Jnanadeepa: Pune Journal of Religious Studies 24/1 Jan-June 2020 Genuinely Christian and Truly Indian: "Formation of the Heart:" An Essential (But Ignored) Element in Priestly Formation

Formation of priests was a major theme in the writings of Kurien Kunnumpuram, and the book Called to Serve is particularly noteworthy. In it Fr Kurien discusses four aspects of the formation of priests, viz. human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral. In this article, the author cont inues his refl ection on aspects of priestly formation. It particularly focuses on a grossly neglected area, viz. formation of the heart. The fi rst part takes a look at the emerging paradox in priestly formation in the present-day context, and the second part refl ects more in detail on some key elements in the formation of the heart! “What do I still lack?” was a question coming from the heart of a young man, and it required an answer from the heart. Hearing Jesus’ answer, the young man went away sorrowful, for he expected an answer from the head, not the heart. Apathetic theology cautions us about the limits of answers from the head, whether in written word or spoken word. space occupied by the heart. Formation of the heart enables a pastor to be ‘large-heated’ and ‘broadminded’ reaching beyond the realms of words and reason. It means conscious eff ort to create space for others and their concerns, expanding one’s horizon of relationships to welcome even the excluded. We need pastors with transformed hearts and are capable of transforming the hearts of men and women today. There is the ‘empty space’ beyond words, and that is th