The Community of Saint Martin is at the service of the bishops and dioceses of the universal Church. Its only work of its own consists of training seminarians at its House of Formation in Évron. For six years, under the guidance of the priests in charge of their formation, the seminarians seek to discern and mature their vocation for the service of souls.
The recent Ratio for the formation of future priests, which became effective in December 2016, provides that a propaedeutic year should precede any entry into the seminary, thus making systematic and universal a practice that is already widespread. After presenting its project to the Congregation for the Clergy, the Community of Saint Martin set up a propaedeutic year in September 2016, called the “Saint Martin Year”, which precedes the actual entry into the house of formation and is adapted to the specific character of the Community. Those who take part in this pre-discernment year, benefiting from both dedicated supervision and premises, follow a programme based on four major themes: learning about community and fraternal life as it is lived in the Community of Saint Martin; being introduced to the spiritual and liturgical life (including, among other fundamental elements, lectio divina, continuous reading of the Bible, prayer, personalised spiritual guidance and discovering the figure of Saint Martin); learning the basics of intellectual training (introductory subjects, catechetical training, general culture, work methods, etc.); finally, through charity projects, introductions to the apostolate and retreats, the vocational discernment is deepened. At the end of this “Saint Martin Year”, young people decide whether or not to make an official application for admission to the Community of Saint Martin’s house of formation.
As a result of the fraternal life that is specific to the Community, the formation also has a specific flavour. It involves acquiring three habitus:
The spiritual life is at the heart of a priest’s life, and hence of a seminarian’s: it’s about being united to God in all things, about making one’s life a prayer. Priests and seminarians gather every morning and evening to sing God’s glory through the celebration of the Gregorian Divine Office and the Eucharist, the source and summit of their lives.
The life of personal union with the Lord is another dimension of the spiritual formation, deepened daily through meditation on the Word of God and prayer.
Before becoming a priest, one has to become a man first. The grace of the sacrament does not do away with our human nature. For this reason, the Community particularly ensures that its seminarians mature in all aspects of their person, and not just in a spiritual life which, if anything, could be disconnected from the real person.
The intense communal life is a great school of fraternal charity and human formation. In the love and truth received from God, but also in the vigour of virile and sometimes clumsy relationships, each one is revealed to himself by his brothers, and is invited to live no longer for himself, but for others, in a spirit of humility. Obedience to superiors, discipline of life, spirit of service (the seminarians take care of all the house of formation’s upkeep, from cleaning to accounting, laundry, IT, etc.) are also important dimensions of discernment and priestly formation.
The affective and psychological dimensions of the person are also part of the Formation Advisors’ concerns and are subjects that are frequently and deeply discussed.
To be able to pass on to others what they have received from the mystery of God, he who wants to become a priest must not only drink from the living springs of Salvation in an intense spiritual life, but must also nourish himself with a solid theological formation, so that he can “give an explanation of our hope” (1 Pet 3:15-16), with a “concern to teach” (2 Tim 4:2). This is why studies at the seminary are long and methodical. The things that need to be taught are far too important for us to afford not to be trained at length.
Every day, for six years of their lives, seminarians study the “sacred science”, in constant contact with the Word of God, drawing from the treasures of Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church. Faithful to the directives of the Church, in particular to the Second Vatican Council, the teaching staff teach with “St Thomas as their master”, drawing inspiration from his doctrine and the example of intellectual openness that he represents. The School of Philosophy and Theology is affiliated to the Pontifical Lateran University.
A one-year internship in a parish is part of the curriculum, as well as other shorter periods. Every summer, for example, seminarians spend several weeks in youth and family camps, working in sanctuaries and parishes, familiarising themselves with the future tasks of their ministry.
Pastoral Charity, a gift flowing from the priestly heart of Christ, is also received in daily fraternal life, which teaches awareness and listening, as well as in prayer for the intentions of the world, entrusted to the seminarians.
General Moderator since 2010. Ordained a priest in 1989. Professor of Dogmatic Theology and Spirituality. Resident at Évron.
General Treasurer. Ordained a priest in 1997. Spiritual director and professor of Canon Law. Resident at Évron.
Rector of the Seminary since September 2022. Ordained a priest in 2003. Professor of moral theology. Resident at Évron.
Formator. Ordained a priest in 1997. Spiritual director and professor of theology. Resident at Évron.
Director of Studies. Ordained a priest in 2009. Spiritual director and professor of dogmatic theology. Resident at Évron.
Treasurer of the House of Formation. Ordained a priest in 2015. Spiritual director and professor of moral theology. Resident at Évron.
Deputy Director of Philosophy Studies. Ordained a priest in 2012. Spiritual director and philosophy professor. Resident at Évron.
Responsible for the propaedeutic year. Ordained a priest in 2016. Spiritual director and professor of History. Resident at Évron.
Spiritual Director and Formation Advisor. Ordained a priest in 2017. Resident at Évron.
| 6h30 | WAKE-UP |
| 7h | BREAKFAST AND COMMUNAL SERVICES The practical upkeep of the house – carried out by each member in rotation – contributes to the education of the seminarians who, wanting to become priests or deacons, are called to be men of service. |
| 7h30 | LECTIO DIVINA, FOLLOWED BY PRAYER Each person meditates on the Word of God, in particular the texts of the day’s liturgy. The fruit of this meditation then nourishes the intimate dialogue with Christ, i.e. prayer. |
| 8h30 | SINGING OF THE OFFICE OF LAUDS Lauds are the morning praise, when we consecrate our whole day to God in the light of the Risen Christ. |
| 9-13h | LECTURES Four 45-minute lectures are given each morning by teachers from the School of Theology and Philosophy. |
| 13h | LUNCH AND COMMUNAL SERVICES |
| 14h-14h50 | REST OR SPORT Relaxation and sport bring the seminarians together, teaching them not only a sense of community, but also the attention necessary to their bodies and health that is so necessary if they are to be available at all times for the apostolate. |
| 14h50-15h20 | SPIRITUAL READING Reading the masters of the spirituality of all eras nourishes the spiritual life of seminarians and helps them discover the richness of the saints and of the spiritual currents that the Holy Spirit has given and continues to give to the Church. |
| 15h30-18h15 | STUDY Students study alongside each other in the classrooms. In addition, there is daily exchange and support between the more advanced and the younger students. |
| 18h30 | CELEBRATION OF MASS, FOLLOWED BY THE SINGING OF VESPERS “We must see the Eucharistic mystery as the centre and root of the whole life of the priest, of the seminarian, both in terms of personal spirituality as well as in terms of pastoral mission” (John Paul II). Vespers, at sunset, are the office of thanksgiving for all the blessings received from God. |
| 19h45 | DINER AND COMMUNAL SERVICES |
| 20h30 | SINGING OF COMPLINE OR RELAXATION Compline is a special time to enter into the peace of the night by examining our conscience and commending ourselves to God. Two evenings a week are also devoted to relaxation (a class dinner, a film, etc.). |
| 23h | LIGHTS OUT |
The life of a seminary is made up of a balance between times of prayer, work, fraternal services and relaxation. The Eucharist unites all the day’s activities. It is from the Eucharist that the singing of the Office and personal prayer, the profound depth of the intellectual effort and fraternal charity all flow.
After morning Mass, the house is thoroughly cleaned, followed by an hour of sport. After the Gregorian chant practice, the afternoon is dedicated to the responsibilities that each member of the Community assumes (sacristy, garden maintenance, secretariat, IT, laundry, library, etc.). A spiritual conference and the singing of First Vespers lead up to the celebration of the Lord’s Day.
The morning is consecrated to the preparation and celebration of the Solemn Mass, which takes place at 11am. After the festive lunch, the afternoon is free: meeting families, excursions in the region, fraternal relaxation, reading, etc.