«Configurados con Jesús, buen pastor» (pdv 22). Los sacerdotes y el acompañamiento espiritual. Un estudio a partir de la revista Surge (1940-2014) y de las publicaciones de la Comisión Episcopal del Clero (1966-2014) ”

Abstract

The present work aims to associate spiritual accompaniment with priestly minis-try and life. It seeks to prove that a priest who offers or receives spiritual direction is not using just another means for spiritual life, but a privileged channel for his configu-ration with Jesus, the Good Shepherd. In our itinerary, we seek any features that may characterize spiritual direction offered or received by a priest, distinguishing it from that same service when offered or received by a lay or religious person. The thesis offers a theological reflection on spiritual accompaniment, based on the clergy reality during the last seventy-five years, as reflected in our sources: Surge journal on priestly spirituality and ministry, from Vitoria Seminary (1940-2014), the publications of the Spanish Bishops’ Commission for the Clergy (1966-2014) and pon-tifical Magisterium on priesthood in this period. Our study of the sources reveals an evolution in the understanding and the practice of spiritual direction, and links it with two fundamental keys of priestly spirituality: pastoral charity and ongoing formation. The structure of the thesis reflects its own aim. After a detailed presentation of the sources of our study, of historical nature (first chapter), we propose a theological-spiritual framework for the study: we delve into the meaning of the expressions fol-lowing of and configuration to Christ, into Jesus’ image as the Good Shepherd and into the understanding of spiritual accompaniment that supports the study (second chapter). The subsequent chapters turn to the sources in order to ascertain their contribution to pastoral charity (third chapter), ongoing formation (fourth chapter) and spiritual ac-companiment (fifth chapter). The sixth chapter, in the light on the three previous ones, elaborates on how spiritual accompaniment, marked by pastoral charity and inserted in ongoing formation, contributes to the priest’s permanent configuration to Jesus, the Good Shepherd. The final section of this last chapter depicts some specific situations of spiritual accompaniment offered or received by the priest.