SPIRITUAL FORMATION

The priesthood requires a life of interiority which is characterized by an inner disposition, attitude, and capacity for deeper spiritual maturity. As a future pastor in the Church, the seminarian has to acquaint himself in the seminary with a path towards inner growth through a desire for God. The Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis says: "

1) The Holy Eucharist and the sacraments- In the seminary, the candidate for the priesthood has to journey towards the Lord who called him in the sacraments and the Holy Eucharist. In Lorenzo Mission Institute, the Holy Eucharist is celebrated in a daily basis for spiritual intimacy with the Lord. When a seminarian becomes a priest, he will be able to make the Eucharist as his source of joy and strength in his missionary life. "An essential element of this spiritual formation is the liturgical and sacramental life, in which the young will have to participate ever more consciously, in accordance with their age, as they grow up." (RFIS 21)

2) Blessed Virgin Mary and devotions- As the Mother of all missionaries, each seminarian has to develop a unique love for the Blessed Mother and the devotion to the saints especially the patrons of mission. The Ratio Fundamentalis says: "Another important element is Marian devotion and other pious exercises practised daily or periodically, to be set out, like all the other matters, in the Rule of Life of each Seminary." (RFIS 21)

3) Missionary Zeal- A huge part of seminary formation in the Lorenzo Mission Institute is the development of the missionary zeal. The seminary as a unique charism and gift in the missions and therefore each seminarian has to strive to be imbued with the spirit of mission in the entire stretch of seminary formation. "As a member of the holy People of God, the priest is called to cultivate his missionary zeal, exercising his pastoral responsibility with humility as an authoritative leader, teacher of the Word and minister of the sacraments53, practising his spiritual fatherhood fruitfully." (RFIS 33)

4) Charity- The interior life that is developed and formed in the life of a seminarian becomes a requisite towards pastoral charity. A priest is one who is related to the people he is called to serve. He develops interpersonal relationships with the virtue of charity. Charity is manifested through humility, sincerity, hope, obedience, simplicity, brotherhood, etc. "Thus, by growing in charity, the future priest must seek to develop a balanced and mature capacity to enter into relationship with his neighbour. Indeed, he is called above all to a basic human and spiritual serenity that, by overcoming every form of self-promotion or emotional dependency, allows him to be a man of communion, of mission and of dialogue." (RFIS 41) The Lorenzo Mission Institute fosters programs to develop spiritual growth and maturity.