As a Priest Thinks, So He Is: The Role of Philosophy in Seminary Formation

As a Priest Thinks, So He Is is a collection of essays that address the importance of the study of philosophy for seminarians. The essays help us understand how thinking philosophically, an intellectual pursuit, enriches the human, pastoral, and spiritual dimensions of priestly formation. About the Editors Beth Rath McGough, PHD, is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Borromeo Seminary Institute at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. She is an Associated Scholar for The Hildebrand Project. Patricia Pintado-Murphy, PHD, STL, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Pre-Theology at Saint Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. She is a board member for the Committee on Priestly Formation, American Catholic Philosophical Association (ACPA). Endorsements “This book shows that philosophy is not the stuff of cold abstraction, but of color and of light, which warmly illumines truth, goodness, and beauty. Lived in these terms, life is fuller, better, and richer; and the Gospel comes into its own as something wonderfully liberating, as truly the good news that it appears to be.” Chad Engelland, PhD, Professor of Philosophy, University of Dallas, Irving, Texas “The content of this book, coming from some of the best philosophers serving our seminaries, is a treasure chest of insightful, thought-provoking presentations of the place of philosophy in the formation of good and holy priests. This book is a great gift to the Church in the United States and those entrusted with the formation of future priests.” Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, DD, Archbishop of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania “The Catholic philosophical tradition holds enormous potential for healing our culture. With the Ratio’s stage-specific focus on building up the authenticity and maturity of a man’s humanity, he might be able to experience seminary more as healing than schooling. These essays highlight some of the points of healing so necessary during the philosophically rich discipleship stage. The authors reveal how the well-structured and balanced study of philosophy can cultivate a human personality and maturity likewise. As a Priest Thinks, So He Is demonstrates how healed intellects can become healers in this new apostolic age.” Father Paul Hoesing, STL, President Rector, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri