INSTRUCTION XI
STUDIES AND APOSTOLATE
A Note on the International Theological College
So as to make our studies more uniform and to give them greater depth the International Theological College was established in Rome for the following reasons:
1. There is insufficient personnel in the houses abroad; this necessitates bringing the Cleric theologians to Rome, centre of Christianity, and under the responsibility of the General House.
2. The Cleric theologians will become more accomplished in the technical means of the press, films, and so on.
3. They can gradually be introduced to editorial work.
4. They will become more conversant with the catholic spirit of the Church, and thus be gradually inclined to extend their ministry and apostolate to other countries.
5. We perceive in Saint Paul's Letters his quickening desire to reach Rome. From his great Basilica his relics testify
229
also in a spiritual and apostolic sense that civis Romanus sum.1
* * *
Art. 138. All Religious, both Superiors and subjects, must not only faithfully and integrally keep the vows they have taken, but must also live according to the present Constitutions, and thus strive after the perfection of their state.
Art. 139. Community life shall be observed by all members in accordance with the Sacred Canons and the present Constitutions, without their seeking to be easily dispensed from any practice of the common life.
Art. 140. Religious violating an important point of the law of common life as prescribed by the Constitutions, must be seriously admonished and, failing to amend themselves, must be punished, even with the privation of active and passive voice; if they be Superiors, even with the privation of their office.
Art. 141. Members should greatly esteem the common life as an effective means offered to them for practising virtues - especially charity, penance, and humility - and as a most powerful aid in exercising their zeal with greater fruitfulness and security.
1. Higher studies
Mindful of the desires and provisions of the Holy See, the Institute always took care, right from 1920, to send
230
young priests to both Church and state2 universities, for a threefold reason:
a) to prepare competent teachers;
b) to prepare priests for the editing and reviewing of books, periodicals, films, radio programs, films, records, and so on.
c) to prepare Novice Masters who, by combining broader views and greater competence with their moral and pastoral qualities, will better fulfil their very delicate office.
2. Programs and underlying principles
The spirit that animates the whole apostolate of the Pious Society of Saint Paul, in conformity with its Constitutions, is decidedly pastoral.
Even prior to the beginning of the Institute steps and initiatives had begun in such a sense. Ego accepi a Domino quod tradidi vobis:3 to instil in people the life of grace, to train them as heirs of God.
In accordance with Sedes Sapientiae and our Constitutions, throughout the whole time of the candidates' formation for perpetual Profession and for the priesthood, the students are to be instructed in the apostolate and moderately employed in it. They are to be prepared by instilling in them a love for the apostolate, studying the Institute's historical development, the life of its senior members, the necessity of the apostolate and the fruits it can bring to people.
The Holy See legislated the pastoral year for newlyordained priests with a threefold purpose in mind: 1) to practise more carefully the
231
priestly virtues; 2) under capable teachers to be instructed in their ministry; 3) to exercise some priestly ministry such as confession, preaching, assistance and care of children, visiting the sick, and so on.
In addition, during the pastoral year, insofar as concerns our Institute, the new priests are to devote themselves in particular to editorial work and gradually to teach and help our Aspirants.
So as to be clear on the type of instruction to be given: a) revise particular questions of dogmatic theology, knowledge of which is particularly necessary in ministry today; b) study pastoral psychology and the rules of pedagogy, at least what could be beneficial; c) deepen the principles of moral theology, the rules, cases, the difficulties more likely to be met in the confessional. Formulate practical methods for dealing with the various types of penitents, so as to be on guard when dealing with individual cases, and thus avoid moral dangers, either on the part of the penitent or on that of the confessor; take steps to be well informed when consulting with the various types of people, whether the faithful or those opposed to the faith; d) study the most serious problems facing Christian sociology today; e) be informed about the needs and the principles that regulate Catholic Action, the various lay associations, aid to workers, organization and distribution through the publications' apostolate; f) sacred eloquence and catechesis; g) ways and means for knowing, loving and expanding devotion to Jesus the Teacher; h) besides the editorial role, the study of the methods of distribution and publicity; i) the theory and practice, as far as possible, of film-making, radio and television.
232
3. Academic calendar
To be clearly indicated in the academic calendar are the number of class days, which should be about two hundred each year; the time for classes, at least three hours a day; the special holidays for our solemnities; the days for annual holidays which, taking into account travel time and that spent in the family, or in one of our holiday houses, are not to be more than twenty-five.
The Sedes Sapientiae suggests that the time left over from due relaxation ought to be spent by the students in private study of doctrine or learning languages, or in attending easier courses, or in the exercise of our typographical art, or initiating themselves in apostolic practice. The aim is to ensure that reasonable relaxation does not turn into laziness. Recreation and laziness are two quite different terms. There can also be the showing of instructive or at least wholesome films. These should be overseen by a person able to instruct the viewers in such a way that they can form right judgements regarding the film's moral, artistic and performance value. All this can be done by way of a commonsensical discussion.
4. Interdisciplinary teaching
Many people have pointed out that, in view of a more rational and practical study of theology, it would be a great help to combine those subjects which are at present taught separately but which in reality should be merged.
For example, Moral Theology could be linked with a good part of Canon Law, and with Ascetical and Mystical Theology;
233
- Sacramental Theology: link the dogmatic part with the moral part, and with the Liturgy;
- the history of Revelation with Holy Scripture;
- the history of the Church in its concerns with the world and in its inner life as the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ;
- the history of Art with Archaeology and that part of Pastoral Theology concerning both the construction of church buildings and the furnishings necessary for divine worship, and their preservation.
5. Basic studies
Outline of the subjects for the examination for admission to the Liberal Arts course:
Religion - Mother tongue - Arithmetic and Geometry - History - Geography - Elements of the natural sciences - Physical Education and Hygiene - General Studies - Logical and Grammatical Analysis.
Subjects for the Liberal Arts course. Main subjects:
Religion - Latin language and literature - Language and literature of the country - Greek language and literature.
Ancillary subjects:
Foreign languages and literature - History - Geography - Mathematics, Geometry and Algebra - Natural History - Physics - Chemistry - History of the Arts - Knowledge and the art of Handwriting - Music and Chant - Gymnastics and Hygiene - Botany, Zoology and Biology.
234
Electives:
Social Sciences - In view of the purpose of our Society special studies in printing, cinema, radio and television - Other subjects.
The Philosophy curriculum
First Year:
Introduction to Philosophy - Metaphysics - General Moral Philosophy - Psychology.
Second Year:
Special Moral Philosophy - Logic - Criticism - Cosmology.
During the curriculum:
History of Philosophy - Principles of Sociology.
Ancillary Subjects:
Historical Criticism - Literary Studies - Twice a month, repetition of the subject taught, with questions - Scholastic exercises - At the end of the complete course an examination of competency is to be given, compiled from a list of theses drawn from all the tracts of philosophy.
The Theology curriculum
First Year:
Fundamental Theology - Moral Theology - Holy Scripture - Church History - Canon Law.
Second Year:
Dogmatic Theology - Moral Theology - Holy Scripture - Church History - Canon Law.
235
Third and Fourth Year:
Dogmatic Theology - Moral Theology - Holy Scripture - Canon Law - Patrology.
Ancillary Subjects:
Liturgy - Ascetical Theology - Hebrew, and Biblical Greek.
Towards the end of the fourth year a résumé is to be made of the whole of theology, and a general examination is to be given from a list of theses drawn from all the tracts studied during the four years.
6. Pastoral Studies
In accord with the oft-repeated plea of the Popes, and given the particular pastoral spirit that imbues our whole Institute, it is helpful for some students to enrol in courses at the Pontifical Pastoral Institute, within the Faculty of the Lateran, and gain their diplomas at the end of such studies. Specialized studies at this Institute include courses on catechetics, organizational skills, sociology, the art of the publicist, as well as subjects more congenial to our Congregation such as specialization in the audio and visual techniques.
The particular explanations and the general program are summed up in our Ratio studiorum (pages 133, articles 145 to 153). The hoped-for benefits from such studies are twofold: 1) specialist knowledge of the Catholic Church's organizations on an international level; 2) specialist knowledge, but
236
often excessively speculative, of the organizations that concern our special apostolates.
7. Examinations for Priests
In accordance with the Sedes Sapientiae and our Ratio studiorum, our priests are subject to the quinquennial examinations on the principal disciplines studied in the theology curriculum. The order to be followed is:
a) Holy Scripture (as in the first year of theology course)
b) Dogmatic Theology (as in the second year of theology course)
c) Moral Theology (as in the third year of theology course)
d) Canon Law (as in the fourth year of theology course)
e) Church History (as studied in overall theology course).
Patrology, for each year studied during the theology course, with a résumé of the writings of at least one of the Fathers or Doctors of the Church.
8. Ongoing Formation
Not to be overlooked are articles 203 and 202 of the Constitutions, called to mind by the Ratio studiorum.
The first establishes that Superiors should see that young priests have sufficient time and the availability of senior priests to help them advance in knowledge, as well as
237
to keep abreast of new problems and to arrive at appropriate and safe solutions.
The second is that at least once a month in every regular house a discussion on moral or liturgical cases must be held. An instruction on dogmatic theology may be added by the Superior; all the professed Clerics, students of theology, and the priests who have finished their studies, must assist at the conferences.
Lastly, it is worthwhile bearing in mind the latest provisions regarding jurisdiction for confessions, as set out by the Roman Synod; the particular concessions already granted to our Congregation; as well as the particular laws in each diocese.
Remember that no one is a foreigner in Rome: he is always in the Catholic Church; as a Pauline he is always at home.
238
1 “I am a Roman citizen” (cf. Acts 22:26ff.).
2 This statement of Fr Alberione can be documented historically. In his diary Bishop Re of Alba noted on the 19.4.1915: Battista né Antonio Marocco… at the Catholic Soc[ial] School, Bergamo. - On 16.2.1916 Fr Alberione himself sent a letter to Bishop Re which included the first written report on the origin of his works. Among other things, he says: “The fifteen youths are good, they study; one [B. Marocco] is president of the diocesan Youth Federation; these past Sundays he has given talks to young people at Vezza, Castellinaldo, Santa Vittoria, and so on. He is preparing himself, under the guidance of Canon Francesco Chiesa, for a degree in social sciences at the Faculty in Bergamo, where he is enrolled. He already directs the Gazzetta d'Alba for me; I only read the proofs, although the paper's responsibility is mine alone. Other young men have already finished their high school studies and will then begin philosophy, civil and Church history, and apologetics.” - On 14.8.1919 Bishop Re again notes in his diary: “Recom[mended] two youths t[heologian] Alber[ione] - Cathol[ic] Social School Bergamo.” - The solemnity of the fifth anniversary of the opening of the house, or foundation, at Alba, was commemorated on Sunday 17 August 1919, because on the evening of that same day the assistant (Desiderio Costa) and the deputy assistant (Bartolomeo Marcellino) were to leave for Bergamo to sit the examination in social sciences. They frequented the short course, and forty days later, on 27 September, they were already on their way back to Alba, having happily passed the first year examination in social sciences. - On 28.5.1920 Bishop Re notes again: “Rome - Conte Dalla Torre - Rec[ommended] the young Bartolomeo Marcellino and Desiderio Costa, for dispensation from tax and pension. Social Sc[iences] course Bergamo.” - On 22.9.1921 Desiderio Costa, the first to enter the Society of Saint Paul, received his degree at the Pontifical Institute for Social Sciences, Bergamo, for his thesis: “Divorce in law and in the Italian Chamber.” Bartolomeo Marcellino gained his degree at the same Institute on 16.9.1922.
3 “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you” (1 Cor 11:23).