The Mission of the Priest: FORMARE

It is not enough for the priest to engage in the process of EDUCERE as was noted last week. It is also necessary for him to engage in formation. The faithful who follow Christ embrace a new “form”, a new identity and the priest is ready to help in that process of decantation.

Thus, if EDUCERE reveals the truth about the human person, FORMARE entails a pro-vocation of our humanity which expects from us nothing but the best. In this sense, it helps the person discover his or her own capacities or assets. If we stop to think, any FORMATIVE activity has chattering effects: as such it is capable to generating surprise and also fear. It creates new expectations and requests; it generates tension and also insatisfaction; it moves the will to change old habits and lifestyles. It launches forward personal balance towards unthinkable horizons; it opens a new door in our existence but also creates resistance and self defense. If EDUCERE is like plowing the ground, FORMARE is to sow the seed of vitality, like a new force waiting to emerge in new life, ready to give abundant fruit.

If educere is the work of the Father, formare belongs to the Son. We are trying to put on the feelings of Christ. Who, then, can carry forward this delicate operation of formation in our hearts but Jesus himself?

Jesus is truly the master of our life, he is the life, the truth and the way. He is the only one who can plant in our hearts and transfer his feelings to us, making us vibrate with his love and spreading to us zeal for the Kingdom. If he and his feelings are the final objective of FORMARE can’t he be like the potter who plays with the object of clay in his hands until it is pleasing to his eyes? [Jeremiah 18,4-6]. We remember the words of Isaiah: “Lord, we are the clay and you the potter, we are the work of your hands” [Isaiah 64,7].

Let us have Christ come to our lives and remodel us according to his wishes, to make of us the greatest work of art that we can be!