Pastoral is that related to pastors.
Pastoral is an adjective that is used to name what is linked to pastors . The term shepherd , for its part, can be used with reference to field men who guide livestock or people who are in charge of directing a religious community.
One of the meanings of pastoral, therefore, is linked to what is related to livestock farming . For example: “Pastoral work is the only alternative for the young people of this town,” “She was a writer specialized in books on pastoral themes, which narrate the misadventures of peasants.”
Pastoral, on the other hand, can be related to the religious work of ministers : “At the age of fifteen I began my pastoral work with the aim of helping those who need it most,” “I want to participate in a church that dedicated itself more to the tasks pastoral and less to advertising and marketing” , “Father Manuel is a man totally dedicated to pastoral life” .
The idea of pastoral care in religion
In the same sector of religion and the Church, we have to establish that there are various terms that use the adjective pastoral:
- Pastoral ring is the one that an ecclesiastical authority, whether the pope or a bishop, wears on one of his fingers as an insignia, and that the prelates kiss as a sign of their dignity and respect.
- Pastoral letter is the writing or speech made by a prelate with the clear objective of addressing his diocesans.
- Pastoral visit is one that a bishop makes to one of the different churches in his diocese. He does it with the intention of seeing how they are and appreciating the work that is being carried out there.
- Pastoral staff is one that certain ecclesiastical authorities have and functions as a symbol of the dignity and position they hold.
- Pastoral theology is a notion that refers to the beliefs or theories that are developed within the Church and that deal with the salvation of souls.
A preacher carries out pastoral work.
The term in music and literature
In the field of music , Pastoral is the name of an Argentine duo composed of Miguel Ángel Erausquin and the late Alejandro De Michele that was formed in 1973 and was active, with interruptions, until 1983 . “Pastoral” , “En el hospicio” , “Trapped in heaven” and “Generation” are some of his albums.
It should be noted that pastoral is also the name of a type of musical composition that shepherds used to dance and of certain operas created to be performed by shepherds. Among them, Ludwig van Beethoven 's Symphony No. 6 stands out, presented in 1808 .
Within the field of literature, finally, we would have to highlight the existence of what is known as pastoral poetry . This poetry, as its name indicates, revolves around the lives of shepherds. This is how they tell what their day to day life is like, what they do, what they feel...