This article is about formation as an art and not a science. It is about accompaniment and discernment towards evangelical empowerment driven by the Nazareth Manifesto by mature mentors who are human-spiritual whisperers of their charges. I was beginning to get paranoid at the number of times the word “rotten” or “broken” pops into my head in reference to the priestly formation system until my friend Elizabeth Mphande told me in an email, “It’s really sad and pathetic. It’s like the whole system is rotten and some guys are just out there to do a job to get easy money from parishioners. Taking its point of departure from Pope Francis’ concern about initial formation for the priesthood, I suggest that in the light of the Ratio Fundamentalis, formation must operate on the principle of “small is beautiful” by avoiding mass manufacture of priests. The focus of such formation needs to be accompaniment and discernment. Failure to do this, we risk in the words of Pope Francis, churning out little monsters in circumstances that are akin to policing rather transformative formation. Pope Francis never defined what he meant by “little monsters” but I opine that it has to do with the style of leadership. Little or big monsters would be the equivalent of an ecclesiastical Donald Trump. These monsters eventually grow into big monsters as bishops, archbishops and cardinals with a heart of stone instead of a heart of flesh whose default exercise of authority is hard power rather than soft power. As the Pope says, formation and we might add episcopal oversight “is a work of art, not policing” [è un’opera artigianale, non poliziesca].
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Formators as Human-Spiritual Whisperers
3. The Metaphor of a Formator as a Human-Spiritual Whisperer
4. Do not call anyone on earth ‘father’
5. The Human-Spiritual Whisperer from the ends of the Earth
6. Little Monsters Look Like This
7. An oft-broken System still capable of turning out Masterpieces
8. An Italian Professor and the oft-Broken System
9. But Why is Clericalism such a bête noire?
10. Priestly Formation as Artisanal
11. How an Irish Priest was not well-served by a Dysfunctional System
12. In the Meantime, Clericalism Keeps Repeating Itself
13. The Human-Spiritual Whisperer and Accompaniment
14. Markers of human maturation in seminary formation
15. Devolving Papal Power to Episcopal Conferences Still a Pie in the Sky
16. Two Strange Bedfellows in the Path of Bergoglian Reform
17. Conclusion
Research Objective and Thematic Focus
This article critically examines the current state of Catholic priestly formation, arguing that the system remains overly rigid, clericalist, and reliant on a "policing" model that stifles true evangelical growth. The primary objective is to advocate for a transition toward an "artisanal" approach to formation, centered on accompaniment, discernment, and the development of human-spiritual maturity, moving away from institutional pathologization.
- The critique of clericalism as the root cause of institutional dysfunction.
- The necessity of transitioning from a "policing" model to a "human-spiritual whisperer" mentorship.
- The need for de-patriarchalization and the devolution of hierarchical control.
- The importance of personal human maturation markers for all candidates.
- An evaluation of contemporary Church movements (e.g., Communion and Liberation) through the lens of power dynamics.
Excerpt from the Book
3. The Metaphor of a Formator as a Human-Spiritual Whisperer
The metaphor of a formator as a human-spiritual whisperer may not make immediate sense if the reader is not familiar with the horse whisperer metaphor. The horse whisperer is a famous 1998 American drama film directed by and starring Robert Redford, one of my favourite American actors. I first saw him on the big screen in Out of Africa — a 1985 American epic romantic drama film directed and produced by Sydney Pollack, and starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep — my first onscreen girlfriend I first met in Kramer vs. Kramer, a 1979 American legal drama film written and directed by Robert Benton, based on Avery Corman’s 1977 novel of the same name starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep. Out of Africa is based loosely on the 1937 autobiographical book Out of Africa written by Isak Dinesen, the pseudonym of Danish author Karen Blixen, with additional material from Isak Dinesen’s 1960 book Shadows on the Grass and other sources. But back to the horse whisperer, the book was based on the 1995 novel the Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans. In the movie, Robert Redford plays the title role of the Horse Whisperer in which he is presented as a talented trainer with a remarkable gift for understanding horses. This is the clue to our metaphorical analogy of the formator as a human -spiritual whisperer. His or her job is to train but this profession is almost an inborn charism for connecting and understanding other human beings.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The author introduces the metaphor of "artisanal" formation versus "policing" and outlines the personal frustrations with the current seminary system.
2. Formators as Human-Spiritual Whisperers: Defines the role of the formator as a counter-cultural figure opposed to careerism and clericalism.
3. The Metaphor of a Formator as a Human-Spiritual Whisperer: Explores the analogy of the horse whisperer as a model for deep, intuitive human mentorship.
4. Do not call anyone on earth ‘father’: Critiques the use of patriarchal titles within the Church and argues for a more egalitarian, "brotherly" approach.
5. The Human-Spiritual Whisperer from the ends of the Earth: Examines Pope Francis's papacy as a potential catalyst for shifting the Church toward a new model of formation.
6. Little Monsters Look Like This: Analyzes the term "little monsters" and describes the personality traits that make a candidate unfit for ministry.
7. An oft-broken System still capable of turning out Masterpieces: Reflects on how, despite a flawed system, some well-formed priests emerge through personal resilience.
8. An Italian Professor and the oft-Broken System: Discusses the historical roots of the current priestly archetype and its ongoing crisis.
9. But Why is Clericalism such a bête noire?: Provides a definition of clericalism as an elitist mindset and explains why it is the primary obstacle to reform.
10. Priestly Formation as Artisanal: Re-emphasizes the author's own experience and the necessity for formation to be a work of the heart, not just reason.
11. How an Irish Priest was not well-served by a Dysfunctional System: Uses a case study to illustrate the human cost of a rigid, anti-empathetic formation model.
12. In the Meantime, Clericalism Keeps Repeating Itself: Critiques current administrative interventions in lay associations, illustrating the persistence of clerical power.
13. The Human-Spiritual Whisperer and Accompaniment: Advocates for the integration of psychological and spiritual accompaniment in formation.
14. Markers of human maturation in seminary formation: Lists and analyzes specific psychological and spiritual markers necessary for a candidate's maturity.
15. Devolving Papal Power to Episcopal Conferences Still a Pie in the Sky: Argues that the actual devolution of power remains limited by excessive centralism.
16. Two Strange Bedfellows in the Path of Bergoglian Reform: Describes the opposition to Pope Francis from both the "deep state" and other radical elements.
17. Conclusion: Summarizes the need for an "artisanal" shift in leadership and the urgent requirement for a more user-friendly, empathetic Church structure.
Keywords
Priestly formation, Clericalism, Artisanal, Accompaniment, Human-spiritual whisperer, Pope Francis, Seminary, Ecclesiology, Patriarchy, Servant leadership, Discernment, De-clericalisation, Reform, Pastoral ministry, Mentorship
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
The work focuses on the systemic failures of Catholic priestly formation, advocating for a shift from an authoritarian "policing" model to an "artisanal" one based on human accompaniment.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include the eradication of clericalism, the necessity of personal maturation for ministers, the critique of patriarchal power structures, and the potential for a "lay-centered" Church.
What is the primary goal of the author?
The goal is to provide a roadmap for reforming seminary training so that it fosters healthy, integrated, and fully human disciples rather than perpetuating the "little monsters" created by rigid, fear-based systems.
Which scientific or theological methods are employed?
The author uses theological reflection, historical context (dating back to the Council of Trent), and psychological insights regarding human maturation to critique existing Church structures.
What is the significance of the "Human-Spiritual Whisperer"?
It acts as a metaphor for a formator who possesses the intuitive, expert gift of taming and guiding individuals through healing and deep understanding, rather than through coercion.
Which key terms define this discourse?
Key terms include "artisanal," "clericalism," "bête noire," "accompaniment," and "human-spiritual whisperer," all of which serve to highlight the contrast between past institutional failures and future potential.
How does the author view the role of Pope Francis in this reform?
The author views Pope Francis as a pivotal figure whose vision of the Church as a field hospital and whose rejection of careerism provides the best hope for meaningful change, despite institutional resistance.
What does the case of the 1985 seminary boycott illustrate?
It illustrates the catastrophic consequences of a "policing" model of formation, where fear and rigid power structures led to systemic failure and the mistreatment of candidates.
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- Dr Tarcisius Mukuka (Autor:in), 2020, Formation of Catholic Priests as Artisanal and not Policing, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/962848
