THE CALL TO THEOLOGY

I find very interesting the following excerpt from DONUM VERITATIS :

Among the vocations awakened

... by the Spirit in the Church

is that of the theologian.

His role is to pursue in a particular way

an ever deeper understanding of the Word of God

found in the inspired Scriptures

and handed on by the living Tradition of the Church.

The theologian must … be attentive

to the epistemological requirements of his discipline,

to the demands of rigorous critical standards,

and thus

to a rational verification of each stage of his research.

The obligation to be critical, however,

should not be identified with the critical spirit

which is born of feeling or prejudice.

The theologian must discern in himself

the origin of and motivation for his critical attitude

and allow his gaze to be purified by faith.

The commitment to theology requires a spiritual effort

to grow in virtue and holiness.