The Eucharist and Priestly Formation

(Prof. Jose Vidamor Yu, Manila)

The Eucharist is at the heart of priestly formation. It is the sacrament which brings an intimate union between the candidate to the priesthood and Christ who called him to a specific priestly life and ministry. Priestly formation involves an interior life which finds its fullness in the celebration of the Eucharist. There is a direct and essential connection between the Eucharist and those who are in priestly formation.

Prayer in priestly formation has to be zealously cultivated among seminarians in order to develop a special affection with Christ. The spirit of prayer strengthens the vocation of the individual. It promotes a special intimacy with Christ who calls the candidate to share in His divine mission and ministry.

The Eucharist enhances the seminarian’s sense of God and solidarity among the people of God. It is a "sign and sacrament" in order one becomes saturated into the mystery of God and the mystery of the Church whom he serves. It is the Eucharist that allows a unique experience of God’s presence in the duration of their priestly formation. The Eucharist goes beyond the symbolisms of Bread and Wine it is rather a celebration of spiritual intimacy between Christ and those whom He called, stayed with Him, and sent. (cf Mk 3:13-14)

The Eucharist is the source of an interior grace that sustains candidates in the course of priestly formation. Preparing seminarians for the mission demands a profound sense of solidarity and communion through the Eucharist. The Eucharist is not only an expression of communion but "it is also a project of solidarity for all of humanity." (Mane Nobiscum Domine 27)

It is essential that seminarians be accustomed to renew their inspiration and awareness of being future ministers of Christ through the Eucharist. Vatican II reminds us that "the very holiness of priests is of the greatest benefit for the fruitful fulfillment of their ministry." (PO 12) It is in the Eucharist that seminarians develop the sense of self-giving. Pastoral charity involves the willingness to give oneself for Christ and the Church. The faithful have the fundamental right to receive the Word of God and the celebration of the sacraments. John Paul II clarifies that, "pastoral charity is a gift, but it is likewise a task, a grace and a responsibility to which we must be faithful." (PDV 72)

The Eucharist safeguards the discipline and value of priestly formation. It develops among the candidates the sense of communion. An experience of communion with the Lord produces a promoter of such communion. Thus, the Eucharist forms future promoters for the spirituality of communion. It strengthens community life as well as enhances in him a unique desire to build and serve communities.

Candidates to the priesthood should develop the spirit of fraternal communion both in community of formation and with the people he serves in the apostolate or in mission as concrete gifts of the Eucharist. Priestly formation should foster a spirituality that will shape the person through Eucharistic communion. John Paul II said that, "the priest is a man of communion, in his relations with all people he must be a man of mission and dialogue." (PDV 18) The Church envisions a priestly formation that should focus on the intimate bond between spiritual life and the priestly ministry. There should be a profound connection between the aspects of priestly formation and the foreseen demands of priestly ministry. This intimate relationship is strengthened by the sacraments of Eucharist and Holy Orders.