Men of Communion: A Theoretical, Interdisciplinary Study of Affective Maturity and Attachment in Roman Catholic Seminarian

Abstract

Affective maturity is a decisive factor in the Roman Catholic Church’s discernment of man’s vocation to the priesthood. The goal of an individual’s affective maturity is to be a ‘man of communion.’ The manner the Church conceptualizes and measures affective maturity has enough conceptual consistency to be paired with attachment theory in meaningful ways. By conceptualizing affective maturity through the lens of attachment theory this work attempts to answer the Church’s call for psychologists to address the needs of seminarians who experience some ‘psychological impediment’ in this case, affective immaturity. This study also provides case vignettes to demonstrate how approaching spiritual and human dimension in seminary in a manner that accounts for a man’s attachment style may help to foster affective maturity, and therefore help these individuals become men of communion.