The Gift of the Priestly Vocation
In accordance with the norms of Articles 56 and 58 §2 of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus, this Ratio Fundamentalis does not apply to the Eastern Catholic Churches subject to the competence of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. They must prepare their own norms on this subject, based on their own liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary patrimony. It should be noted that in houses of formation of movements and of new ecclesial communities, this Ratio Fundamentalis, along with the Ratio Nationalis prepared by the Conference of Bishops of the country in which the institute is found, is to be applied in its entirety, under the authority of the diocesan bishop. Regarding the academic study of philosophy and theology, as defined in canonical, ecclesiastical or civil legislation, and regarding ecclesiastical faculties, the Congregation for Catholic Education is competent.10 Furthermore the same Congregation is responsible for maintaining accords with the competent civil authorities. 2. The Congregation for the Clergy, which is responsible for the Pontifical Work for Priestly Vocations11, “gives practical expression to the concern of the Apostolic See for the formation of those called to Holy Orders” and, among its institutional competencies, is to assist “bishops in ensuring that in their Churches vocations to the sacred ministries are fostered with all possible diligence and that students are suitably educated in seminaries and provided with a sound human, spiritual, doctrinal and pastoral formation”.12 In this way, the Congregation for the Clergy promotes the pastoral care of vocations, especially vocations to Holy Orders, and offers bishops and Conferences of Bishops principles and norms for the initial and ongoing formation of clerics. 10 The respective competencies of the two dicasteries were established by Benedict XVI, Apostolic Letter motu proprio Ministrorum Institutio (16 January 2013), art. 6: AAS 105 (2013), 134: “The Congregation for Catholic Education is competent to structure the academic curricula of philosophy and theology, after consultation with the Congregation for the Clergy in areas of its respective competence”. 11 Cf. Pius XII, motu proprio Cum Nobis (4 November 1941), n. 13: AAS 33 (1941), 479; Ministrorum Institutio, art. 7: AAS 105 (2013), 134. 12 Ministrorum Institutio, articles 4-5: AAS 105 (2013), 133-134, which modified articles 93, § 2 and 94 of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus.
12
b. Gift of the Prisetly Vocation.indd 12
14/03/2017 14:33