We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Church Documents on Priestly Formation
FREE Catholic Classes
Second Vatican Council Documents
- Decree on Priestly Training (Optatum totius) (1965)
- Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests (Presbyterorum ordinis) (1965)
Papal Documents
- Pope Paul VI, Encyclical Letter on the Celibacy of Priests (Sacerdotalis coelibatus) (1967)
- Pope John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on the Formation of Priests in the Circumstances of the Present Day (Pastores dabo vobis) (1992)
- Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Veritatis splendor (1993)
- Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter on Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone (Ordinatio sacerdotalis) (1994)
- Pope John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on the Consecrated Life and its Mission in the Church and in the World (Vita consacrata) (1996)
- Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter on the Relationship between Faith and Reason (Fides et ratio) (1998)
Other Documents of the Holy See
- Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, .The Study of Philosophy in Seminaries. (1972) [Origins 1:39 (March 16, 1972) 655-659*]
- Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, .A Guide to Formation in Priestly Celibacy. (1974) [Origins 4:5 (June 27, 1974) 65-76*] (excerpts)
- Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, .The Theological Formation of Future Priests. (1976) [Origins 6:11 (September 2, 1976) 173-190*]
- Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, .Instruction On Liturgical Formation in Seminaries. (In ecclesiam futurorum) (1979)
- Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, .Circular Letter concerning Some of the More Urgent Aspects of Spiritual Formation in Seminaries. (1980) [Origins 9:38 (March 6, 1980) 610-619*]
- Congregation for Catholic Education, .Guide to the Training of Future Priests concerning the Instruments of Social Communication. (1986)
- Congregation for Catholic Education, .The Virgin Mary in Intellectual and Spiritual Formation. (1989)
- Congregation for Catholic Education, Instruction Inspectis dierum, .On the Study of the Fathers of the Church in the Formation of Priests. (1989) [Origins 19:34 (January 25, 1990) 549-561*]
- Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, .Directives on Formation in Religious Institutes. (1990)
- Congregation for Catholic Education, .Directives Concerning the Preparation of Seminary Educators. (1993) [Origins 23:22 (January 27, 1994) 557-571*]
- Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, .Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism. (1993), especially 192-195
- Congregation for Catholic Education, .Directives on the Formation of Seminarians Concerning Problems Related to Marriage and the Family. (1995) [Origins 25:10 (August 10, 1995) 161-167*]
- Congregation for Catholic Education, .Instruction to the Episcopal Conferences on the Admission to Seminary of Candidates Coming from Other Seminaries or Religious Families. (1996)
- Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, .Circular Letter to the Most Reverend Diocesan Bishops and other Ordinaries with Canonical Faculties to Admit to Sacred Orders concerning: Scrutinies regarding the Suitability of Candidates for Orders. (1997)
- Interdicasterial Instruction Ecclesiae de mysterio, .On Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priests. (1997)
- Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, .Inter-Institute Collaboration for Formation. (1999)
- Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, .Starting Afresh from Christ: A Renewed Commitment to the Consecrated Life in the New Millennium. (2002)
- Congregation for Catholic Education, .Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders. (2006)
* All articles from Origins are made available with the explicit permission of Origins: CNS Documentary Service and are for the express purpose of providing information to seminary faculty and administrators. They are not intended for downloading or distribution. Further inquiries into the availability of these documents should be directed to Origins: CNS Documentary Service http://www.originsonline.com/.
Vocations & Priestly Formation | © USCCB. All rights reserved.
More Vocations


Living Bread Wood Communion Cross
@ $23.95
1st Communion Girl Album
@ $23.95Latest Vocation News
Looking for a few great teachers - Bishop Gorman High School

Bishop Gorman High School in the Diocese of Tyler, Texas is looking for a few great faculty to join their team. As of 3/14/22, the ... continue reading
What is the Difference Between a Deacon and a Priest? Watch

What's the difference between a deacon and a priest? Why can't a deacon hear my confession and forgive sins? We asked Catholic Online's ... continue reading
AP report reveals difficulties for priests - is it time for a change? Watch

The Associated Press published an article detailing the challenges many priests face. It is time for a change in how the Church ... continue reading
In Rochester, moms' group prays for vocations to come from among their families Watch

A newly-formed group of Catholic mothers in Rochester, New York has committed to praying regularly for the flourishing of vocations from ... continue reading
Write zero-tolerance into canon law says abuse survivor Watch

Canon law should be re-written to institute a global zero-tolerance policy against priests who commit sexual abuse, a clerical abuse ... continue reading
LIVE Catholic School Lessons Live classes Monday-Friday
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
Saint of the Day for Saturday, Feb 4th, 2023
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
St. Joan of Valois
-
Prayer of the Day for Saturday, Feb 4
-
The Apostles' Creed
-
St. Blaise
-
Bible
-
Patron Saints A-Z
-
A Guide for Confession
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Sunday, February 05, 2023
St. Agatha: Saint of the Day for Sunday, February 05, 2023
For Special Intentions: Prayer of the Day for Sunday, February 05, 2023
- Daily Readings for Saturday, February 04, 2023
- St. Joan of Valois: Saint of the Day for Saturday, February 04, 2023
- A Prayer for Church Unity: Prayer of the Day for Saturday, February 04, 2023
FREE Catholic Classes Pick a class, you can learn anything
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.