Catholic MissionsPope
  2. Rerum Orientalium8 September 1928On Promotion of Oriental StudiesPope

1930s

  1. Ad Catholici Sacerdotii20 December 1935On the Catholic PriesthoodPope

1950s

  1. Menti Nostrae23 September 1950On the Development of Holiness in Priestly LifePope
  2. Evangelii Praecones2 June 1951On Promotion of Catholic MissionsPope
  3. Princeps Pastorum28 November 1959On the Missions, Native Clergy and Lay ParticipationPope

1960s

  1. Summi Dei Verbum4 November 1963On the Fourth Centenary of the Tridentine SeminariesPope
  2. Optatam Totius28 October 1965Decree on Priestly TrainingEcumenical Council
  3. Veterum Sapientia22 February 1962On the Promotion of the Study of LatinPope
  4. Final recommendations of the I Ordinary General Assembly†29 October 1967I Ordinary General Assembly (1967), Preservation and strengthening of the Catholic faith: final recommendations/propositions (no single final text)Synod of Bishops

1970s

  1. Ratio fundamentalis institutionis sacerdotalis†6 January 1970Basic Plan for Priestly Formation (1970)Roman Curia
  2. The Program of Priestly Formation (1st ed.)18 January 1971Program of Priestly Formation (1st ed.)Bishops' Conferences
  3. The Program of Priestly Formation (2nd ed.)†1976Program of Priestly Formation (2nd ed.)Bishops' Conferences
  4. The Theological Formation of Future Priests†22 February 1976The Theological Formation of Future PriestsRoman Curia
  5. In ecclesiasticam futurorum3 June 1979Instruction on liturgical formation in seminariesRoman Curia
  6. The Study of Philosophy in Seminaries20 January 1972The Study of Philosophy in SeminariesRoman Curia
  7. A Guide to Formation in Priestly Celibacy11 April 1974A Guide to Formation in Priestly CelibacyRoman Curia

1980s

  1. Circular Letter on Spiritual Formation in Seminaries6 January 1980Circular Letter on Spiritual Formation in SeminariesRoman Curia
  2. The Program of Priestly Formation (3rd ed.)†1981Program of Priestly Formation (3rd ed.)Bishops' Conferences
  3. Ratio fundamentalis institutionis sacerdotalis (1985)19 March 1985Basic Plan for Priestly Formation (updated 1985)Roman Curia
  4. Guide to the Training of Future Priests concerning Social Communications19 March 1986Guide on Social Communications for Future PriestsRoman Curia
  5. The Virgin Mary in Intellectual and Spiritual Formation25 March 1988The Virgin Mary in Intellectual and Spiritual FormationRoman Curia
  6. Inspectis dierum10 November 1989Instruction on the Study of the Fathers of the Church in Priestly FormationRoman Curia

1990s

  1. Message to the People of God†27 October 1990VIII Ordinary General Assembly (1990), Formation of Priests in Circumstances of the Present Day: Message to the People of God [→ Pastores Dabo Vobis]Synod of Bishops
  2. The Program of Priestly Formation (4th ed.)†1992Program of Priestly Formation (4th ed.)Bishops' Conferences
  3. Pastores Dabo Vobis25 March 1992On the formation of priestsPope
  4. Potissimum institutioni†2 February 1990Directives on Formation in Religious InstitutesRoman Curia
  5. Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests31 January 1994Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests (1994)Roman Curia
  6. The Ecumenical Dimension in the Formation of those engaged in Pastoral Work†16 March 1997The Ecumenical Dimension in Pastoral FormationRoman Curia
  7. Ratio fundamentalis institutionis diaconorum permanentium / Directorium pro ministerio et vita diaconorum permanentium22 February 1998Basic Norms and Directory for Permanent DeaconsRoman Curia
  8. Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions19 June 1998Sharing Catholic Social TeachingBishops' Conferences
  9. Inter-Institute Collaboration for Formation8 December 1998Inter-Institute Collaboration for FormationRoman Curia

2000s

  1. The Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests2001Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of PriestsBishops' Conferences
  2. Instruction concerning the criteria for the discernment of vocations with regard to persons with homosexual tendencies4 November 2005Criteria for Discernment of Vocations (homosexual tendencies)Roman Curia
  3. The Program of Priestly Formation (5th ed.)4 August 2006Program of Priestly Formation (5th ed.)Bishops' Conferences
  4. Guidelines for the Use of Psychology in the Admission and Formation of Candidates for the Priesthood28 June 2008Guidelines for the Use of Psychology in Priestly FormationRoman Curia
  5. National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States26 December 2004National Directory for Permanent Deacons (1st ed.)Bishops' Conferences

2010s

  1. Lettera ai seminaristi18 October 2010Letter to seminariansPope
  2. Ministrorum institutio16 January 2013Transferring competence for seminaries to the Congregation for the ClergyPope
  3. Ratio fundamentalis institutionis sacerdotalis8 December 2016The Gift of the Priestly VocationRoman Curia
  4. Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests (new edition)11 February 2013Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests (2013)Roman Curia
  5. National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons (2nd ed.)12 June 2019National Directory for Permanent Deacons (2nd ed.)Bishops' Conferences

2020s

  1. Program of Priestly Formation in the United States of America (6th ed.)24 June 2022Program of Priestly Formation (6th ed.)Bishops' Conferences
  2. Revision of the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis in a missionary synodal perspective3 March 2026Synod Study Group 4 Final Report: Formation for the PriesthoodSynod of Bishops
  3. Lettera sul ruolo della letteratura nella formazione17 July 2024Letter on the role of literature in formationPope
  4. Lettera sul rinnovamento dello studio della storia della Chiesa21 November 2024Letter on renewing the study of Church historyPope
  5. Interim Reports of the Study Groups17 November 2025Synod on synodality implementation: Interim Reports of the Study GroupsSynod of Bishops
  6. Una fedeltà che genera futuro8 December 2025A Fidelity that Generates the Future: 60th anniversary of Optatam totius and Presbyterorum ordinisPope