Depuis le jour

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Depuis le jour (French: since the day) is an encyclical of Pope Leo XIII. It is dated September 8th, 1899. The Pope addresses the French clergy and mainly sets the criteria for the seminaries , with the subtitle "On the formation of the clergy" he describes the instructions for the selection and formation of priests . This encyclical is considered to be the official source of numerous paragraphs of canon law and the basis of the formation of priests with criticism of modernism .

Initially, Leo XIII. referring to the two encyclicals he wrote, Nobilissima Gallorum gens (1884) and Au Milieu des Sollicitudes (1892), links them to the apostolic mission in France , and then goes into the quality of the French clergy. The most important decision for the Pope to be trained for the priesthood is the “calling” to it.

Training content

Appropriate training also includes, he suggests, learning the Greek and Latin languages ​​and at least two semesters of philosophy . As he noted in his encyclical Aeterni patris (1879), philosophy in the sense of St. Thomas Aquinas is the basis for the purity of faith.

To study the theology , which Leo XIII. designated as sacred science, included dogmatic theology, moral theology and general knowledge of canon law. The basis of these teachings should be the catechism of the Council of Trent , which is also known as the Roman catechism. The study of the " Holy Scriptures " should, as he had wished in his encyclical Providentissimus Deus (1893), be extensive and in the correct sense of exegesis . Knowledge of canon law and the case law of the church are also very important in order to prepare candidates for their priesthood.

Approval and exhortation to the priests

The Pope advises the new priests to go to the workers and the people in the spirit of the encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891). He urges them to hold assemblies, establish patronage , and establish facilities for the support and assistance of workers and their families. For this they should use letters and books, articles in newspapers and reading circles. He then leads on to some criteria for the young clergy, which would help their actions to be successful, these are: diligence, discretion, obedience and discipline.

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