Dear Carlos,

The best way to become a good seminarian is to set your sights on being a good priest. A good seminarian is one who prepares himself well for the real life he will live as a priest.

Here are some ingredients:

- Get to know Christ the eternal priest personally and intimately. You do this in prayer, in reading about him, in speaking to him, in accepting instruction in the treasures of a true Christology, and in reading good spiritual books. You do it by bringing the Holy Spirit into your life and by putting yourself under the care of Mary, mother of Christ and mother of priests.

- With the help of your spiritual director take stock of where you are spiritually and in your human formation, and figure out the path from where you are to where you want to get to (the type of priest you want to be). In other words, work positively in your formation, dont let your seminary years slip by.

- Make good use of your spiritual director and confessor, be open with them, accept their advice, apply their suggestions.

- Build up habits of prayer and service to others

- Build up habits of a healthy life-style as regards your use of the media, recreation and physical health

- Participate in community events at the seminary. Dont be a loner. Build strong friendships with your fellow-seminarians that will sustain you when you are all priests.

- Consider yourself totally committed to Christ. In your dealings with young people and with women, be as respectful and reserved as a priest (or a married man) ought to be. Train your priestly heart. Make your option for celibacy firm right from now.

I am sure you will find much help in the book The Integral Formation of the Catholic Priest and Pope John Pauls Pastores Dabo Vobis.

God bless.